The Washington times., 1918-03-09
GODSOL TO REMAIN
IN DISTRICT JAIL
UNTIL MARCH 70

That Frank ]. Godsol. the young
Frenchman accused OF taking from
$4,000. 900 to $4,000. 900 in connection
with contracts for furnishing auto
will remain in the District Jail until
March 20. was the purport OF the de-
cision rendered by Associate Justice
William Hitz, OF the District Suprsme
Court, at IL o'clock this morning.
Justice Hltz handed down a deci-
sion which supports United States
Commissioner Hits action in send
ing Godsol to the District Jail. The
court dismissed the writ OF certIoraTi
secured by Godsols attorneys last
Thursday. Justice Hitz took the
stand that IL there had been an error
as contended by the petition. he did
not feel that he had Jurisdiction to
correct II.
GodsoI will remain in the District
Jail. where he spent the past three
nights, until his continued hearing
before Commissioner Hit, in the lat
ter's office at IL a. m. March 20.
Seek a Special Appeal.
GodsoTs attorneys Immediately
took up the question OF securing a
special appeal to the Court Of APP
peaIs to determine the question OF
Jurisdiction on the part of the Su-
preme Court.
, The entire case is now back in the
hands OF United States Commissioner
Hit, whence II was taken by the writ
OF certiorari allowed by Justice Hitz
to GodsoHs attorneys last Thursday.
Godsol was not present at the hear
ing this morning, remaining at the
District Jail. HIS wife, who is expect
ed to visit him during the day, had
not called at a late hour this morning.
GOdsOFs Theatrical Ventures.
The former French army private had
been a heavy investor with the Shu-
berts and A. H. Woods in theatrical
enterprises. according to dispatches
today from New York.
That Godsol was endeaYoring to
branch out IN the theatrical BUSINESS
in this country is borne out in a
statement made public in New York
by Deputy District Attorney Becker,
who is investigating the New York
cording TO Mr.. Becker, a recent state
ment of GodsoTs concluded with this
assertion:
4 am interested extensively in
theatrical enterprises in America"
This Is in line with a statement L.
sued to The Times by Godsol. Thurs
day.
According to reports among New
York theatrical people GOdsOl has in
vested at the least 100000 in the
Shubert enterprises. and It was his
financial backing which put through
the deal by which the Shuberts OBJ |
tanned the Astor Theater II is also |
reported that 1t was Godsors money |
which induced A. H. Woods and the |
Selwyn Company 10 become allies OF |
the Shuberts.
Also Active In Europe.
GodsoPs theatrical interests and |
activities in Europe are said to have |
cost him at least 100000, although, |
according TO his own statement to At |
torney Becker, he received this sum
alone when he disposed OF a new thea
ter in Paris to the Pathe Company.
His first dealings with 4. II. Woods, !
according to his statement to the New
York attorney, were in Germany, |
where. in 1914, he purchased Woods |
interests in a string of seven theaters
In Berlin, Hamburg, and Lubbock.
Godsol said that the Germans would |
not attend the afternoon and early |
evening performances. At the late |
night shows. he said, the Teutons |
packed the theaters. He said he be- |
lieved that all OF his property in Cor
maLy WAS Immediately confiscated |
when the war began and for two |
years he has received no word from |
that country.
GOdsol started to build a theater in !
Paris, but the Pathe company wanted |
TO buy II before he got very far in |
the construction, he said He sold
the theater and this was the end |
OF his theatrical operations in France.