Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-05
OUTRAGE TO DECENCY,
Says JUDGE !y.!ADDILL
Percy j. Townes, Who
Is Acquitted.
PUTS NO BLAME ON THE JURY
But Federal Judge Expresses Regret
That He Cannot Send Young Man
to Federal Pcnitentinry, as He
Had Intended to Do.

After the jury had dniiberated about
fifteen minutes in rendering. a decision
Of not guilty IN .he case OF Percy J.
Towncs. charged with violation ot
tho Mann whixe- slave act judge Ed
mund Waddlll, OF tho United States
District Court. summoned the defend
ant TO the bar and, In the presence OF
the entire assembly. rebuked Towncs
In one OF the most eloquent and i'm
press're excavations ever delivered in
his courtroom.
In the garb of outraged deccncy and
dignity and with all The gravity AMI
soicmnity which he could command.
Tho Justice told the defendant of hia
disappointment in being unable 10 SON
tcncc him for term OF years IN The
Federal prison nj Atlanta. IT was
dramatic moment and SUCH wasi
appreciated by every person in the
room. While tho Judge In his slow
and carefully considered words. cS
planned his position. the entire assem-
bly, was held speilbound.
When the clark read tho verdict of
the jury. Judge Wadd!ll called upon
the defendant 10 rise. and said
The Jury haa rendered verdict az
not guilty. and in accordance with
their decision IL "a with reluctance mat
] am compelled 70 discharge YOU.
have no complaint with tho tury They
have rendered their decision a. th.y
saw It. But would be dcrci'c, in my
duty n failed 10 admonish and re-
room. You go clear
HAS NEVER TRIED A
MORE OUTRAGEOUS CASE
But In tho twenty years that 7 have
presided over this court ] have never
tried a more outrageous case. In at
tempting TO clear yourself. you have
degraded the reputation and character
"t others You have d:Sgraccd the
name OF your own mother who gave
you birth. y moro outrageous md
disgraceful Performance" | have never
seen take place IN court OF Justice
~ much nv you were empowered
you have destroyed the character and
only fourteen years OF age. You are
only nineteen years old. but much of
your axe has been an outrage TO de-
cency' II you can run rampant and
with i'nnunity destroy tho character
ana lives OF innocent young girls in
this community. then law and order
anc civilization are at An end
cannot send you where intended
10 send you. had already made IN
my mimi 20 s=nd YOU for three years
,o At!hn'a. where YOU nigh, live not
W yo"r Wits bun ~ lcas: by the cS-
ercisc OF your muscles T, is with re
Eret that Gud | am unable 10 cary
out my intention
so FAR as can sec from the trial
.his case You are the thriftless.
sn.t. n grandson OF overindulgent
Rrandparcnts. Start out now TO make
an honest living and 30 10 work. And
yet away from here and begin n new
start You may go"
TOOK FOURTEEN-YEAR-
GIRL TO BALTIMORE.
Tho Townes case was consrn,-
mattel yesterday afternoon a:rur :,
had consumed two daya In tho Enitc,i
States District Court Towncs. VINO 10
only nineteen years old ana lives wI.h
ms grandparents at Auburn Avenue
"n' charged with transporting fou--
teen-year-old Elizabcth Ford OF tliy
city. TO Baltimore for !rnpropcr pur-
poses in v!Hatlon OF the Mann act; At
the time he was married 10 Ethel
Louise Jones. OF this city. but HIS wife
had already secured n limited divorce
The defense based its case on tho
ground that Townes had no. taken
the Ford Girl to Baltimore for I'm
proper purposes. az he had later mar
ried her In Baltimore. They contend
cd that Towncs was labor!nE under
me IMPRESSION that he was absolute
~ free from his FIRST marriage and
that there were no limitations upon
his freedom At all. John Carter. Com
monwcalth's Attorney for Danv!lle
was counsel for the defense
Hiram NJ. Smith. assistant Cn,tch
the government. proved that beiot,
leaving Richmond In company with
tho Ford Ei-l and after his wife had
hecn granted the limited divorce
Towne3 had made up with her and
that they had lived together again
as man and wife.
TONNES was first arrested In Balti-
more az the instance OF Special Agent
Pollen, local representative OF the De-
partment Of Justice He was there
tried on the charge of bigamy and
found guilty, but was paroled by the
Judge. Special Agent Pollen then
brought TONNES 20 this city where
he preferred a charge against him for
violating the Mann act
Following is list of the members
OF the jury: II. T. Ledbetter, foreman:
y. NJ. Darlington. Jr, a. A. Harvey.
w. T.. RoGnc. Frederick p Grctter.
c. a. Oyerton. Meyer Greentree, John
S. Walker. II. 4. Bowen, G. p. Thorn