Evening star., 1918-06-27


Hitz of the District Supreme Court so
held today when he passed on the evi-
dence prodnced in support of the COM
plant of Ambassador Jusserand. on
which the extradition proceedings are
based.
Ground for Investigation Found.
Justice Hitz said he was sitting
merely as committing. magistrate
and was not concerned with the ques-
tion of the guilt or innocence of the
accused. He was convinced from the
record, he stated. that sufficient
tigation into the acts of the accused
by a competent tribunal UEder the
laws of the District of Columbia. the
court remarked, the acts alleged
against Godsol are criminal and re-
quire that a judicial investigation
should be had of them.
When the French republic and the
motor company were negotiating as
to the purchase of trucks, the court
said. If Godsol made representations
to the motor company which were
false in fact and fraudulent in in
tent, with the purpose of obtaining g
money from one of the negotiating
parties. and did SO obtain money. he
was criminally liable under our stat
ute.
The court reviewed the testimony
at length and decided that even in
the most favorable light contended for
by counsel for Godsol the acts al
legged against the accused came un-
der the statute and it was the duty of
the court, as committing magistrate,
to hold the accused for an investiga- :
tion by competent tribunal in
France.
To Ask for Writ Of Habeas Corpus.
Counsel for Godsol will apply for a
writ of habeas corpus as soon as the
commitment papers are signed by
Justice Hitz. The same law points are
were presented to Justice Hitz. with
the claim that Godsol is being unlaw-
fully restrained Of his liberty. despite
the commitment order. Counsel for
the accused are expected to seek the
release of Godsol on bail pending ac-
tfon in the habeas corpus hearing.
United States Attorney Laskey will
oppose the release on bail. Godsol has
been in Jail since March 6 last. and il
bail be refused might have to remain
incarcerated until the final determine
tion of the case.
Godsol Makes Statement.
Godsol gave out the following state
ment:
THE ruling of Justice Hitz holding
me for eNtradition is most surprising
for ] cannot comprehend nor conceive
how a basis of even suspicion of guilt
can be gathered from the evidence
which absolutely establishes that
never acted in any capacity for the
French authorities: never inter-
mediated for them. directly or
indirectly. in any purchases: never
made any representations of any
kind to them, and that they recog-
nized me. in writing, as the agent OF
the automobile factories. Therefore.
l. could hardly have committed the
crime charged.
cIuphdllSdiiy uecidic { tHdt NY as
sociates and l rendered valuable serv-
ices to France in obtaining quick de-
liveries of trucks at time when they
were desperately needed. and when
the successful prosecution of the war
was practically dependent upon means
of transportation; further, in Oc-
tober, 1914. we prevailed upon the
Fiat Company of Turin. Italy, to
cancel orders they already had from
Germany and make deliveries to
France instead. We also repaired
hundreds of trucks gratis. although
not required by the terms of our con-
tracts so to do. l have letters from
the French authorities expressing
for what we had done"