Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-11
DEMAND HEARING
IN DANSEY CASE
Counsel VIII Begin Habeas Cor
pus Proceedings Unless
Action Speeds Up
MAY BE SPECIAL SITTING

Unless Prosecutor Gaskill speeds up
the prosecution of Charles S.. White
and his housekeeper, Mrs. Edith Jones
arrested in connection with the death of
Billy Dansey, three years old, of Ham
rionton, N. j., G. Arthur Bolte, coun
sci for the prisoners, will attempt to
obtain their release through habeas Cor
IT prefer a speedy trial and com
plete vindication by a jury of Whites
fellow citizens" said Mr. Bolte to-
day, "but ] do not intend to let the
prosecutor drag the case Indefinitely, "
The grand jury can be called within
a few hours notice from the prosecutor,
according to Assistant Prosecutor Her
bert VOORHEES,. 1t may be called to-
morrow, he said, if the prosecutor so
decided.
Even though the grand jury should
be called tomorrow the writ of indict-
ment cannot be presented before the
second Tuesday in January before 'lus-
tice Black at Mays Landing courthouse
Mr.. Voorhees, said. however. that the
case could be brought up quickly If
Prosecutor Gaskill asked Justice Black
to come to Mays Landing for a special
sitting.
Prosecutor Gaskill should he be able
to return to his Office tomorrow, prob
ably will end the grand Jury imme-
diately.
Jack" Billy Danseys pet fox ter
rier, furnished the clue that ultimately
led to the arrest of White.
County Detectives J. P. Wilson and
Benjamin Nusbsum told today for the
first time why they had first suspected
White of the killing .J
"The peculiar actions of Jack after
the boy disappeared first aroused our
suspicion, Nusboum said. 1--WE knew
the boy and the dog were inseparable.
so we paid lot of attention to the
actions of the animal.
''He grieved like a human being, and
four or five times a day he would visit
the dahlia field where Billy was last ac-
counted for. He never went farther
than the field, but would return home
whining. When asked to find Billy he
would run to the field. hunt around
and then return whining.
"It was in that field that Charles
White and Mrs. Edith Jones reported
that they had last seen the boy. Nat
urally our suspicious were aroused and
we investigated.
Before leaving for Mays Landing to
day, where she hoped to see her hus-
band. Mrs. White said:
''I believe in the innocence of my hus-
band. l cannot comprehend why he
should haye been drawn into the case.
The fact that the police dogs which
were used to trace the body started
briskly from the vicinity of our house
would sseem TO preclude the possibility
of Billy Dansey's body being concealed
around there"
A sharp colloquy took place between
| Lieutenant Heffernan and Major vii
liam r. Kelly, judge advocate, over the
formers attempts to impeach the credi-
bility of the governments witnesses.
Thomas Gossett of Galveston, Tex.
recalled to the stand, admitted that he
had been court martialed for being alb
sent without leave. He testified that
he overheard the defendant instruct
| Sergeants Madden and Hoyt, his as
sistants, to take Clarence II. Lacey, 6
prisoner, ont to where some stolen prop
erty was stored, give him chance tc
run, and if he didn't run, "to make
him run ard then shoot"
Lacey will testify later.