The New York herald., 1922-01-14
BOLDLY GRINS WHEN
EARLY TRIAL is SET
Negro Slayer in Gay Attire Is
Jaunty as Court Acts to
Hasten Justice.
MUST FACE A JURY JAN. 90
Alienists Called Into Case on
Both Sides-Harsh Police
Treatment Charged.

Luther Boldly appeared before Justice
Wasservogel in the Supreme Court yes
terday to answer to the two indictments
which charge him with murder in the
first degree for killing Detective Francis
J. Buckley and Detective William A.
Miller. The formal plea of not guilty
was entered and Justice Wasservogel
designated January 23 as the date on
which the young negroe shall be placed
on trial
He announced his decision in spite Of
strong protest made by counsel for the
prisoner, former Judge Morris Koenig
who maintained that ten days was not
sufficient time for him to trace possible
witnesses or to examine the mind of
Boldly himself and to build up or correct
the scattered and fragmentary state
ments' made by Boldly.
District Attorney Banton, assuring
the court that 1t was a main object of
the District Attorneys office to afford
every facility to the defence, offered
Mr.. koenig the services of whatever
process servers or even of Assistant
District Attorneys the defense might
require in the preparation of it's case.
But Mr. Koenig declined, saving he
the spirit of the law for the District
Attorney to act as associate counsel
for the defendant.
Justice Adheres to Decision.
Justice Wasservogel adhered to his
decision, but gave Mr.. Koenig the
privilege of moving for an adjournment
when the case comes up one week from
next Monday.
1t was when Banton made his offer
that Frank Aranow, Koenig's junior.
leaned forward to Boldly. saying:
What do you think of that, Luther
the District Attorney offering to help
prepare your case?'
My God. nor said Boldly quickly;
then laughed.
Smiles and jauntiness marked his re-
appearance in the famous trial room of
criminal cases In the Supreme Court,
the room where Nan Patterson, Harry
Thaw, Charles Becker and many others
faced their juries. His wife and sister
had taken to him at the Tombs samples
of his best clothing and he came into
court attired like the lilies of the field
as they are viewed in the Dark Strip of
Harlem-form fitting overcoat (for the
few steps from the Tombs to the Crmi-
nal Courts Building). silk muffler of
the kind known as nobby' or Classy
IN boddyS set, sack suit cut to the
lines of his figure. silk four-n-hand
and patent leather shoes. Utterly un-
perturbed. he smiled and glanced
around the room with apparent i'm
munity from fear.
Alienists Go to See Boldly.
Earlier In the day an alienist en-
ployed by Mr.. Koeng. Dr. Richard II.
Hoffman of 1867 Madison avenue. had
questioned him. but not for long enough
to make any definite report as TO the
state of his mentality. While Dr. Hoff-
man was busy two alenists employed
by the District Attorney. DR.. NJ. 8.
Gregory. superintendent of Bellevue
Hospital. and DR.. Edward E. Hicks of
the Kings County Hospital in Brook
lyn, appeared in the Tombs to question
the prisoner. His counsel, Mr.. Koenig
objected. however as the defense had n
right to do. and the alienists for the
prosecution withdrew.
The impression remains that Mr..
koenig will base his main defense on
n theory of insanity. Running through
his brief address to the court yesterday
was a hint that time would be needed
to examine many witnesses, and to
many 1t seemed a suggestion that par
ticular inquiry would be made into the
harsh treatment Boldly says he re-
ceived many times after being arrested
by the police.