The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-21
SOLDIER
DENIES He.
WAS THIEF
Congressman Acts in Case of
Man Who Goes Fourteen Days
Without Food.

! gresham Philip p. Campbell, of
KANSAS, to investigate the case Of
Alfred r. Knowles. the war veteran
on a hunger strike at the, District
JAIL as a, protest against his COLI
yiction and sentence to six years
Tor automobile stealing. of which
he claims to be innocent
May Have Been Tool.
Alfred G. Armstrong, secretary to
Congressman Campbell. former prose-
cutting attorney, of Montgomery
county, Kansas. talked for more than
an hour with Knowles last night us
the hunger striker lay weak and wan
on his bunk in a cell at the jail.
Knowles story is plausible y"
claims Mr.. Armstrong, but we are
not prepared to say whether 1t rings
true. There is, however. a Possibility
that Knowles, being a green youth,
may have been the victim of a protes-
sional gang of automobile thieves who
unloaded stolen cars on him. His
story will be fully probed. and If 1t is
believed he is not guilty of the charges
on which he was convicted, efforts
will be made to gain his release from
prison."
,u Fasts Ia Days.
Knowles is on the fourteenth day
Of his hunger strike. He refused
again this morning to eat any fruit,
eggs, toast or milk that were served
to him. He declared he has passed
through the stage of acute hunger and
now does not care for anything to
eat.
Anxious about the war veterans
condition, Capt. William L. Peake,
superintendent Of the District Jail. to-
day summoned DR.. J. A. Cannon, 1915
Biltmore street, who declared that
liquid food would have to be forced
down Knowles throat unless he ate
food by tonight.
Knowles Is but a shadow of his
former self. When. he entered the
Jail he weighed approximately 1875
pounds, but his weight today Is less
than 100. pounds.
Knowles realizes that he is slowly
dying, but says he would rather be
dead than spend the next six years
in prison for a crime he never COM
mitted.
I'm not a .four-flusher,'" said
Knowles today. Were / guilty Of
stealing automobiles would be will.
ing to face the music and 10 the
sentence at the Federal prison but
I'm innocent and I do not propoH< to
spend six years IN the prison for
something I did not do HI"
While Knowles protests his in
ppcence Of the charges on which he
Was convicted and sentenced, In
spector Clifford l.. Grant, chief Of de-
receives. claims he Is prepared to sup
ply Congressman Campbell with the
alleged facts in the war veterans
case:
Several Thefts Charged.
ION September last" said. In
spector Grant, Konwles was caught
n the act OF selling the automobile
BIZ Ralph K. Ergood. 1928 Ninth street
northwest, outside an auctioneer's
Establishment. He was sitting in the
ear when the auto squad caught him
The machine was stolen from in front
of the National Theater.
He also Is charged with stealing
he cars Of Congressman w. B. oliver,
s27 wyoming avenue northwest; John
n Dent, Clinton, Nd; II. G. Belt, 929
81 street northwest; DIR. III. T. Guss
lo6 Girard street northwest. and a
machine from the Washington Rail
Vay and Electric Company.
When he was arrested Knowles had
set of dies which were used to al
ar the motor numbers of the ma
.hines that were stolen. Every motor
humber on the stolen cars were al
cred, and 1t Is believed that the dies
hat were found in his possession
we're used in altering the numbers.
He and Wade +. Sewers. who is
DIV serving a sentence Of six years,
bomed at 201 I street northwest.
movies admitted after his arrest
lat they had dumped the license
ates of the stolen machines in 4
bss pool at the street address, but
dded they could not be recovered.
he auto squad went to the house
nd recovered the plates. They were
taken from the motors stolen.
Knowles jumped his bond of $4,000
nd was brought back here by De-
ctive Sergeant Connors. For this
Tense he was charged with con-
mpt of court by Justice Mccoy.