Evening star., 1923-03-27
?. !. CLIFFORD HELD
UNDER $1,000 BOND
Case of Millionaire, Accused
of FeIonious Assault, Sent
to Grand Jury.

Patrick J. Clifford. millionaire in
ventor OF Scranton, Pa, was held un-
der $4,000 bond for the action of the
grand jury on charge of violating
the Mann white slave act, following
a hearing yesterday afternoon and
evening before United States Com
missioner George H. Macdonald, at
1915 X street northwest. Clifford Is
accused OF asaulting Miss Bessie l..
Brennan, formerly of the Evangeline
Booth Hotel, 1880 l. street, during
an automobile ride the night of Feb
ruary IS, in the defendants limou-
sine.
Enters Plea of Not Guilty.
At the outset of the hearing. which
started at 2:S0 o'clock in the after
noon, Clifford entered a formal plea
OF not guilty through his attorneys.
Harry A. Hegarty and Representative
o. r. Luhring OF Indiana. The de-
fendant, who IS a cripple, sat with
his crutches beside him, two seats
away from the girl who accuses him
OF criminally asaulting her. but nei-
ther party looked at the other OK
cept when United States Attorney
David A. Hart at the beginning of
testimony asked Miss Brennan to
Identify Clifford Miss Brennan was
stylishly dressed in light gray suit
and purple hat, which shaded her
eyes.
The defense apparently made its
strongest point through testimony OF
DR.. w. Robert Perkins. who describ-
ed the inventors infirmtties.
Miss Brennans story. pieced from
answers to direct and cross questions.
follows:
She was introduced to Clifford by
Frank J. Schneiberg. now in Evans
vile, Ind, some time before the night
OF the alleged attack and met him
afterward.
Tuesday night, when the assault is
alleged to have taken place, the
couple drove out the Marlborough
road and into a side road. against her
protests. she said. He asked her to
marry him. she said, and she refused
Reaching for his overcoat pocket on
the front seat. and withdrawing what
appeared to be a gun, she alleged, he
said he was going to kill them both
Becoming hysterical. she agreed to
marry him. She struggled to escape
and alleges he assaulted her.
Says She Freed Herself.
She finally managed to free herself
and ran to the main road. Clifford
calling for her to come back. She ap-
piled at several farmhouseS for ad-
mittance, eventually being taken In
by William Hutcherson of Forrest
vile. Prince Georges county. Md. Mr.
Hutcherson's mother took care OF her
that night and her son brought her
back to Washington the next morn
ing. She did not inform the police OF
the alleged assault, but did tell Mrs
Hutcherson and her son. and day
or so later informed lawyer.
Hutcherson testified that he took
Miss Brennan In early In the morn
ing. Her clothing was disarranged
he said, and she related her expert
ence with Clifford. She was in a
somewhat hysterical condition, the
witness stated
Testimony of Physician-
DR.. William T. Gill. who was called
to the girls room the day following.
said he treated her for sprained
ankle and scratches. The girl refused
to explain fully how she came by the
Injuries at that time, but two days
later. at his private office, she said
she had been criminally assaulted. He
advised her to tell the police or seek
a lawyer.
DR.. Perkins testified that II would
be absolutely impossible" for Clif-
ford to forcibly assault any one as
charged.