The Washington times., 1923-10-20
CRAZEO, IS
COURT s
BELIEF
Mrs. Williams Creates Scene
When 15-Year-oId Is Held
for Mental Tests Only.

James DePew, fifteen years
old, accused of brutally beating
his mother, Mrs. Juanita VIII
liams, thirty-one, at her home,
207 H street northwest, two days
ago, was today sent to Gallinger
Hospital for mental observation
by Judge Kathryn Sellers in
Juvenile Court.
Mothers Protest Vain.
The action was taken in spite OF
the weeping protest of the mother,
who sat facing Judge Sellers at her
desk in the little court. Mrs. VIII
Harns was pale. Her hands clenched
q crumpIed handkerchief, and she
wept frequently. She wanted her
SON placed in an institution.
The boy was reluctant to face his
mother in court. She showed the
marks of the attack. Precinct De-
tsctive c. A. Berry, Of the Sixth
Precinct, held on his knees the
great club, whitfield at one end.
with which young DePew is al
legged to have bludgeoned his parent.
Mrs. Williams was anxious to
have the case disposed of as soon
as possible. When Judge Sellers
announced her decision OF continu-
ing the hearing after alienists had
passed on the boys mental condi-
ton, the mothers taut nerves
found expression in an outburst Of
oobbing.
Must Go Out of Town.
81 can't be bacg here next week."
@he cried. ''I have to go out of
town on some work. I've signed a
contract. I can't come back, and
] WON'T
Judge Sellers told the weeping
woman that If she persistde in this
determination, she would be re-
manded for contempt Of court.
''But If you let him out" pro-
tested the mother, "'hell do the same
thing over again." and she removed
her hat to show weber she had
been struck on the head.
1.-THE boy will be given a chance,
said Judge Sellers. Every boy who
comes to this court is given a chance.
Admitting that this boy did wrong,
+. he must be given the same treat
ment. I think he is mentally ire
sponsible."
Mrs. williams held out to the last
for her sons committal to an in
Otitution.
Blows From Behind.
'Do you think I would be the
nnother of coward?" she asked the
Judge. do you think I would hit
7wY
mo, and ] wouldn't strike any
one who was looking" Judge
Sellers answered.
The judge addressed the news
paper men who were attending the
hearing, asking them to omit the
scene between her and Mrs.. Will
hams from their reports.
eff you say. anything about It,
I'll say it's a lle," said Mrs. VIII
hams. AZ didn't mean It."
Judge Sellers Statements.
Judge Sellers continued the case
Mrs. Williams that the boy
had been in n Minnesota reforma.
tory. The Judge said that the boy
would be returned to this institu'
ton IL authorities at Gallinger
deemed such procedure advisable.
The DePew boy was sent back to
the House of Detention, where he
has been held since his arrest, and
from there is to be sent to the
psychopathic ward of Gallinger
Hospital.
Detectives o. w. Mansfield and
Berry of the Sixth precinct, attend,
ed the hearing. They had investi.
gated the assault. Detective Will
lam Messer, of the First precinct
who arrested DePew yesterday
afternoon on Ninth street, after il
was alleged DePew had stolen two
revolvers from a booth in the
Gayety Theater, was late in arriv
ing from Police Court, and the
hearing did not begin until Il
o'clock.
Threatened to Leave.
Mrs. Williams had by this tim
become impatient at the long wait
and walked into the clerks office
declaring, "If this trial doesn't be
gin in ten minutes, Z going to leave
and the judge can't stop me-"
During the wait, Mrs. William
posed in the rear yard of the cour
house for a Times photographer
with Berry and Mansfield.
Judge Sellers ordered the phC
tographer from the building for dif
obeying the restriction against tn
taking Of pictures on court property
and instructed the camera man t
destroy the negattYA