Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-15
Mrs. Alma c. Smythe
Asks $4,000 From
Wardman Park
HOTEL WINS CASE
Names of Hoover, Daugherty,
Burns and Other National Fig
ures Are Mentioned by Woman
In Connection With Case

the jury at 2:45 this afternoon re-
turned verdict in favor of the
defendant hotel corporation. T.
Anderson Somers was foreman of
the jury.
Conducting her own case against
the Wardman Park Hotel, of
Washington, in which she seeks to
recover damages in the sum of
$25, 900, Mrs. Alma c. Smythe, in
terrogated witnesses and handled
her case in true legal fashion to-
day in the Corporation Court.
Mrs. Smythe was on the witness
stand twice during the day and the
taking of testimony was resumed
at 2 o'clock this afternoon an ad-
journment being taken for lunch
con at one o'clock. Judge Howard
W. Smith is presiding.
Mrs. Smythe was accompanied
into court by her faithful dog
"Bobbie' and the jury, Judge and
court attaches watched "Bobbie"
play around the feet of his owner
on the witness stand.
Mrs. Smythe, when she took the
stand this afternoon told of be-
ing bounded" by Department Of
Justice men and also of being
afraid of being poisoned, having
been poisoned since she had been
in Alexandria, she said. She said
that she had brought her maid
along to court today whom she de-
clared was willing to "stick to the
ship till these outrages are stop
ped" Mrs. Smythe declared she
had papers with her of Importance
which would show the rottenness
lin Washington, During the course
of her statement Judge Smith
called upon Mrs. Smythe to dis
continue DEPRESSING from the main
point. namely tie Wardman Park
Hotel. Mrs. Smythe asserted that
she had no intention of driving
the hotel into political scandal.
Her chief reason for going to that
hotel was that they accepted "Bob-
bic" she said.
Continuing, Mrs. Smythe said:
"The Wardman Park needs to pay
me some cash so the hotels will
take my money and let me alone" "
She also told the court of having
called on Herbert Hoover. The
name of Harry Daugherty, attor-
nev general, was mentioned in her
testimony as was that of William
H. Burns. She told of a promi-
nent government official telling her
70 remain at the Wardman Park
bostelry till he could communi-
cate with Attorney General Daugh
ertv and have him get W. j.
Burns. head of the secret service
to put a stop to the alleged moles-
tation of Mrs. Smythe.
Mrs. Smythe came to court with
Il metallic safe deposit box from
a bank which was bulging with pa
pers. many of which were used as
Exhibits. -,
In her bill of complaint filed with
tho suit. Mrs. Smythe alleges she
was stopping at the Wardman
park and was elected when i'll and
Il is set forth it caused her great
bodily, and mental suffering, pam
worry and anxiety"
Mrs. Smythe now has pending 1T
Tho courts of the District OF Co
;',r,h;a- w." suit for $4,000 against
I,eighton Taylor, formerly private
aacretarv to the late Senator Boise
ponroeo whom she accused of hav-
ING kissed her.
Nrs Smythe is her own attor'
rev and she is being opposed py
Irdge Daniel Thew Wright oi
washington and Gardner l.
Boothe of this city.
Tho iury hearing the case is com
nosed of the following; g: D
7 eachman. o. H. Hullings, Chas
G Howell. T. Anderson Somers
Chorlee R. Clarkson, Elmer Al
evander and Alfred Thomson