Evening star., 1924-01-23
JAIL SUBSTITUTION
CASE NEARING END
Arguments to Jury Begun at
Trial of Sweeney and
Pomphrey.
Special Dispatch 10 The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md, January 23.-A
verdict may be reached this after
noon in the trial Of former Sheriff J.
Arthur Sweeney and former Deputy
Everett +. Humphrey of 'Prince
Georges county, charged with con-
spiracy to obstruct justice in allow
ing prisoner to escape.
The government rested its case this
morning, and argument was begun
at 1l:%0 by the prosecution. with
three hours allowed both sides. in
clusively. Practically the entire
morning session was devoted to an
argument between counsel as to the
admissability of certain testimony
and the charge of Judge Morris 4.
| Soper to the jury
In his charge Judge Goper scored
conditions al the Upper Marlboro jail
as disgraceful. 1t is charged John
lC. Stafford. who had been convicted Of
a liquor law violation, was released
and Grover c. Hall locked up in his
place. Stafford has disappeared.
The substitution was discovered a
month after il is alleged to have been
made Judge Soper said the keeper
of the Jail and the cook might be
prosecuted for neglect OF duty if a
conviction resulted from the present
trial.
EN-Deputy's story Heard.
Former Deputy Pumphrey was the
principal witness for the defense yes
| terday afternoon. lie had been in
formed by the Washington police, he
said. that man named Stafford was
in a hospital suffering from a gun
shot wound inflicted in the county
, and he went there TO try and find out
| how the man had been wounded and
by whom. He met Tom Stafford
brother of the wounded man. and
some time later John c. Stafford, an
other brother. Tom Stafford brought
John c. out to Humphreys home 70
ask If the authorities would take him
| at the Marlboro Jail TO serve three
month sentence for violation of the
Nolstead act. Pumphrey said he took
them to Sheriff Sweeney and intro
duced Stafford as Johnson.
Pumphrey said he came to Balti-
more the next day and the two pris-
| oners were delivered to him by the
United States marshal. He then
started for Washington in Stafford S
. automobile and on the way stopped
at some place he did not know and
so drunk that he had to be carried
to the car. On the way over Stafford
, told him. he said, that the reason he
, wanted TO serve his time in the Marl-
! horo Jail was because his mother and
other relatives all lived in Washing.
ton and it would be much easier for
them to visit hIn than at the Balti-
more Jail.
Prisoners Let Go.
Arriving in Washington, Pumphrey
said he let the prisoners go with a
| promise TO meet him later at the
Pennsylvania avenue bridge and
! with his two daughters, went to the
hospital TO see his wife. who had
! just undergone an operation Later
he met Stafford. Rich and Hall and
drove ahead of them in his own car
: TO Marlboro. Arriving at the Jail he
{ found the place locked and being
J unable TO arouse the jailer took the
! men TO the hotel where he made ar
! irangements for them to stay until the
! morning.
prisoners to the Jail and turned them
| over to the jailer, where he gave
! their names as John Johnson and
| Harry Rich. About five days later
he was driving out the Marlboro pike
and the next day reported the fact
! to Sheriff Sweeney, he said.
! Humphreys two daughters. Miss
| Irma and Miss Lucille Pumphrey, were
| called to the stand to corroborate his
+, testimony as to the telephone from,
Baltimore and seeing Rich on the
Marlboro pike.
Harry r. Ridge. or Rich, of Balti-
more, told of overhearing a conver-
| sation between Stafford and Sheriff
weeney in which Stafford said: Il
did not pay $500 for nothing" This
was after the visit of the federal
agents and after Hall had been re-
| leased and Stafford locked up. The
defense then recalled Sheriff Sweeney,
who told about the conversation with
Stafford and the remark about the
$500 being paid. He said he sent for
Humphrey the next day and confront
ed Stafford, who admitted that he had
not paid any one $500 and was only
bluffing."