The Washington times., 1925-11-18
The Authors Own
Fascinating Story
of His Long But
Losing Battle
, For Freedom
and Health

fact, heard my name called:
Townsend-where's Townsend p
''Herer' 1 shouted, rushing up
TO the cell door. A trusty APP
peared--
Townsend-AEthur Townsend?'
he asked, looking at me closely.
Yes, I'm Townsend. -
Get ready for COURT he or
dered, and went on down the cor
ridor, calling another name. /
turned to my companions.
Get ready for court,
Knocked. II suppose that means
take q hot bath, shave, put on
fresh clothes and make myself
look halfway decent"
They laughed. While they were
still laughing a jailer came and
unlocked the door, taking me out.
I was conveyed, handcuffed to
another prisoner, to the base
ment OF the city hall and there
escorted into the prisoners dock,
q bailiff standing guard over me-
Little Detective Appears
In the basement room / no.
ticed the little detective AMI
the big policeman who had ar
rested me. They. along with q
man whom took to be an assist
ant prosecuting attorney and two
witnesses, evidently bank teIlers,
were In consultation with the
Judge. heard. my name-the
name Townsend-mentioned. 1
leaned forward and spoke to the
bailiff.
This isn't my hearing, is ft?''
asked, incredulously.
Sure It is" was the laconic
reply. What d'y'r expecta
brass band?
But I want q lawyer, and I
want to hear what's said" ne
Piled, jumping to my feet and
calling to the Judge.
protest, your honory' de-
clared. st wish to have counsel
and I cant hear what's being
said
Sit down. ordered the Judge.
You should have had youy
lawyer here II yen wanted one. .
wflted back TO the bench. Z,
couldn't believe my senses. The
thought OF making a bolt for the
door and attempting to escape
flashed into my mind Only one
man. the bailiff, stood in my
way. The group in front of the
judges bench were stin consult
ing in low voices. I was work
ing myself up to the point Of
making a sudden spring over the
low railing and dashing for the
door when the PROCEEDINGS
ended abruptly. Before 1 knew
what was happening the baiIiff
was putting the handouts back
on my wrists.
Await Grand Jury Action
Held for the grand jury" he
said. Come on
i wanted to fight. felt /
would be perfectly willing to die
right there il could GET some
body first. Never in my life had
I experienced such blind anger.
But / was already handcuffed.
How I restrained my tongue 1
don't know. ] wanted to curse
that judge and the others. In.
stead walked out with the bailfff
and was showed into the waiting
automobile outside Instead OF
starting off. as I expected, we
remained there. Five, ten min
utes passed. Then a man came
out and handed the officer a
folded paper-my commitment to
the custody OF the sheriff to
await action Of the grand jury.
May I see fit?" i asked.
Nav! What goodu thai do
Rs7ft was the ranly AS
Back at the Jail I found the
jailer more considerable. In reply
to my question. what am 1 held
for?" he showed me the commit
ment. The charge was. forgeiy,
and the bail was only $500. At
sight of the figures 1 forgot
everything else. Only $500, and
only one charge had been pre-
ferred against me. I could get
$500 bail easily and, once out,
could surely bring enough influ-
ence to bear to get the charges
Quashed.
May I see a lawyer" 1 asked.
Sure, who do you wanf?"
81 don't know anybody here" I
replied. ANY good lawyer will
do"
OOnSABuCu W AOWcT
well, we have a rule not to
recommend lawyers to prison avs"
he said. You nnd out who you
want and wen phone to him for
you" He turned to an attend
ant Lowe T." he ordered.
/ then learned something about
the construction of that Jail. It
was built in short wings. converg-
ing to a central rotunda. Each
wing was a separate; isolated Jail
in itself. with two rows Of
estanks," one above the other.
These tanks were set in the mid.
die Of the room, the windows Of
which were of course heavily
barred. Each tank contained
twelve cells. six on each side,
with a hopper and shower bath
arrangement at one end. The
tanks were steel. The cells opened