Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
CONTEMPT CHARGE
IS FILED AGAINST
DOUTH|TT IN PROBE
Beaten Editor Fails to An
swer Grand Jury Summons
to Tell About Gambling.
PROSECUTOR WAITS HOUR.
THEN ASKS FOR ACTION
Missing Witness Said TO Have Gone
to Philadelphia After Reccv-
ering From Assault,


of the Bluecoat, unofflcial organ Of the
Police Department. who was beaten into
inconsistencies by two men recently.
was cited for contempt of court today
when he failed to appear before the
grand jury end tell what he knows, if
ANYTHING. about charges he is alleged
to have made about corruption in the
Police Department.
Doutbitt wss s,lbpoeuaed 10 appear
before the grand Jury after he had de-
cIsred he believed he was attacked be-
cause Of remarks he had made about
gambling activities.
Assistant United States Attorney Will
liam H. Collins was ready to proceed
with an examination of the witness at
II o'clock, the time mentioned in the
summons, and waited nearly an hour
before requesting the grand Jury to re-
port 70 the court the failure Of the wit
ness TO appear
Special Report Made.
The special report Of the grand Jury
asking contempt proceedings against
Douthitt reads:
THE grand jury Of the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia for
the April term, AID. 1881, now in ses-
sion, reports to the honorable court as
follows:
THAT the grand jury this day was
TO begin an investigation in the case
of the United States versus John Doe,
en- investigation into the alleged cor
ruptive conduct on the part of mem
bers of the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment of the District of Columbia.
That in connection with this inVes-
tieation one Harry Douthitt, until re-
Gently a resident of the District OF Co
lumnia. and now located at 327 East
Sharpnack street, Philadelphia, Pa.
was Subpoenaed on May 5, 1881. at
Philadelphia, by the United state:
marshal in and for the district Of
Philadelphia, for appearance here this
Day before the grand Jury ct IL an.
The grand Jury desires further to
report that at the appointed hour Of ~
am. this day, the said Harry Douthttt.
who had been personally served for ap-
paarance as Aforesaid, was called
throughout the halls Of this court, and
at the grand Jury ROOM and did fail
to respond, and did thereby ignore
the process Of this honorable court for
the benefit Of this body.
Ask Contempt Citation.
Wherefore the grand jurors Of the
Supreme Court Of the District Of Co
lun1bia, for the April term, A. D. 1891,
reporting the above fact to the court.
respectfully pray that this honorable
court direct a rule to be served against
the said Harry Douthitt, wherever he
may. be found, requiring him 10 show
cause, If any there be, why he should
not he held in contempt Of this hon
cradle court
T1pon receipt Of ne grano ulry 70
norT .1n.tice Gorco on jmmsois alr jss4eo
q. ella aon ssain3g Doa. dl.g n ne -ol-
Loving terms:
Upon Consioels GOO Of me reoori sno
petirion Med this Gay By the ersoo
jury Tor the April tenn, A. D., 1881,
In and for the District of Columbia, Il
is by the court this eleventh day Of
May, 1891, ordered, adjudged and de-
creed, that the said Harry Douthitt be,
and he is hereby ordered to appear
before this court on or before the nine
tenth day Of May, 1881, to show cause,
il any there be, why he should not be
held in contempt Of this court"
The penalty for failure to obey o
summons to the grand jury Is in the
discretion Of the court, for term of
imprisonment not 10 exceed one year
in jail. The highest penalty recently
exacted in such a contempt proceeding
was term of As days in the District
Jail, imposed by Justice Gordon on
three newspaper reporters. who declined
to answer questions propounded to them
before the grand jury.
Beaten With Pipe.
Douthitt was severely beaten on the
night OF April 25 by two men, who left
him unconscious in his apartment at
Fifteenth and u streets. He remained
in Emergency Hospital for almost o
fortnight, undergoing treatment for
bruises and decorations about the head
inflicted by an iron pipe.
On his discharge from the hospital
Douthitt told newspaper men he was
going to Philadelphia for an indefinite
stay with his daughter and Son-in-law.
The only forwarding address he left
when he gave up his apartment in the
Portner was a general delivery post Of
fee box number in Washington Re-
porters were unable to locate him to-
day.
Douthitt charged that the first pre-
cinct was the center of vice in Wash
ington" and his statements precipitated
an investigation by Police Commission
er Crosby.
The victim of the attack said he be-
lieved it. was prompted by gamblers
who feared he knew too much"