Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-11
D|SM|SSES
COUNSEL IN TRIAL
Man Condemned as Slayer
Says New York Lawyer Put
Him in False Light.

Standing before Justice F. Dick
inson Let's in District Court today,
Thomas Jordon. condemned as the
slayer OF Mrs. Lizzie S. Jaynes, pub
licly renounced John NJ HolzWorth
as his counsel and charged that the
New York lawyer had placed him in
a false position with the public
He referred to accusations by Holz-
worth against prosecuting officials,
made in petitions he has filed on
behalf OF Jordon in the United States
Court OF Appeals. Because Of these
allegations, Jordon yesterday notified
the clerks OF the Supreme Court. the
Court OF Appeals and the District
Court and Justice Let's chat he was
discharging Holzworth.
He told the court today that he
also wrote Holzvprth q letter dis
missing him.
About $50 o'clock last night" Jor-
don stated. Il received q telegram
from Holzworth demanding that I
suhstantiate or withdraw charges he
said made against him In my let
ter. In that letter stated. My posi-
ton here demands absolute truth
and fairness. In this you have
failed.
Charges classification.
Prom the very first. there has been
. feeling Of friction and non-co-oper-
alton between Mr.. Holzworth and my
other attorney. Mr. Harry T. Whelan.
I am being put IN false position with
the public
Jordon then produced letter, pur-
porting to be signed by HolZworth,
which told Of a mass meeting to be
held In the Shoreham Hotel last
Thursday night to cid Jordons de-
tense.
The prisoner said the hotel records
show no Arrangements for such Q
meeting were ever made. and pro-
duoed q letter from friend who went
to the hotel to attend the meeting Is
proof that it was not held.
Jordon told Justice Let's that Holz-
worth had put him in false position
In regard to his past record.
II am not proud that I am an ex-
convict" Jordon asserted. But I am
fighting for my life and feel that I
should tell the exact truth"
Petitions Are Stricken.
Holsworth was not in court.
uyhAlay7 WIN
the court he would do everything pos
sible to protect his clients rights, but
added he had not co-operated with
Holzworth, because he found he could
not subscribe to the latters actions
Jordon addressed the court again.
saying he was sorry he had annoyed
the court with multiple petitions.
II will never make another mistake
like this in choice Of counsel" he as
serted.
1T was largely in . spirit Of des-
peration that signed certain OF the
papers put before me by Mr.. Holz-
worth which bear my name"
At Jordon's request, Justice Let's
had noted on the record severance
Of Holzworth from the case, and that
petitions filed by him were stricken
from the files.
New Trial Plea Pending.
Informed by Assistant United States
Attorney Roger Robb that President
Roosevelt had granted a 30-dAy re-
prieve to allow further investiga-
ton Of the case by the Justice De-
partment. Justice Let's recalled the
death warrant and set the execution
for June II. Robb assured the court
that his once wants to run out
every fact that has anything to do
with this case and Is cooperating
with the pardon attorney at the Jus
tioe Department"
Sending Jordon back to Jail. JUS
tice Let's told him that Whelan has
merited the esteem Of this court, both
for his attachments and as q man."
and thai Jordon might rest assured
that every honest EFFORT would be
made in his behalf.
A petition by Whelan on behalf of
Jordon now Is pending in the Court
Of Appeals asking that District Court
be ordered to grant . new trial On
the grounds Of newly discovered EVIL
dencs. Tho new evidence concerns
the description Of Mrs. Jaynes' slayer
n the GArden-T shop hold-up.