Evening star., 1943-06-30
Mannix Sentenced
To 18-Year Term
On Assault Charge
Judge Coleman Finds
No Reason for Leniency
In Attack on WAVE
BY the Associated Prees

BY the Associated Press
BALTIMORE, June 3o.-Charles
Joseph ManniX. 33, of the 240O block
Of Fortieth street NV, Washing
ton, was under an l8-year Federal
prison sentence today on charges of
attempted criminal assault on a o.
year-old WAVE on the grounds of
the United States Public Health
Service at Bethesda May q.
Mannlx was sentenced by Federal
Judge William C. Coleman after his
conviction by a jury which recon-
mended mercy.
In pronouncing sentence last
night. Judge Coleman said he was
not bound by the jury's recommen-
datlon. and said he saw little rea-
son for showing leniency.
/. mo Reason for Leniency."
Except for your marital status
and the suffering and pain that what
you have done brings upon your
family, the court sees no reason for
leniency," Judge Coleman told Man.
nix, associate marketing specialist
for the Agriculture Department.
You were convicted after a fair
trial and you were well and thor
oughly represented by counsel" the
judge continued. You have been
convicted of one of the most serious
crimes known to law"
After the jury had returned its
verdict, ManniX's wife took the stand
to tell the court they had been mar
rled for about three years. had one
child and were expecting another.
She broke down after sentence
had been pronounced, and was led
from the room while she said be-
tween sobs, Il can't believe he is
guilty. I don't believe he is guilty"
Denied Assault Attempt.
Mannix denied he had attempted
to assault the WAVE, but said he
had slapped her several times after
she screamed and attempted to run
away.
He admitted picking up the girl
in Washington while she was wait
ing for streetcar, but said she
smiled at him and he did not coax
her into his auto.
He denied the girls accusations
that he told her his wife was an
Army nurse doing overseas duty and
that he told her he was taking
short cut when he turned off on
lonely road while en- route to the
Naval Hospital where the WAVE is
stationed
He said he turned in the road for
another purpose. and added that
the girl jumped from the car and
began to scream. He declared he
attempted to quiet her by saying
that hospital guards might shoot at
them. When shot rang out over
their heads. he said, he knocked her
to the ground to protect her from
the fire.
Recall Previous Trial.
The girl had testified she at
tempted to flee when ManniX drove
into the lane and asserted he
grabbed her and threw her to the
ground three times, tearing her
clothes and beating her about the
face and body.
Judge Coleman's sentence, which
was just two years under the maxi
mum prescribed by Federal law, was
pronounced after Government at
torneys Bernard J. Flynn and K.
Thomas Everngam told the court
Mannix had been charged with at
tempted assault in 1886, but had
been acquitted by a District of Co.
lumbia jury.
The prosecutors also declared the
defendant had recently been sus-
pended temporarily by the Agri-
culture Department on charges of
falsifying travel vouchers.
Mannix was held for grand Jury
action on June l and was indicted
by grand jury on June Is.