Evening star., 1951-06-28
airfax Pushes Case
Against 7 Men Held
In Kidnap-AssauIt

A Fairfax County grand jury
will be asked on July 9, to return
indictments for rape against two
men who are being held in the
kidnap-assault of Mrs. Nancy Ann
Hotchkiss of Arlington, Va.
The following day, Arlington
Commemorative Attorney Dem
man T. Rucker will ask a special
grand jury in that county to in
dict the pair for abduction with
intent to ravish and for night
time burglary.
John Robert Polk, 10, of,the 800
block of North Wakefield street.
Arlington. and William Robert
Payne, 25. of the 200 block of
Wooten avenue, Bethesda, Md,
both face possible death penalties
IN both Arlington and Fairfax.
Both Held Without Bond.
Polk and Payne are being held
IN Arlington jail without bond.
accused of abducting the 20-year-
OLD bride from her bedroom in a
Colonial Village apartment early
Tuesday while a rifle was pointed
at her husband, Ensign James K.
Hotchkiss.
Mrs. Hotchkiss, clad only in al
negligee, was driven to Great Falls
IN Fairfax County, and assaulted
i've times before she was returned
TO Arlington. Polk was captured
oy Arlington police at his home
Payne was picked up by a Fairfax
County policeman as he attempted
20 hitch-hike his way back to-
ward Arlington.
Although the men face the
1eath penalty in both counties. It
was brought out during the case
u the "Martinsville Seven" last
year that no white man has ever
rome to the electric chair in Vir-
'lnia on a rape charge, unless it
llso involved murder.
Almond Explained Case.
The charge that death penal
les in Virginia were reserved for
Negroes in rape cases was made
~ attorneys for the seven Mar
insville Negroes, who eventually
we're electrocuted for assaulting all
White woman. {
Attorney General ]. Lindsay AL !
1ond replied, at that time, that al
1hite man had been sentenced to
leath for a non-fatal criminal as Il
ault in 1889. but prison records {
howed the sentence was COM p
1uted and the convict later was B
aroled. Il
Polk has criminal record dat Ia
lg back to 1949, when he was Il
sntenced to 6 months in jail c
'r attempted housebreaking. Last Il
ear. he was sentenced to 6 months ID
\ the State road gang for pos 4
,ssing stolen property. A petty
lrceny conviction in Arlington a
ounty Court last January brought T
sentence of 80 days. :
Polk worked as an auto Ia
lechanic's helper in an Arling-
N garage. c
Payne Called Good Worker. Q
Payne had taken a new Job only L
st week with a Washington re-
'1geration firm. For a year before 4
lat. however, he was employed at J
filling station at Wisconsin ave-
ue and East-West highway in
ethesda.
The proprietor, William Fahr,
I'D yesterday Payne was a good r
nploye. Mr.. Fahr said Polk /
lsited Payne occasionally, and !
le station owner had come to the +
inclusion that POLK is a bad :
yg." =
Mr.. Fahr said Payne's parents
re separated and Payne him +
II is separated from his wife,
hose whereabouts he does not IF
now. The proprietor also re- V
alled that Payne is a Navy Is
eteran Of Pacific service in World IN
Tar II, with some decorations. Iii
Payne attended Arlington |p
'hools, Mr.. Fahr said, and was |n
nployed for a time by a sewing
4achine store on Wilson boule- In
ard. Arlington. It,