Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-02
Boy Once Acquitted
On Insanity Plea Is
Held Sane and Freed

Held Sane and Freed
A 19-year-old youth, acquitted
Of HOUSEKEEPING last month on
grounds of insanity at the time
of the crime in 1851, walked free
from court late yesterday, when
efforts to have him adjudged
feeble minded failed.
The youth is Maurice Jones,
colored, of the 900 block Of
French street NV, who had
spent the greater part Of his
time in st. Elizabeths Hospital
since being indicted in 1852.
A jury in the U. s. District
Court for the District of Co
lumbia yesterday found Jones
not feeble-minded. The verdict
freed him from custody. The
jury had deliberated for about
four hours before reaching its
verdict. Psychiatrists had testi-
fed that Jones has the mentality
Of a child Of about 8 or 8.
No Remaining Charges.
Meanwhile, in the light Of
Jones acquittal last month of
the HOUSEKEEPING charge on
grounds of insanity, prosecu-
tors, two days ago, had dropped
three other indictments which
named Jones on charges of
HOUSEKEEPING, larceny and rob-
berry. There were no remaining
charges against Jones as he
walked out of the court yester-
day.
Immediately after Jones' &C
quittal on october 20, Judge
Henry A. Schweinhaut signed
an order to commit Jones to the
custody of the Federal Board of
Health, Education and Welfare.
This was to enable the board to
commit Jones to a mental in
stitution while his present
mental condition was being
determined.
Judge Schweinhaut sub
sequently Cancelled the order,
when District authorities,
through the Corporation Coun-
sells Office, moved to have Jones
adjudged feeble-minded and
placed in the District Training
School at Laurel, Md.
Psychiatrists Testify.
Two st. Elizabeths Hospital
psychiatrists. DR.. William G.
Cushard and DR.. Leon j.
Epstein. testified at the latest
hearing that Jones is not capable
of managing his own affairs.
DR.. Epstein, in answer to
question by Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel William w. PAWS,
said he believed it would be to
the welfare of the community
for Jones to be committed to an
institution.
Jones. according to court rec
ords, was adjudged insane in
June, 1852, not long after being
indicted. He was reported by
psychiatrists to have recovered
in March, 1858. However. he
again was found of unsound
mind in June, 1858, and then
declared sane at a court hearing
last August II and competent to
stand trial.
Called Lookout"
Jones had been charged with
breaking into the Church on the
Rock of the Apostolic Faith of
New England in the 900 block
of M street NV, in December,
1851. Actually, it was contend
ed by Assistant United States
Attorney Thomas A. Flannery,
Jones was serving as a lookout"
for two men who escaped. Jones
was only Is at the time. Juve-
nile Court waived Jurisdiction,
his indictment on
several offenses.
AS a result of Jones' acuuittal
on the insanity grounds on the
HOUSEKEEPING charge, the prose-
cution felt it would be impossible
to get convictions on other
charges against him.
At the Governments request
Chief Judge Bolitha j. Laws
dismissed indictments that had
accused Jones of breaking into
the home of William T. White
head, in the 5000 block of East
Capitol street, in December, 1851,
and taking a safe containing
$1,000.
A second indictment dismissed
accused Jones Of $2,317 rob-
berry from the home of Roger
(Whitetop) Simpkins in the $500
block of Twelfth street NE. in
February. 1852. Simpkins re-
Gently was named a defendant
in a bribery conspiracy indict-
ment in connection with gam
bling.
The third indictment dismissed
had accused Jones of robbing a
woman of her billfold, contain
ing $40, in September, 1851.