The Case of the Nurse and the Decorated Husband
At the designated time of 11:30 p.m., he was waiting outside the hospital, and they walked to a nearby restaurant for a late-night meal and drinks. His charm made her feel at ease, and when he offered to drive her home, she happily accepted. That sense of happiness quickly faded when her companion drove to his residence instead of heading to her apartment.
He parked the car and invited her inside, but she politely declined. He appeared to respect her decision, and they departed from the Alabama Avenue location. He then drove to a spot near Camp Springs, where he halted the car once more.
When it became apparent that he expected sex, she firmly refused and insisted he take her home. In response, he opened the glove compartment and revealed a gun, placing it on the dashboard while saying, "I always take care of my girls." As he forced himself on her, he threatened, "If you don't want to play with me, I can get mighty rough." The overwhelming fear that he would kill her drained her resistance, and she gave in to his demands.
In 1940, William Alger Dawes, Jr., was 18 years old and living with his parents in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, William Alger Dawes, Sr., was a painter and interior designer, while his mother, Cleo, managed the household. In January 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and six months later, he married Sue Ellen Phillips, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Phillips from Carnesville, Georgia.
After completing a rigorous 30 weeks of training at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, in December 1941, William was assigned to Lawson Field at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he honed his skills in ground and aerial photography.
By 1944, Lieutenant W. A. Dawes had successfully completed 59 missions and received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Presidential Citation, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, the American Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He spent the majority of the previous year in the India-China-Burma region.
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William Alger Dawes Jr., 27, a pilot stationed at Bolling Field, Washington, DC., was ordered to be held without bond at the Marlboro, Maryland jail on October 1, 1948. This following allegations made by a 23-year-old nurse from Doctors Hospital, who filed rape charges against him. The young officer, who had been stationed at Bolling for three months, was apprehended by Washington police at his residence on the 1200 block of Alabama Ave. SE. The incident reportedly occurred in the officer's car near Camp Springs, Maryland, and he was transferred to Prince George's County authorities.
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In her statement to the police, the poised and articulate nurse recounted that their first meeting took place at the intersection of Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE on Thursday, September 30, when the pilot 'picked her up' as she was walking to her job at Doctors Hospital. They agreed to reconnect after her shift ended at 11:30 p.m.
After completing her duties, Dawes was waiting for her outside the hospital at the same intersection. They proceeded to walk to a restaurant, where they enjoyed a late dinner and a few beers. After their meal, Dawes offered her a ride home in his car; however, he instead drove to his apartment located in the 1200 block of Alabama Avenue.
The nurse stated that she declined to enter the apartment. After assuring her he would take her straight home, they left the Alabama Avenue location; however, she told police he drove to a dirt road near Camp Springs, where he stopped the car once more. She said that she felt compelled to comply with his demands when he brandished a .25-caliber automatic handgun that he retrieved from the glove compartment. When Dawes took out the gun, she said he placed it on the dashboard and stated, "I always take care of my girls."
According to the nurse, after the attack, they returned to Lt. Dawes' apartment, where she felt she had no choice but to accompany him inside. After he fell asleep, she left and, upon encountering a police officer, reported that she had been assaulted. After making her complaint, the nurse was taken to Gallinger Hospital for examination. A preliminary report showed no evidence of rape, police said.
When Police searched the pilot's car, they found a .25-caliber automatic in the glove box just as the nurse had said. When they questioned Dawes about the gun, he told them he had read about the Glen Burnie double slayings and did not want the same thing to happen to him.
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The week before, in the vicinity of Glen Burnie, Maryland, John Mahlan, 25, and Mary Kline, 18, went missing following a Friday night date. Early the following day, Mr. Mahlan's car was found abandoned on Old Annapolis Road just outside Glen Burnie. Each door window had a bullet hole, and blood stains were evident on both the front and back seats. One of Miss Kline's shoes was found on the floor. Tragically, their lifeless bodies were discovered approximately 20 miles from where the vehicle was left.
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On November 11, 1948, before Judge Charles C. Marbury of the Upper Marlboro Circuit Court, the trial against Lt. William Alger Dawes Jr., 28, Bolling air base pilot, commenced. He faced three specific charges: rape, attempted rape, or assault. The maximum penalty was death if found guilty on the charge of rape and assault with intent to rape.
The married pilot claimed the sex was consensual and pleaded not guilty at the preliminary hearing on October 5. Lt. Dawes, dressed in his military uniform adorned with two rows of ribbons, listened attentively as the attractive nurse recounted her experience. She testified that on the night of September 30, while in his car parked along a dirt road with a view of Indian Head Highway, she was compelled to submit to him. During the incident, he allegedly said, "If you don't want to play with me, I can get mighty rough." She recounted her fear, feeling that between his actions and the gun on the dashboard, she might not return home alive.
When Lt. Dawes took the stand, he refuted the nurse's claims of criminal assault, asserting that he did not force his affections on her and that he had complied when she asked him to stop touching her. Regarding the .25 caliber revolver on the dashboard, he explained that the young woman had expressed concern about parking due to the recent double murder in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Both parties agreed they had met that same afternoon as she was heading to work, and they made plans to meet at 11:30 that night after her shift ended.
Notably, no physician's report was presented during the trial, a point that Defense Attorney Ralph W. Powers hammered home in his closing arguments.
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The following day after five hours of deliberations, the Circuit Court jury made up of eight men and four women acquitted the decorated Army Air Corp pilot of rape and assault with intent to rape a 23-year-old Doctors Hospital nurse on Oct. 1. He was found guilty of assault and battery. Before issuing the sentence, Judge Marbury shocked the courtroom with his announcement: "Information has come to my attention," he stated, "that indicates a need for further investigation." Consequently, Judge Charles Marbury referred the case to Roy D. Bright, the county probation officer, and scheduled the sentencing for November 22. Until the investigation concluded, Lt. Dawes was free on a $500 bond.
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On November 22, Lt. William Alger Dawes, convicted of assault and battery on the 23-year-old Doctors Hospital nurse, was fined $500 and given a suspended 12-month jail sentence. Following the announcement of the punishment, Judge Charles C. Marbury provided insights into the investigation that had delayed sentencing. He revealed that Mr. Bright had discovered two additional reports made by women against Lt. Dawes in the last four months; however, the women chose not to pursue prosecution, resulting in no charges against Lt. Dawes. According to the probation officer, one incident took place in Portland, Maine, while the other occurred in Washington, DC. The Army had already imposed disciplinary action on the lieutenant for the incident in Portland.
When addressing the defendant, the judge labeled his actions as "disgraceful" and stated, "It's now quite clear that your career in the Army is over." The recipient of three wartime decorations interjected, pleading for leniency and requesting a "chance to prove" that the offense had served as a "lesson" for him. Dawes expressed his intention to reconcile with his wife in Atlanta and embark on a new, more moral path. Judge Marbury responded, "I'm glad to hear this."
In 1950, civilian William Alger Dawes was divorced and living at home with his parents in Atlanta, Georgia. He was employed by a Wholesale Metal Company.
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In 1950, civilian William Alger Dawes was divorced and living at home with his parents in Atlanta, Georgia. He was employed by a Wholesale Metal Company.
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The Atlanta ConstitutionMon, May 29, 1944 Page 15 |
Primary Sources
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Fri, Jul 04, 1941 ·Page 11
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Tue, Dec 02, 1941 ·Page 7
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Mon, May 29, 1944 ·Page 15
Times Herald, Washington, District of Columbia, Sat, Oct 02, 1948 ·Page 3
Times Herald, Washington, District of Columbia, Thu, Nov 11, 1948 ·Page 38
The Washington Daily News, Washington, District of Columbia, Fri, Nov 12, 1948 ·Page 10
Evening Star, Washington, District of Columbia, Fri, Nov 12, 1948 ·Page 9
Evening Star, Washington, District of Columbia, Sat, Nov 13, 1948 ·Page 20
Evening Star, Washington, District of Columbia, Tue, Nov 23, 1948 ·Page 25
The Washington Daily News, District of Columbia, Thu, Sep 23, 1948 ·Page 3
The Evening Sun, Washington, District of Columbia, Wed, Mar 26, 1952 ·Page 2
National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 01502; Reel: 7
United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.
National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia; Roll: 767; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 160-543
The image of the woman is a stock photo
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