The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-18
Judge Angel IIpsets Practice OF
20 Years When Appealed To
BY c. T. Wilkins.
OFFICIALS USURP POWER.
Detroit Lawyer Says Autocratic
Actions of Federal Officers
Will Lead To Revolution.

winch Relatives anu lTlenus OF leuerhl
prisoners confined in the county jail
have been denied access 10 them
without a permit from the district at
torney. was swept aside by Judge
Angel Friday morning, In the case
OF Francis A. Walsh. arrested with
out a warrant by w. c. Dannenberg,
a special agent Of the department OF
justice, in the Berghoff cafe. Wednes-
day night. in connection with the
smuggling Of Chinese across the Dor
der. Hereafter, under the courts rul-
ing, federal prisoners will be subject
TO the same rules and regulations as
are ordinary prisoners in the county
jail. The ruling is stiff jolt TO the
autocratic methods of some Of the
governmental bureaus, notably the
immigration bureau, that have been
exercising almost despotic power with
respect TO prisoners in their control
The courts action followed the re-
fusal of District Attorney futile TO is
sue a permit to the mother and few
friends OF Walsh. on the request OF
Walsh's attorney, Charles T. Wilkins.
And IL is q singular fact. In this con
nection that Mr. wilkins, who is d.
rectly responsible for the rule being
knocked out was the man who really
established the practice when he was
an assistant in the district attorney
office some 20 years ago.
When Mrs. Walsh. accompanied by
two or three friends, visited the JAIL
Thursday, and asked TO see her son
she was told she would have TO get
a permit from the district attorney.
On further inquiry she was given TO
understand that she could not get a
permit until after Walsh had been ar
raigned. some time next week. she
then took the matter up with Attor-
ney wilkins
I'll get You permit said Mr..
wilkins, with determination.
He made the usual application TO
District Attorney futile and for the
first time in his life was refused Mr..
Tuttle explained that Mr.. Dannenberg,
the special agent, had left town and
had given strict orders that Walsh
should be seen by no one until after
his arrangement This aroused Will
kins fighting blood.
IF you don't issue the permit
shall have to take the matter before
Judge Angel and perhaps wipe your
rule out entirely" said wilkins
Mr.. futile preferred TO let il &c
that way, but, at Tuttle's request
wilkins deferred the application un
til after the jury in the case now in
progress was excused for the noon
recess. ~ TO t .ffts
In presenting the facts before
Judge Angel, Attorney wilkins de-
nounced the autocratic methods OF
the government officers in plain Eng.
lish.
These underlings OF the bureaus
in Washington come here and under
take 10 deprive men Of their liberty
in defiance of the constitution Of the
United States, and 1t is time this
usurpation Of power should be stop
ped" he said. 1T was just such
practices as these that led to the
French revolution, and they will lead
TO revolution in this country II they
are not discontinued. | submit that
there Is no reason why federal pris.
oners in the county Jail should be
treated any differently than ordinary
prisoners. There is no warrant in law
for ii and defy the district attorney
10 produce any.
II quite agree with you," said
Judge Angel, and / shall be pleas
ed to sign an order extending to the
prisoner the same privileges that are
enjoyed by other prisoners in the
jail
And he forthwith signed such an
order. Accordingly Walsh's friends
will be free TO call on him this after.
noon. or any other afternoon, during
the regular visiting hours, the de-
partment OF justice TO the contrary
Under the courts ruling, any other
federal prisoner may also be visited
without a permit from the district at
torney.
Mr. wilkins explained to the court
that this practice with respect to fed.
eTat prisoners was established when
the notorious Alaska pirates were con.
fined III the Jail. They had many
friends outside who would have stop.
ped al nothing to get them out, and
Mr.. wilkins, then assistant district
attorney. requested the sheriff TO ad
NIT no one TO see them without an
order from the district attorneys Of
fee. The practice was continued and
came 10 be regarded as a fixed rule