Evening journal., 1918-05-31
JAIL SENTENCES FOR
HERON TRAFFIGKERS

and August This involved the disposi-
tion Of a numberof cases wherein con-
victions had been secured by Attorney
General Benhardt or Deputy Attorney
General Green. but held up through ar
rest Of judgment pending the fate Of ap-
plications for a new trial or for other
causes.
Among the eases included in the lot
were those Of some Of the recently con-
Nicted heroin sellers
The first of these cases was that OF
Joshua Laster. for whom j Frank Ball
appeared Making a plea for leniency
he asked the court to take into consid-
Grafton the fact that Laster already has
been IN prison two months. Deputy
Attorney General Green said In reply
that Iaster was well known In City
Court where he had been a prisoner on
various charge including crap shooting,
wife beating, etc that he had been In
trouble with the Federal authorities.
Judge Hcisel in imposing sentence,
gave Lasier the fun extent Of the law,
a year i'm Jail and $500 fine
Odis Wren. regarded as the chief Of
the Negro her0in sellers Of the city,
was next sentenced. His counsel l..
Irving Handy, made a plea for lenlency
90 which Mr.. Green replied as 10 Wren's
reputation as a seller of heroin. and
stated also that certain medical sup
plies stolen some time ago from the
office Of Dr. Michael Ostro, had been
found In Nren's Possession, left there
presumably by the man not Wren,
however,. who stole them
The court was not inclined 10 show
Wren any degree or leniencv and Judge
Heisel proceeded 20 sentence him upon
the second bin upon which ne was
convicted He was given a year on
each. fine of S200 and ordered TO pay
the costs of the cases.
The next OF the heron lot was
Charles Palmer. colorcd. who helped
ihe state largely by pleading guilty to
the Indictment against him and testify
ing against the other sellers of the
drug He has been In Jain since March
26 and i'm view of these facts the court
imposed a prison term of only four
months as accompaniment to the S2oJ
fine
The last Of the cases was that Of
Edna Kane. who early In the State
campaign pleaded guilty 90 violation Of
the drugs act She said she only had
"
Laster and a customer, giving The lat
fer a package OF heroin on Lasler's or
der and handing the money 60 Laster's
wife. After her plea OF guilty s'rD was
sentenced TO eight months.
Mr.. Green called the courts atten-
tion to the fact that Laster had been
convicted I'm This case and that the
circumstances might warrant the re-
forming Of Edna's sentence. The court
ccnsidered the matter and Judge Heisel
finally announced that ne was OF the
opinion that she was not guilty NJ any
intent TO break the law, and that. IN
consequence her sentence would he re-
formed 50 that 10 shall expire today.
Edna loked nightly pleased.
After court convened the first case to
come UP was that Of Waleryan Duchat-
kie,vicz. convicted OF embezzling a check
FOR a considerable sum from one An-
tonic Tocherhooski. The defendant
somewhat astonished spectators IN
court. where he was tried by very AMY |
conducting his own defence and max
ING the regulation motion for a new
trial when the jury returned Its Nerdlct
Of guilty. When II came 10 argument
nj this Duchatkiewlcz had recourse 10 (
counsel. because he does not speak Eng
lish very fuenlly. Wilbur u. ADAMS
represented him at the trial ana ius1e a
strong argument for a new Trial lhls
morning Judge Rice disposed or ile new
trial matter by stating mat uie court
thought DuchatkeviCz had had lal!
trial and full opportunitNto pul lu d
defence and that the fact tnat ne elu
NOT have counsel was no reason lot
Franiing a new trial. judge Rice theIe- i
unon imposed a sentence OF elsh'
months Imprisonment.
Taking up the case Of kazmer Tram
sles the cast side grOceryman conNlcieu
NJ receiving stolen goods, VINO gave lie
defecfives who arrested MIN a uNels
scrimmage before they landed MN IN
reU. the court expressed IT'S intention 10
be lenient ,su u,.
Mr.. Ball. Gramales' counsel, sald Una,
his client had a wife ana TWO sndil
children and that they were depenuenl
tinon him and his earnings ID lhe niue
store he ran for their support. MORE
nver ne never had been m trouDie De
FORE The court told Gramales that IN
view Of the facts presented ana Wiuiln
ne knowledge his sentence woulo ne
light He was given one month jill tue
N0rkhOuse. ,.,
Another new trial case was disposed
NJ when Judge Rice read the opinion OF
the court refusing rehearing for War
ner Henry. colOred. Of near Delaware
Citv convicted Of stealing chickens.
Judge Rice. I'm imposing sentence
said the court intended TO break up
me nractice Of chicken stealing, u
nossible hut that In view Of the prevl-
ous good reputation the prisoner had
pnioyed before the present trouble
would not give him the full extent OF
the law.
Henry was ordered TO pay s3i resti-
hutton money and the costs Of the case
and 10 serve two years in prison. One
wear was thus lapped of the maximum
punishment as well as the lashes.
Deputy Attorney General Green re-
tired the charges Of buying and selling
goods without license and doing bust /
ness without registering against Pedro /
Vasseli. Samuel Nassell and Eugene |
Vasseli. Mr. Green pointed out that |
there are FIVE brothers alleged TO have |
sold and bought goods without a license
and 10 IS difficult TO pick out The proper
ones.
Found guilty Of keeping a gaming
table when tried at the early part Of
the term, George Kazantas was fined
$500 and costs by judge Rice. The /
court Is determined 10 break up gaming 4
houses. II was impressed. Philip l..
Garrett. counsel for Kazantas, asked for
ieniency. pointing out that George was
merely a particinant in tho game nf /