New-York tribune., 1920-12-19
Heary Bail to Th,cart
Release Of Criminals
Courts Ask Police for List Of
Burglars and Cunmen; Stronn
Sets $4,000 Bond Minimum

District Attorney Edward Swami and
the Judges Of General Sessions yester-
day took official cognizance of the local
crime wave by steps that will make the
temporary release through bail of GRIM
malls almost impossible.
Early in the day Mr. Swami issued
instructions to all Assistant District At
torneys assigned to the courts of New
York County to urge upon the judges
the absolute necessity Of admitting no
ope charged with robbery or burglary to
leoa tnah $1v,Uu0 bali.
Several hours afterward it was an
nouuced at Police Headquarters that
the judges Of the Court of General
Sessions had written letter to Mayor
Hylan asking that he instruct the po-
lice sto provice them with list of all
burglars. gunmen and other dangerous
Grim mails, along with their respective
records.
The judges also asked for records of
all criminals now out on second BAIL
saying it is their intention to round
up these men as soon as possible re-
gard ess of the conditions of their
recognizance, give speedy trial to them
and send them to prison if they are
iVup eui ~ oI the oHenses charged
against them. Similar action will be
take" In the cases of criminals out on
pan Tor the first time in instances
where the records show they have per-
sistently violated the law.
The Police Department announced
that the information requested by the
JUICES WILL oe .,l,en Jnem
District Attorney Swami issued his
order after Judge John F. McIntyIe in
GENERAL Sessions had fixed the bail of
La ssaehce hawthorne at 100000. Haw-
Shofhe and Two accompAces, it is al
!eged, broke into various rooms at the
hotel Astor Wednesday night and stole
approximately $4,000 worth of lew
cry. he was indicted FriGa. by the
grand jury for robbery in the first
degree and burglary in the third de-
gree.
District Attorney Swami also an
nounced that on Monday ne will ask the
yarious Judges of the Court of General
sessions 10 segregate from that courts
calendar every case of robbery and
burg ary and place it upon a special
calendar for immediate trial. He has
instructed the trial assistants to be
ready IN all such cases as soon as they
are reached upon q special calendar.
1t has been pointed out time and
again by Mr.. Swami that the profes-
sional criminals have no difficulty in
obtaining bail and by reason of the
time it takes to reach their cases on
the court calendar they are able to go
on with their business Of thieving and
killing until recaught. He is If the
opinion that heavy bail and immediate
trial would go a long way in halting
the crime wave.
Assistant District Attorney Moses
Ryttenberg, who presented the case
against Hawthorne to the grand jury.
announced after bail had been fixed
that subpoenas had been issued for a
number of employees Of the Hotel
Astor TO appear before the grand jury
on Monday. They will be questioned
by him as to what they know about
the escape Of the robbers from the
hotQ.
Hawthorne was not present when
Judge Mcintyre hxed his bail. AS
sistant District Attorney Ryttenberp
rad sent requisition to the Tombs
|. 1or him, but Hawthorne refused TO
come. Under the .aw it is necessary for
prisoner to signify his willingness to
leave the prison to go to the District
Attorneys Office.