The New York herald., 1921-05-18
3,612 ARRESTS net
FEW CONVICTIONS in
ClTY'S DRY CRUSADE
Inquiry Indicates That Less
Than 25 Per Cent. of Those
Indicted Will Be Found
Guilty in Court.
SITUATION CANVASSED
OF 1874 Alleged Offenders
Arraigned in 5 BorOughs
Only 1887 Were Held
for Grand Jury.
TRUE BILLS IN 453 CASES
District Attorneys and Police
Are Cooperating to Get Eyi-
dence Strong Enough for
Indictments.
TRUE BILLS IN 453 CASES


The police crusade against dry law
cvaders. which began April when
Gov. Miller signed the Mullan- Gage
law, has netted 3,612 offenders. accord
ing to figures compiled by Police Head
quarters statisticians yesterday after
noon.
VI these Offenders, according to pres
ent Indications, only about 200 will
be held by the magistrates to await
the action OF the Grand Jury; less
than half of the 400 will be indicted
BY that body, decidedly less than one
quarter of the 2,700 even will be con-
victed by juries and few indeed ever
Will see the interior of prison CELL
This Is forecast by TIE NEW YORK
HERALp's inquiry into the disposition
of the prisoners arrested by moro than
five hundred policemen now working
on enforcement of the liquor laws. 1t
IS a subject which. has been covered
BY the Police Headquarters statis-
ticians, who so far have had much to
say, but only concerning arrests.
How Record stands.
OF 1.Io4 offenders actually arraigned
before magistrates In the five boroughs
only 1,3S1, about ~ per cent, have been
thought By these Judges to deserve to
be held for the consideration OF the
Grand Jury In the five counties max
ing up. the city, Grand Jurics to date
have considered 9SS cases and OF these
have found true bills In only 45s cases.
There is always a certain discrepancy
between the number OF indicted persons
and the number actually brought to
trial. This ID because busy District At
torneys discover in studying some cases
that the evidence Is so weak that no jury
will convict.
The defendants who go to trial stand
at least an even chance OF acquittal and
probably a greater chance OF release
than OF conviction. There have been in
this city so far only ten trials under the
Muian-Gage laws. and in these six men
we're acquitted and four convicted. These
trials, however, were OF men against
whom the evidence was strong.
In the course of THE New YoRf.
HunArD's inquiry tho District Attorneys
of New York, The Bronx. Kings Queens
aud Richmond counties, or their repre-
sen;atives charged with the enforcement
OF the liquor law. we're interrogated. All
were exceedingly busy at their new task.
in each OF the five offices the spirit pre-
Vaifing was that the law. despite the
alleged hostility OF majority toward II,
must be enforced TO the letter District
Attorneys are fighting hard for indict-
ments where the evidence indicates a
real violation. The police arc receiving
full support from these officials.
Most of the prosecutors are not To-
1uacious concerning anything but fig
ures in connection with the prohibition
enforccment but they are inclined to
deny that wholesale '';urnings OUT arc
being made by grand jurics in cases
where there Is evidence Of real VIOLA
tions Of the law. Grand jurics are apt
10 be lonient where men OF good charac-
ter are found with something on the hip
but they are true to their soaths, despite
any personal feelings. in cases where the
police have 'the goods on violators.
Congestion I'm the Courts.
Albert Blogg Unger. head OF the pro-
hbition enforcement bureau or District
Attorney Swann's office. who has OBJ
tanned 22S indictments In 413 cases pre-
sented to the Grand Jury, said yestcr-
day that the congestion was such in
New York county courts that no trials
OF offenders under the new laws would
be had until the extra term OF the SUI
preme Court, convened for that purpose,
meets on June g. Twelve men have
pleaded guilty before Judges OF General
Sessions These cases. he added, are not
fragrant violations. and in consequence
or the defendants actions In saving the
county tho time and expense or trials
suspended sentences have been given.
In Brooklyn six have pleaded guilty
and six have been acquitted. District
Attorney Harry r. Lewis is putting
cases on the regular county calendars
ss vacancies occur and has not request
81 GOV. Miller TO call a special term OF
the Supreme Court to handle LIQUOR vio-
lauons. The Grand Jury has dismissed
iss cases brought before IL by police Of
f.ciais and 1875 indictments are still TO
be tried. More cases TO be presented to
tho Grand Jury are pling In every day.
Failure to indict apparently has no ef-
scrt on Commissioner Enrights men.
VINO seem TO be striving for an arrest
rcrord rather than one OF convictions
r-c Thc Bronx goes the honor OF hav-
,rr tho first conviction IN the state.
Patrick Mcdonald, who was arrested at
ass Nelrose avenue, The Bronx, April I,
vas convicted April 26 after a trial be-
rore Jucgo Louis Gibbs. at which VIII
Iouehbv Z. Dobbs. Assistant District At
torney. presented the evidence. He was
fined $3.50. Another man has been con-
yicted In The Bronx and none has been
acquitted.
District Attorney Edward J. Glennon
a proceeding carefully IN tho matter of
indictments. urging lis staff not to in
aict unleas the evidence Ia such thet
they can convict. lie desires no indict-
ftnnflntc1 on EfffiL Pnnr