Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-06-16
JUDGE BAKER GIVES
B0OTiES WARNING
IN FEDERAL COURT
c. Walker Reports Effort To
lAf'''7NGe Him.


There were several peculiar fea-
lures about the case of the govern
ment against Major Fleet. colored,
of Clarksburg, which was called to
The attention of Judge Baker late
n the afternoon session of Federal
court on Monday at Parkershurg
by District Attorney Walker. who
made a personal statement in the
matter
After the Indictment Of Fleet at
a former term on charge of boot
iagging, the case was transferred To
Elkins. In the meantime, Col. Wal
Eer said a man from Clarksburg Wis
led him at his home in this city
and talked to him about buying a
newspaper plant in which Col. Wal
ker was interested but was inform
ed that he did not have a newspaD.
er for sale Then the man switched
the subject and made an appeal for
Major Fleet. stating that Fleet
could be used to advantage In an
ection to be held IN GlarksburS,
and furthermore that the case aga
inst Fleet had been framed up.
Col. Walker informed the fellow in
emphatic language that he never
allowed politics 10 enter into any of
the cases in which he was prOsecu-
ting and he said the man changed
his tune and made a plea that he
merely was appearing for Fleet,
who was being prosecuted Col.
ha al grfArs
that he would ask his assistance TO
make an investigation Of Fleets
case. Fleet failed to appear after
the indictment at the next term of
court and a default of his bond was
recorded. An investigation diselos-
ed. Col. Walker said that the
stranger who had visited him had
gone to Fleet and told him that for
two hundred dollars he could settle
the retailers tax in the internal
revenue office, and for an additional
enc hundred and fifty dollars and
travelling expenses he could settle
the court case With the l. S Al.
torney. During the investigation
Col. Walker said, il was found that
Fleet and his friends had raised the
two amounts demanded BY the
man and it was found that the
stranger had paid the $500 into the
internal revenue Office as the tax
for selling liquor, under the old law
Col. Walker said he had made an
effor. to get this man To come to
the Wheeling term as witness, but
he failed to come 1t was his inten.
ton, Col Walker said, to 90 before
the next grand jury and have an in
dictment returned against the ind
Vidual. Under the circumstances
Col Walker SAID taat he would ask
the court To So aside the default Of
bond against Fleet. and recommend
That upon Fleet pleading guilty that
The court assess fine Of one hun
dred dollars.
The default was set aside and
Fleet appeared before the court and
pleaded guilty to tie charge Of
bootlegging Judge Baker in impcs-
Ing the fine told him that if ever he
was brought before him on another
charge of like character he would
give him the limit. DO YOU get
.that?' the court inquired. Make a
note Of It and remember il, as 1t is
a warning 70 you and others that
the law against violations Of the
prohibition law will be vigorously
prosecuted and II IS the intention
OF the court to put a stop to it,.
Judge Baker informed Col. j." al
ter that he would direct the officers
Of the court TO lend assistance in