The New York herald., 1922-01-07
KILLINGS IN HARLEM
CAUSE JUMP IN BAIL
Judge Mcintyre Calls Almost
500 Criminal Cases for
Trial Soon.

Following Attorney-General Daugl,-
erty's practical demand for better 20
operation between Federal and State
authorities in the enforcement of GRIM
inal law. and hard after the killing of
two policemen by a negro criminal who
had benefited peculiarly from the laws
mercies, there was a visible Tightening
up yesterday in the attitude toward
criminals of the courts and of the Dis
trict Attorney.
the bail of second offenders already ont
on bonds. Judge John F. Mcintyre.
particularly stirred by the Boldly case
in Harlem. called almost 500 cases and
assigned them to different parts of :he
court for speedy disposition. Some of
these cases dated back two years or
more. The list included grand .arcenies,
ZIG; receiving stolen goods. "a; bur-
giary, &c; assault. So; robbery. 20; man
slaughter, 6; extortion. 6; bigamy. y;
forgery, II, and perjury. 3.
One case concerned Robert Merlo, tax,
driver. indicted August 10. 1921. for
grand larceny In the first degree. after
having been out on bail for another auto
mobile stealing indictment months De-
fore. Judge Grain was Informed that
the case had been on the calendar many
times, but had been adjourned at the re-
quest of the defendant. Judge Grain
promptly raised Merlo's bail to $4,000
and in default OF It sent him to the
Tombs.
Judge Francis Y. Mancuso In many
robbery burglary and holdup cases sent
bail up from $1,000 to $4,000 and from
s., 600 to $4,000.
District Attorney Banton. working
with the Judges In these stlffening up
activities. said that his ''crime barome-
ter" a memorandum Of prisoners and
cases furnished TO him daily. shows the
situation In New York county to be bet
ter this year than year ago.
"I have 1874 cases of serious crime
awaiting trial now where there were 233
a year ago" Mr.. Banton said. II have
101 awaiting action by the Grand Jury
where there were 1T q year ago The
20 prisoners In the Tonbs for homicide
are only the average number"
The District Attorney pointed out that
Is only SO to the 100000. while In Chi
cago It is 1913, in st. Louis 1876. in Baiti-
more z. In Philadelphia so. in Pitts
burgh 1913 and In San Francisco 7G.
with Memphis leading with 6S.4.
"I see no reason to get panicky about
crime waves" Mr.. Banton said. 1T Is
UP to the Parole Board to show more
care, I think. I believe the conference
in Albany Wednesday should produce
excellent results In the way OF good sug
gestions and better working relations
between Federal and county prosecutors.
Col. Hayward. United States Attorney
here, and l have had close and useful
relations since we took office.
Judges are now doing their utmost
TO see that persons who violate the law
are speedily dealt with"
Chief Magistrate william McAdoo laid
the fault of widespread crime to the lax
ity displayed toward bail bonding and In
parollng. He held that It is imperative
for the Legislature TO bring the bail
bond people under rigid restriction as 70
character and financial responsibility.
l.. c. Bogert. head OF the burglar In
suranco department OF the Globe Indem-
nifty Company. said yesterday that every
concern In the business has been losing
money for years as crime surged upward
and that the losses on indemnities have
been heavy for the last few years. He
pointed out that burglary Insurance has
gone up from $3.50 to SEE on private
houses In six or seven years and from
t12 to $25 on apartments to $3.50 for
pushbutton apartments
Col William Hayward. United States
Attorney, was In Washington yesterday
comforting with Attorney General
DauEherty about the Albany conference. |