San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-26
JURY REPORT
REFLECTS NO
LAWLESSNESS
Twenty Unimportant In
dictments Returned AZ
ter Weeks Work.
TEN RANGERS HERE
Ruling That Search War
rants Must Be Legal
Cuts Down Demand.
TEN RANGERS HERE

Despite the fact that scores Of wit
nesses were summoned before the
Ninety-fourth District Court grand
jury during the last two weeks that
body reported Saturday without re-
turning any indictments charging
| gambling. But seven indictments of
that character have been returned by
the present grand jury which has been
in session constantly since Adjt. zen.
Thomas D. Barton inaugurated his
clean up" campaign here several
weeks ago. One mo bill" in connec-
ton with the investigation Of alleged
gambling was included in the % found
by the Ninety-fOurth grand jury Sat
urday. The grand jury returned 20
true bills, none of which were of an
important nature.
Court house officials and the pubic
in general takes the failure of the
grand jury to return gambling indict-
ments as an indication that gambling
is not as rampant in San Antonio
as General Barton had charged. The
rangers, under General Bartons d.
rection, it is pointed out, have made
three gambling raids. The first was
made on a West Side club, where &c
men were arrested. The other two
were made on a Pecan street and Lo-
soya street place. No arrests were
made at the last named places. Aside
from spasmodic raids, where one or
two persons have been arrested at 4
time, citizens point out that the rang
ers have disclosed no conditions which
could be considered as unusual"
Grand Jury To Adjourn.
General Barton spent most OF the
week in San Antonio, returning TO
Austin Friday night. During his stay
here he is understood to have per-
sonally supervised the work of the
rangers and the designation of wit
nesses to be summoned before the
grand jury. 1t had been expected that
his weeks efforts would result in the
returning of number Of gambling in
dictments, and considerable surprise
was occasioned Saturday when none
were returned. The grand jury will
adjourn at the end Of next week and
1t Is possible that additional Indlct-
ments charging gambling may be re-
| turned then.
The liquor raids which were begun
early in the week, diminished percepti.
bly, after Friday when Judge w. W
McCrory insisted that the law govern.
ing affidavits for search warrants b.
closely followed. 1t developed Friday
that warrants had been issued on af
tlvadits sworn to by one person thai
liquor was being kept at a private
residence. When the attention o.
Judge McCrory was called TO the pro
visions Of the state law requiring tina
TO search a private residence, an at
fidavit signed by two credible persons
alleging that liquor was being "sol,
or manufactured, must be made, h
SO informed the district attorneys of
flee and insisted that hereafter tina
provision of the law be complied with
Saturday passed without any applica
ton being made TO him for searcI
| warrants.
The validity OF inc search warrant
; already issued is expected to be at
tackled when cases come up in tn
state courts next week. Attorney
representing the defendants expires
the belief that the complaints can b
quashed on the ground that the scare
warrants We're illegally obtained.
General Barton is expected TO re
turn TO San Antonio Monday to re
, sumo his "clean up" campaign. Mean
while it is understood that he has tel
r rangers here carrying on the work.