San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-04
GRAND JURY, SLABS AT BARTON,
CHARGING POLITICS PLAYED in
NEWSPAPER PROBE OF GAMIlIC'
Place Where Ignorant and Friendless Poor"
Had Gathered, and Failed to Get Informal
ton Higher Ups"- Invite Citi-
to Give Information on Vice.

That the record of dismissals in
cases where former grand iuries have
returned indictments for alleged
gambling is "a disgrace TO civiliz-
cd community" that the sensation.
al" raid made by the State Rangers
recently was at place where the
Ignorant and friendless poor" had
congregated; that "lcgalized hi
jackcrs' are bleeding Bexar county
motorists and that too many people
are, carrying guns, are some of the
criticisms offered by the. Ninety
fourth District Court grand jury in
its report 20 Judge. W. W. McCrory
late Friday. Judge McCrory agreed
with the grand jurors that dismissals
are numerous, stating that so far
during the special term he has dis
missed more cases than he has tried.
where the state has cinch case, -
the judge said, lit presses the de-
PENDANT TO trial. When il has n
weak case it doesn't want TO go to
trial. Where there is no chance of
getting trial ! am cleaning them
off the docket. 1t costs the state
for jury fees alone 500 day, as
much as sbod oil well would pro-
duce. This is partly due TO worth
less indictments"
The report of the grand jury was
read by d. J. Woodward. foreman
after the inauisitorial body had re-
turned six indictments, none of which
concerned gambling or had any con
nection with the recent raid made by
the state rangers on the Pastime Club.
Mr.. Woodward intimated that the
grand jury had found other true bills
which will be reported next Monday
or Tuesday. 1t is confidently expected
that number of indictments charg-
ing gambling will be reported Mt that
time.
Not Pleased at Ranger Visit.
The tone of the report read by the
foreman of the grand jury would in
dictate that that body is not entirely
pleased with the invasion OF San An
tonic by the state police. In this con-
nection it is rumored ut the court
house that the grand jury is making
every effort TO fix the responsibility
for the bringing of the rangers here.
THE sensational raid by the rang
ers.' the report says. caught several
people. no doubt gambling. and we will
do our full duty. but with little hope
of the results helping anybody. The
raid just happened to be made where
the ignorant and -friendless poor had
cOngregatel, and it seems that the spe
cial investigators located others high
err up, but did not furnish this grand
jury with evidence of guilt or proof
of any kind, that we could convict on.
In other words the raid served as a
notice to others TO be more careful, tc
say the least of-it."
Secrets Not Kept Secret.
There can be no doubt the report
in the minds of this grand
jury. but what politics have played d
big part in these newspaper investiga
TONS" adding that the grand jury
cannot understand how the press
keeps up with so much that is sup
posed 10 be secret" t- -
Touching the question of speeding
arrests. Mr.. WOodward's typed reporf
varies somewhat from the penciled re
port he read in court. In the latter
he declared that complaints have been
received from numerous citizens of
undue activity of supposed officers
arrests on the public high
ways" He characterized these men
as '1egalized hijackers," asserting thai
they make arrests for
speeding where there is really no vio-
lation of the law.
Condemn Pistol-Deputies.
In this connection, Mr.. Woodward
stated that demand has been made
upon the sheriff and constables of
Bexar county for list of their quaii-
lied deputies.
ave nnderstand.p the report saws.