San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-14
OFFICERS SAY
BOND.R|NG IS
WORKING HERE
Claim Organization Exists
for Protection Of Boot.
leggers.
LOOPHOLES In LAW
Federal Bond Does Not Con-
stitute Lien on Prop
erty. 81


many other rings" organized for the
purpose OF violating the laws OF the land
are rings" frequently discovered, at
least according to reports. But more
unusual form, that of bondsmen's ring
exists in San Antonio, federal officials
are convinced, they say, beyond a doubt.
They attribute the possibility for the
existence of ring" of this nature,
to the fact that the laws governing
bonds in criminal cases are perforated
with loopholes. SIS.
"There is nothing in the law" said
one federal official who desires to avoid
the hmelight, ito prevent a man from
buying a lot for one or two hundred
dollars. and rendering it for several
times its value. He does not object to
paying a few dollars more in taxes.
There may be several bootleggers asso-
ciated with him.
"If one of them should be arrested,
his friend appears before the United
States commissioner to go his bond.
Perhaps the property is assessed at
$1,000 or more, and this value would be
sufficient for the usual $500 bond set
in liquor cases.
Bond Not Lien on Property.
"After the bond has been made, the
owner of the property may transfer
title to some other member OF the gang.
There is nothing to prevent him from
legally making the transfer since the
bond does not constitute a lien on the
property. If the bond is declared for
feited because of the failure of appear
ance of the defendant when his case is
called for trial, the government is out
or luck TIC surety has no property
for the government to seize. Only in
exceptional eases, however, would the
defendant fail 20 appear, since rather
than be fugitive from justice, he would
rather appear and pay his fine, which
as rule be is able to do with ease.
within recent years, there was a
case in which bondsman rendered
property which he did not possess, He
was paying taxes on property when he
owned none. In this case the govern
ment was in a position to prosecute the
bondsman for making q false affidavit
before the commission that he had prop
erty of a certain value. but for some
reason the case was never pressed"
Tangible evidence of the existence OF
an organization for the protection of
the bootleggek in San Antonio, was
brought to light during the past week,
according to the federal official.
Some Charge Fee 10 Make Bond.
When a negro was asked by the
United States commissioner to state
what interest he had in the case OF a
white man arrested for alleged viola
tions of the national prohibition laws,
the negro replied, according to a federal
official who was present, that he only
wanted to "help a poor man, and that
he had received no remuneration for his
work in endeavoring to secure other ne
groes 10 20 on the bond with him.
When the negro was asked how 1t
was that he was able TO bring several
other negroes to sign a bond for man
whom all admitted they did not know,
the negro replied that there was an assc-
citation at work behind them that would
guarantee them from all loss in case the
bond was forfeited. He declared that a
clerk of a certain organization, who did
not want to be known in the case had
promised him he would see that the
bondsmen suffered no loss. Comms-
sioner Edwards, however, refused to &C.
cept the surety Offered by the negroes,
stating that the primary object of the
government is to assure the appearance
of the defendant when his case is called
for trial. g.,
II have been watching certain men
whom know are not professional bonds.
men who charge 10 per cent OF the bond
for their services. The frequency OF
their visits to the United States Com
missioner's office, is sufficient basis,
believe, for the assertion protective
cliques exist in this city," is the opinion
of the officer.