The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-05
RUM CASES
JAM CITY
COURTS
Asst. Atty. Gen. WiIIebrandt
Asks Congress for More
Judges and Prosecutions

Increase in the number Of
judges in the District Of Co
an increase in the aver
age fine and Jail penalty and
preventing the forfeiture Of col
lateral were advocated as means
Of cutting down liquor violations
in the District by Mrs. Mabel
Walker Willebrsndt, assistant At
tOrney General. who appeared to-
day before the special subcom-
mittee of the House District Com
mittee, appointed to investigate
law enforcement in Washington.
Would Try All Cases.
Wayne B. Wheeler, counsel for
the Anti-Saloon League, presented
statistics showing the causes Of law.
lessness In the District.
Mrs. Willerbrandt told the com.
mittee that the average fine and
jail penalty in the District for pro.
hibition violations il very low. She
recommended that bench warrants
should always be issued In cases
where collateral il forfeited, and the
case should be brought to trial.
The general practice Of allowing
torfeitures Of collateral should be
discontinued, she said.
More Judges Sought.
She stated that there 10 very linn.
tied judicial equipment In the Dis
trict to handle the volume OF cases
arising under the prohibition law.
All these cases so through the
United States Attorneys office,
which is already very much over
burdened," she said. The number
OF police judges should be increased
and all minor liquor cases should
be disposed Of in these lower courts,
she held.
Wheeler told the committee that
the bad conditions in the District
result from failure to enforce all
sections OF the law.
Up to January 1, 1923, he asserted,
there were no injunctions granted
against liquor violaters In the Dis.
trict. Since that time thirty-seven
temporary injunctiOns have been
granted, but none Of these have
been made permanent, he said.
DlsClOses Low Fines.
1.-The conspiracy law which has
been used with tremendous effect
elsewhere has been used sparingly
in the District Of Columbia" he
said. Three cases only have been
filed. In one case the indictment
was nolIe pressed; in the second
the indictment was quaShed, and in
the third demurrer was sustained.
1.-THE average fines in prohibition
cases throughout the country in
1928 were $40; in the District Of
Columbia. $7s.4S.
Jail sentences for bootleggers
were few and far between in the
District. The average jail sentence
for liquor violation was approx
nately three days for the year end
ing June 80, 1928. Since that time
no Jail sentences have been re-
ported. The average throughout
the country was 2sM days.
Points Out Rearrests.
"The number Of arrests for Sec
ond offenses, against the prohibition
in washington from January 1,
1928, to March 20. 1924, was Ss3.
The total number Of liquor arrests
from July I, 1923 to March. 1924,
was 974.
"Thus for a period of a little
over year, 1t appears that more
than one third Of all those arrested
for liquor violations were re-arrested
for second offenses. This IL a re.
suit Of the inadequacy Of penalties.
OF the total number Of second Of.
tenders, twenty-four cases have
been docketed in the District Su.
preme Court, with only one tried,
and the defendant, after conviction,
was paroled.
'"The average amount Of forfeited
bonds, in ?S0 cases, reported for
the year ending June 30. 1928, was
slightly over $21."
The subcommittee voted to in.
struct the chairman, Congressman
Henry r.. Rathbone, Of Illinois,
to secure from the Attorney Gen.
eral, an opinion as to whether
the Sheppard Act 10 still in force
in the District.
New Laws Suggested.
Congressman Rathbone declared
that the police are not attempting
to enforce this act, because they
hold that 1t has been superseded
by the Federal Prohibition act.
Congressman Thomas l.. Blanton
of Texas, recommended enactment
of legislation making II O. seriore
offense for a person arrested for
liquor violation to give d false name
or address.