San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-16
BRAND RANGER
STATEMENT As
BEING FALSE
Say Baldwin Himself Took
Hamilton Case Before
Grand Jury. e..
DID NOT INDICT HIM
Breach May Widen Be-
tween Federal Officers
and State Police.
DID NOT INDICT HIM

Statements made by Ranger Cap
tain b. c. Baldwin before the Senate
committee at Washington now inves-
tigating the Department of Justice
and Attorney General ii. NJ. Daugh-
erty, that federal officials in Texas
were lax in the enforcement of the
liquor laws, and that certain federal
officials in San Antonio and Dallas
were guilty of questionable practices,
can result only in widening the breach
between the state constabulary and
federal officers, it is believed.
Federal officials here were both
surprised and angered by Captain
Raldwin's statements broadcastcd
throughout the country Saturday, TO
the effect that United States District
Attorney John ID. Hartman had failed
to prosecute Harry W. Hamilton for
selling stills to bootleggers" and
that Mr.. Hartman admitted to me
that it was a political matter with
him and not law NATTER" and that
Captain W. NJ. Hanson, district d.
rector of immigration, had aided in
the shipment of arms and ammuni-
ton to revolutionary forces in Mexico.
The ranger captains statements were
branded as false by Mr.. Hartman
and Captain Hanson. 1905. 80.
Baldwin Told Jury His Side.
1t is matter of common knowl-
edge in. the federal building here. that
the federal grand ihry last fall con-
sidered the testimony offered by
Captain Baldwin against the former
grouphead. Mr.. Hamilton. and that
the federal grand jury did not con-
slider the testimony sufficient to justi-
fly the returning of an indictment
against Mr.. Hamilton. Captain Bald
win was seen entering the grand jury
room during the time the Hamilton
case was under consideration by the
inquisitorial body. The case against
Mr.. Hamilton, il is recalled, was
convicted bootlegger now serving a
term in the federal penitcntiary at
Leavenworth.
Prior to the filing of the COM
plant against Mr.. Hamilton, Norton
and others had been tried and con-
victed for conspiracy TO violate the
national prohibition laws. Evidence
had been obtained by prohibition
agents working under the direction of
Grouphcad Hamilton. At the time
that Al Norton told Ranger Captain
Baldwin that Mr.. Hamilton was SELL
ing confiscated stills, Norton was
under an appeal bond in the con-
spiracy case.
Rangers Search Illegal.
As to what effect Captain Bald
wins sweeping accusations will have
upon the relationship between the
state rangers and the federal Off
Gals here, is problematical. Hereto
fore, the state rangers have been able
TO conduct Illegal searches for evil
dence and then turn the cases over
TO federal officials for prosecution in
the federal courts. :.
This legalization Of illegal search
has been made possible as a result
of rulings by higher courts. Evi-
dence procured by n federal officer
by illegal search is not admissible
in a federal court, but evidence OBJ
tanned by n federal officer from n
state officer who has obtained the evil
dence illegally is admissible in a fed
eral court on the theory that the
federal agent is not responsible for
the methods used by a state officer
to procure evidence.
These extraordinary rulings by the
higher courts have been of untold ad-
vantage to the rangers during their
alleged "clean-up campaign" in San
Antonio. In avoiding the handicap
of being controlled in their actions
by the Bill of Rights, they have Sc
cured evidence in LIQUOR cases that
could not have been obtained by fed
eral agents.
Their Cases Not Finished.
As a rule, according to federal Of
ficials. when a case is turned over
to the federal courts by the rangers.
the case is in an embryonic stage
and the major portion of the work
and investigation necessary for a sue
cessful- prosecution of the case, is
borne by the federal officers.
As a consequence, at least one
prohibition agent has been constantly
employed since the rangers invaded
San Antonio, in working up evidence
for n successful prosecution of ranger
eases. 1t is matter of common be-
lief in the federal building, that the
average liquor case submitted by the
rangers would fail of successful prose-
cution IL it went to trial without be-
ing worked into a presentable form
by the federal agents.
May Check Up on Liquor.
1t has been customary for the ran
gers to retain only small quantity
of, liquor to be turned over to the
federal agents TO be used as evidence
and destroy the remainder. An af-
fidavit is required of the rangers by
federal officials in order that they
might have proof that liquor not
turned over to them was destroyed:
Rumors were current in the federal
building Saturday. that the federal
officials may require that all liquor