Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-20
SARTA||V, FLETCHER
UNDER $4,000 BOND
ON FEDERAL CHARGE

A. f.. Sartain, deposed warden OF
the Atlanta federal penitentiary, and
T.. J. Fletcher, former deputy war
den, were released Thursday after
noon on bonds of $4,000 each to ap-
pear Friday afternoon at L o'clock in
the United States commissioner of
flee for hearing on warrants CharS-
ing them with accepting brides.
The hearing will be conducted at
this zine unless the government
shows legal cause why the hearing
should be continued.
This di. position of the case was
made Thursday afternoon by United
States commissioner Joe Abbott
shortly after Mr.. Sartain and MI
Fletcher had surrendered on the war
rants sworn out earlier in the day,
Attorneys w. Paul Carpenter, Will
liam Schley Howard and Hooper
Alexander, representing the defend
ants. demanded an immediate hear
ing, but United States District AttOr.
ney Clint w. Hagar objected on the
ground that he needed time N which
to summon witnesses.
Insists on Bonds
Our witnesses are in Columbus
Savannah and Il over the United
States" said Mr.. Hagar, "and we
also will have to issue sub3%na duces
tecum sin order to produce several
necessary kilograms and other docu
mentary evidence"
Attorney Hagar also objected to
the request by Attorney Alexander
that Mr.. Sartain and Mr.. Fletcher
be paroled in the custody of their
attorneys.
When Mr. Fletcher and Mr.. Sar
tain appeared before the commits
sioner. Attorney Howard demanded
an immediate hearing, and declared
his clients to be ready for a trial
On objections by Attorney HaSar
that he could not get his witnesses
Attorney Carpenter declared all
the government witnesses are 1T the
penitentiary and can be brought here
in thirty minutes
Attorneys in Tilt
Attorney Hagar, however, declared
"all witnesses are not in the pen
there are a great number in tEis
case and it is not fair to the gov
eminent to rustic up a hearing
Mr.. Hagar also declared Il see no
reason for stampeding this case,
and drew from Attorney Alexander
the reioinder: I'VE are in no big.
ger hurry for a trial than the gov,
eminent was to swear out these war
rants" He then demanded that the
warrants be dismissed Immediately
a motion which was overruled.
Attorney Carpenter charged the
district attorney with stalling while
the grand jury completed its inVes-
tigation, pointing out that if the
grand jury indicts Mr.. Sartain or
Mr.. Fletcher there would be no need
for the warrants and that if the
grand jury did not indict them the
warrants in all probability would be
dismissed.
Attorney Hagar. however, coun-
tered wit hthe statement that the
grand jury investigation SO far had
concerned only one of the officials
named in the warrants, and that no
alleged evidence agaWinst the other
had been considered.
Bonds Are Provided
In setting the case for hearing Fri
day afternoon, Commissioner Abbott
specified that the district attorney
must be ready for trial or show legal
cause, according to the code, why
the hearing should be continued
DE-. Joe Jacobs, prominent Allan
tian; l.. j. Hood and O. j. Morris
signed Mr. Sartain's and Mr.. FleCh-
er's bonds.
Shortly before Mr. Sartain and Mr.
Fletcher surrendered, District AT
torney Clint w. Hager issued ar
official statement in which he saiC
that a grand jury investigation OF
conditions and certain officials al
the prison is under way.