The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-05-02
FIGHT WILL
FOLLOW
TRIAL
Democratic Factions Line Up
in Montgomery for Big
and Bitter War

Preparations for what promises
TO be one of the bitterest legal
battles ever waged in a Mont
gomery county court were begun
yesterday by John A. Garrett,
States attorney, who was indicted
by the grand jury at Rockville on
fifty-four counts, charging embez-
element and forgery in his private
practice of law.
Has Many Friends.
Despite the fact that the fifty
four indictments returned against
him is the largest ever returned by
a grand jury against an individual
I'm the history of the county, Garrett
etfu has a large number Of per-
eonal and political friends who will
rally to his support when he is
brought to trial within the next
two weeks.
So far. Garrett declares, he has
not decided upon counsel to defeTid
him, but it Is understood that ne
will have some of the best legal
talent of Washington and BaltI-
more. No expense will be spared,
his friends assert, in his defense,
Intimating that they themselves
will bear the burden of it If Gar
rett's financial condition does not
permit him to do it.
Political Angle.
In. addition to the legal fight.
the case is also expected to precipi-
tate a bitter political fight, with
plenty of mud singing by the two
Democratic factions which have
been al odds for years in Mont
Eomery county politics.
Garrett, until recently, had been
a leader in the Brooke Lee faction.
which at present is in power. How
ever, since his arrest three weeks
ago on the ENFORCEMENT charges.
Brooke Lee and his cohorts have
turned thumbs down on him.
The day Garrett was arrested,
Brooke Lee and other leaders in
country politics held a conference
1n Rockville, and ii was rumOred
at the time that they would stand
behind Garrett, both politically and
financially. However, this proved
70 be untrue, and a few hours later
Garrett was arrested and released
on $4,000 bond, which has been in
creased to $4,000 since as a re-
suit of the fifty-four indictments.
Former Foe Aids Him
1t is significant in this connec-
ton that when Garrett was arrest
ed Thursday for the second time,
charged with forgery, George Brad
ley. Of Bethesda, former political
foe Of Garrett and the Brooke Lee
faction, went on his bond for $10,-
900.
Whether Garrett is convicted or
not. Bradley's action has made n
deep impression on the states at
torney's friends. and il is taken as
. sign that Garrett and his friends
will join hands with the Bradley
camp in fighting the Lee group of
politicians
Next to Garrett, William E. Aud.
chief of police of Rockville, a
sUnunch Lee supporter, is the topic
o. discussion as a result of the
part he played in the present case.
Faithful To Office.
Aud, his friends assert, is the
type Of official who places his oath
OF office above that of anything
else, and they declare he proved
81 in assuming personal RESPONSE
warrants, charging embezzIement.
Before taking this action it is an
open secret that Aud engaged the
!. services of a prominent Rockville
4 attorney TO defend him in case of a
civil suit against him by Garrett.
, Aud's action, they state, was not
political. 1t is pointed out that he
was one of CARROTS warmest sup
porters when the States attorney
was running for office and his
action was due only to the fact that
. fumors of CARROTS alleged irregu-
larities had travelled throughout the
county, and there was considerable
talk as to why no action was being
I taken by the authorities.
Aud thereupon took it upon him
self TO conduct a painstaking eX-
animation, at the end Of which
he conferred with other county
officials, including Judge Robert B.
B Peter of the circuit Court. His
investigation disclosed, it is stated,
that many of the people whose
names appeared on the confessed
judgment notes given clients by
! Garrett did not exist, and hand
writing experts were called in on
the case.
Advancement FOreseen.
Following their report Aud per.
sonally appeared as complainant in
the six warrants against Garrett
charging the enlightenment of $14,
500 at that time. In the indictments
1Arned by the grand jury yes