The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-03-16
DISMISS CASES
in COURT HERE
THIS MORNING
BONDS GIVEN BY SEVERAL
DEFENDANTS IN LIQUOR
CASES ARE CANCELLED;
GIVES OUT INFORMATION


resulting some time ago from the
raids made here by prohibition
agents when T. S. Lowe and Mrs.
M. Lowe, Albino Morales, Joaquin
Barroso, George Ortiez and Pablo
Fernandez were arrested and held
for a preliminary trial before
United States Commissioner Rod
ney Gwynn.
There has been much activity
as result of the raids made at
the time, the prohibition. agents
leaving the city the same night
for Miami, which resulted in
many procedures being followed
in order to have the officers re-
appear here to testify against the
defendants held in the cases
which would by the rules of the
court come before the commits
sioner for preliminary proceed
ings.
A short time after the raids
were conducted, it was learned
that the commissioner had no
knowledge of the proceedings un-
til after the arrests had been
made, and the parties in question
placed in Jail.
1t is understood to be the Gus
tom of prohibition agents to in
form the commissioner and
deputy marshal of the operations
to be started in most instances,
but from all indications the local
officers had no inkling whatever
of the proceedings to be carried
on.
The cases in question were dis
missed this morning and the
bonds cancelled with the sureties
relieved from further liability,
according to information re-
lceived from United States Com
missioner Rodney Gwynn.
Commissioners Gwynn also stated
that the case of Arthur Baker
was continued indefinitely. The
surety on his bond has beeflS
/ i 90 ] = eess eiE ss1t iess II Z
by the commissioner to the sheriff
| to retain him in jail as a prisoner
| of the United States, in compliance
with orders issued by the depart
ment handling the case.
Baker is now in the county jail
charged with first degree murder
in connection with the alleged re-
cent killing of John Ranger who
was shot down a short time ago
in the westerly section of the city.
1t was also learned today when
the case of Paul Parrish was call
ed, Deputy Marshal Lopez report
cd to the commissioner that he
had called for Parrish at the jail
to produce him before the COM
missioner and was informed by
the jail keeper that Parrish was
not there, whereupon the COM
missioner instructed the deputy
marshal to ascertain if Parrish
was present in court and his
name was called by the deputy
marshal without receiving an an
swer.
The commissioner then an
nounced that action would be de-
ferred in this case until the mat
ter was submitted to the United
States District Attorney.
This is the defendant recently
reported in the columns of The
Citizen, who. while under bond
for appearance before Judge
Gwynn this morning, was arrested
by Sheriff Curry for the sheriff
at Fernandina under a charge of
! forgery, and was subsequently
taken to that place by a deputy
sheriff from Fernandina.
Il seems as though while Par
rish was in jail pending the ar
rival of the deputy sheriff from
Fernandina. the surety on his
federal bond was requested to be
released therefrom, representing
to the commissioner that he could
not produce the defendant, that
the defendant was then in jail in
the custody of county authori-
ties. and that the commissioner
thereupon issued q commitment
70 the Monroe County sheriff
commanding the sheriff 10 retain
Parrish = prisoner Of the United
States. il. in fact, he was in his
custody. which federal commit
ment seems to have been ignored.
Asked IL he would have dis
missed the case against Parrish
il Parrish had appeared this morn
ing, IN accordance with the terms
of his bond. or had been retained
in Jail under the federal commit
ment, as was done in four Of the
other cases. Judge Gwynn replied
IN the negative. but declined 70
state why.
Asked fer the reason for dis
missing the four cases. Judge
Gwynn admitted he had received
\ communication from the Unit