Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-18
FEW JONES LAW
CONVICTIONS HERE
Effect Wholesome, However,
Says District Attorneys
Office Report.
Continued From First Page.)

the District Supreme Court.
OF the 100 cases sent to the grand
jury for indictment under the Jones
law up to the middle of this month.
IS have been on charges of illegal
transportation, 81 on charges Of selling
and four on charges OF manufacture.
By reducing the charges made by
the police and Federal agents in 100
cases, the assistant United States at
torneyS say they are exercising the
wise discretion" in carrying out the
intent of the Jones law. that was rec
commended in the circular letter Of
March %, sent to United States Attor-
ney Leo A. Rover and all other Govern
ment prosecutors by Mrs. Mabel Walker
Willebrandt. former Assistant Attorney
General
They point to the provision Of the
Jones law which declares that 1t Is
the intent of Congress that the court,
in imposing sentence hereunder. should
discriminate between casual and slight
violations and habitual sales OF intoxi-
eating liquor. or attempts to COM
mercialiZe violations of the law"
Question Of Evidence.
In every case where technical
charge Of transportation. sale or manu-
facture has been reduced they say 1t
has been done because, in their opinion,
the evidence has not been SUFFICIENT to
indict or convict under the Jones law,
or the alleged offenSe has been of such
minor character that it would be
ignored by the grand jury.
On the whole, however, they believe
that the effect of the Jones laws heavy
penalties upon prohibition enforcement
in the District of Columbia has been
wholesome. They regard 1t Is the
greatest weapon ever placed In the
hands of the prosecuting officers OF the
Government, because the violators fear
the heavy penalties and large bonds
under the new law and are more ready
to plead guilty in the Police Court to
q charge OF illegal possession.
In response to request that they
make more clear the attitude Of the
local prosecuting officers IN this re-
Spect, Mr.. Hart, Mr.. Camalier and Mr..
kirkland joined in the following ex-
planation:
Since the passage of the act of
Congress known as the Jones-StalKer
law, imposing heavier penalties for
violation of the national prohibition
act, and the receipt by this once OF
copy of the circular letter from the AS
sistant Attorney General, suggesting
that wise discretion be exercised in
the filing of charges against Offenders
under that law, 1t has been the aim OF
the assistants in this office, handling
such cases, to comply with the spirit
and intent Of these suggestions.
The temper Of the juries in the
Police Court in acquitting In most
cases those offenders brought into
court on the unsupported testimony OF
the paid informer, and the action OF
the grand juries in their reports sub
mitted to the Chief Justice OF the
Supreme Court of the District OF
Columbia, stating they would not IN
dict offenders on such testimony, are
also controlling factors in the determi-
nation of the charges to be preferred In
cases now brought to this once by
the Police Department and the Federal
prohibition authorities.
Many Cases Not Forwarded.
"A study of the number Of cases
brought into the District attorneys
once since the enactment Of the Jones
law shows that nearly so per cent OF
these cases we're not forwarded TO the
grand Jury for indictment, due to the
fact that Of this number about one
half were based on the unsupported
testimony Of the paid informer or tne
uncorroborated testimony OF one omcer
the defendant.
Acting upon the stand taken by the
grand Jury. to the effect that Sucn
cases would not be favorably looked
upon. they were not considered grand
iury cases. and disposition of them was
made in the Police Court on the lower
charges under the national prohibltion
act. Also a great portion Of these cases
was due to the fact that only. small
quantity of liquor was involved,
amounting in a good many cases to
only about one-half pint or one-half
gallon. The balance Of the cases with
held from the grand jury were not
considered Of suficient strength to
warrant such action, due to the fact
that no liquor was found on the RAIDS,
and in other cases no warrant to enter
private premises was had, or no right
existed to apprehend the driver OF an
alleged transporting car.
I'm those cases withheld from enc
grand jury, but which In erect might
be considered technical violations, u
is safe to say that convictions resulted
from arraignments In the Police court
in over 90 per cent Of the cases.
at has been said that juries would
ne loath to convict after the passage
of the Jones law in any liquor case. but
It. is our experience that a greater
number of convictions has been had In
the police Court under the national
nrohibition act since then than for
long time prior thereto.
Laws Effect Wholesome.
considering all phases OF the Jones
law and its effect upon prohlbition en-
forcement in the District Of Columbia:
n might be said that the enactment OF
the law has had q most wholesome Ell
feet and is the cause OF the greatiy
reduced number of liquor cases now
being brought into the courts.
"The Jones law is the greatest weapon
ever nlaced in the hands OF the enforce
,nent and prosecuting officers. The vio-
lators of the prohibition laws fear TINS
law. fear the high bonds exacted IN Sucn
cases fear the action OF the grand
iuries and above all fear the possible
penalties imposed by that law; namely;
Ave years in the penitentlary ana
81 d. 600 in fines or both"
Some time ago Assistant United
states Attorney Camalier expressed his
opinion of paid informers in liquor
cases in q speech at a meeting OF the
Citizens Service Association. He SAID
the police infornler Is the most desplc-
able person we have to deal with In
irving to enforce the prohibition law;
he is the lowest type OF creature ana
unworthy Of belief"
About month ago the Police Depart
naent ceased to use these paid informers,
who were given $3.50 for every purchase
in obtaining evidence by the sale OF In
toxicating liquor. Some of them are
now employed by the Federal authorities