Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
Number Sets Record for
Single Day Before Police
Bench.
TWO GRANTED FREEDOM
AFTER ILLEGAL SEARCH
Use of "Informers" Held Down and
Purchases Made by Officers,
Says Prosecutor.

Thirteen persons charged with viola
tions of the prohibition act under the
Jones-Stalked law were held for the
action of the grand jury at Police Court
today. Two persons were convicted OF
possession of whisky, third charged
with second-offense possession pleaded
not guilty and demanded jury trial,
while Assistant United States Attorney
James r. Kirkland refused to charge
two persons, who were arrested, saying
the police entered private property il
legally and searched without warrants.
This is by far the largest number
ever held for the grand jury in one
day. David A. Hart, assistant United
States attorney, said that the increased
number of those whom he has been able
to charge with violations under the
Jones law was due to more efficient CO.
operation on the part of members of the
Police Department and the prohibition
agents, both in handling the cases in
court and in making arrests.
Month of Activity.
The number of persons sent to the
grand jury this month for violations
of the prohibition law from the Police
Court are already more than twice
the number who we're sent to that court
during the entire month of September.
Records at court show that 18 per-
sons we're held for the grand jury after
preliminary hearings at Police Court,
while 43 persons have been held al
ready this month.
Hart said that in the past a large
number of persons who we're apparently
guilty of breaking the Jones law were
released because the testimony of the
! "informers" making buys" was uncor-
roborated. This month the police and
agents themselves have been making the
buys" and in the few instances where
the police informer was used there has
been confederation Of their stories.
Small Seizures Reported.
A comparatively small amount of
whisky was seized by the police in ar
resting the persons who were arraigned
today and in quite a few cases the al
legged liquor. which the officers say they
bought from the defendants, Is the only
whisky involved
Those persons held for grand jury
action at Poloce Court today. as an
nounced by Prosecutors Hart and Kirk
land, are Owen Sinclair Darnell, 1900
| block Of Corcoran street, and John z.
| Carter of the same address, both color
ed, arrested by Sergt. George Little and
charged with transporting liquor.
Thomas Watkins, colored, of the first
block of Florida avenue northeast. Ar
rested by Policeman S. M. Scott of the
eighth precinct and charged with SELL
ing whisky.
Jury Trial Demanded.
Ten of the persons were arrested by
Prohibition Agents NJ c. Taylor, j. T.
Weigle and j T Young, after the
agents had made alleged buys" George
White, 11o0 block of New Jersey ave-
nue.; Jamie Gore. address unknown;
Alfred Lueder, $500 block Of Mcpherson
street; Rodney Jones, $500 block Of
Dennison street; John Keys, 400 block
Of Prather court: John Thomas and
Alice Thorn, 700 block of Balls court;
Dave Lewis and Mary Lewis, 1000 block
OF jefferson street. and Mamie Berry,
alias Myrtle Bowery. 400 block Of Sec
ond street. All but the last named are
Co!ored.
William Carter. colored. 1900 block of
U street, was charged with second Of
Tense possession and demanded jury
trial Policeman w. r. Latin arrested
him.
Judge Robert E. Mattingly imposed
what is said to be the highest sentence
ever given a prohibition law violator in
the District, when he fined Chester A.
Sweet $50 for possession. Sweets COM
panion George A. Hitler. was given o
suspended sentence of 30 days. Both
men live in the 1900 block of L street
southeast.
Attorney James r. Kirkland refused
to make out papers against Wilson 7.
Stokely 1000 block of H street. and
Carrie Bell. colored, 2100 block of Ninth
street. saying that the police had no
right to enter the houses involved.