The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-11-04
WITHDRAW
FREEDOM
WRIT
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O former Times reporter himself,
who had prosecuted them.
The men we're sentenced to
Jail for As days last Thursday by
Justice Peyton Gordon. after he
had lectured them on the obliga-
ton of a citizen to tell the Grand
Jury all that he knew about law
violations. The reporters had
visited 40 Speakeasies in Wash
ington, in connection with a
washington Times exposeSof vice
conditions, but declined, when
called upon by the Grand Jury
to act as prosecuting witnesses
for the Federal Government.
Although they could have
escaped Jail sentences by plead
ing either constitutional immunity
on grounds of standardization
or by pleading that they would
be placed in peril of bodily harm,
they declined to shield them
selves behind either of those de-
fenses, and stood on the ethics
of the newspaper prof esSior,
which makes it serious VIOLA
ton of the journalistic code TOR
a reporter to divulge the source
of his information.
Attorney Lambert took pains
to impress upon the court the
fact that the reporters would
continue their appeal.
ITO show the good faith of the
respondents" Lambert said, ION
the day following the imposition
of sentence we filed our designa.
ton Of record with the Court OF
Appeals, and I hold in my hand
the appeal bond which has just
been executed and which will
file Immediately"
"I fully appreciate the value Of
such prompt action on your part,
Justice Siddons replied. "It witt
place the respondents in a much
better position when their appeal
is heard"
Justice Siddons issued a Wi:
of habeas corpus Friday under
which the reporters were released
on $500 bail.
The reporters appeared this
morning for a final hearing on
their petition for release on the
writ of habeas corpus.
The habeaS corpus was resorted
to after Justice Gordon last
Thursday had sentenced the men
and then refused to fix bail pend
ing their appeal.
Lambert's Statement
Lambert arose as the case was
called, and announced this case
has been made the subject of q
careful study over the weekend,
and exhaustive conferences have
been held between myself and
the respondents.
eve find that the law at no point
recognizes the defense upon which
these, respondents rely, and
grants no direct privilege between
a newspaper and its source of
information.
Rather than continue this pro-
ceeding, which could afford only
a temporary liberty, the reSpon-
dents, feeling that they will ulti-
mately be placed in a position
where they will be required to
serve the remainder of their
sentence. asks the court to dis
miss the writ and allow them to
proceed with their appeal"
Liquor Cleanup Begun
While the three reporters are
awaiting disposition of their case,
the United States Attorney was
moving in the general direction
Of a cleanup of wet Washington.
Scores of under-cover prohibi-
ton operatives are supposed to
be working in the Capital and it
is expected concerted drive will
be made almost any time against
the SpeakeaSieS in Washington.
The operatives, it is under
stood, have been working here
for the past 10 days. All of
them have been brought from
other cities. Baltimore and
Pennsylvania have been drawn
upon, it is understood, and al
cleanup that will be a momentous
one Is in the offing.
These men have not sought
the aid of local police but have
been working in secret and it is
understood have amaSSed con-
siderable evidence against boot
leggerS. The men are the aces
of the service and do not have
to report to the local head of the
prohibition unit, but work indie
pendently.