The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-11-19
FEDERAL COURTS AND LAwLEssNEss

Federal Courts being criticized very vigorously for their proneness to uphold lawlessness on the part of the enforcers of the Prohibition laws Case after case has been cited of instances where the courts would not permit the prosecution or nave promoted the acquittal, of those who have killed escaping suspects of Prohibition violation Case after case has been cited of instances where buildings have been abated by courts, without permitting jury verdict where one of the tenants of part of the building has been accused of violating the Pro- hibition laws Usually, the abatement follows the conviction of a tenant but that has not always been the case There are instances where there have been abatements based upon the acts of tenants that were acquitted of criminal charges against them.
 One of the latest instances of severe criticism of Federal court is that for sending three Wash ington newspaper reporters to jail because they refused to give the of people whom they reported in their newspaper to be conducting speakeases. Shortly after President Hoover denied that Prohibition not being enforced in the District of Columbia and demanded that Senator Howell, who did the accusing should give dates, places etc. that would substantiate his charge that speakeases being operated there, Senator Howell refused to give details than to present in the Senate an official report of law enforcer that gave list of more than 50 such places The report two years old. The Washington Times then set forth to ascertain whether or not any of the places still in operation. Three reporters were assigned the task They printed stories in the Times which showed that about fifty of these speakeasies were still being operated and that others had been started. The reporters gave data to show that than sixty speakeasies now running full blast
 The reporters taken before the Grand Jury, and answered most of the questions asked them concerning their Investigations but refused to say where they were served with liquor or by whom. They sent to jail for contempt of court. The newspapermen declared that they would not under any circumstance violate the condolences of those who gave them news would they permit themselves to be made stool pigeons They in jail serving 45-day sentences for contempt. The managing editor of the Times doubled their salaries and notified them that they would be paid for the time they spent in jail just if they at work
 However, the enforcement officers have not all ways escaped punishment for killing suspects. A in Oklahoma has just been sentenced to 50 years in the State penitentary for killing man while making a raid Yet even in that case the convicted mans attorneys said if they had been able to get the out of the Oklahoma State court into Federal court they are satisfied that he would have been acquitted. New York Times article says the Federal authorities were so in censed at the assumption of jurisdiction by the State court that they have had the Prosecuting Attorney and other State officials interested in the prosecution indicted for conspiracy to prevent the enforcement of Prohibition