Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-03
FIRST JONES LAW
OPERATION MONTH
ENDS IN DRAW"
Opponents and Proponents
Of Measure Concede
Virtual Tie.
TRIALS UNDER MEASURE
AVOIDED IN TRIBUNALS
Dissemination of Test Case Ex-
pressed by Rover-Imbibers Use
Medicants, Records Indicate.

The first month of the operation OF
the Jones law in the District OF Co
lurnbia has resulted virtually in a draw"
so far as contending claims OF opponents
and proponents of the measure, mace
prior to enactment. are concerned, &C
cording to a review Of police and court
records for the month, bolStered py
opinions from official sources.
The assertion that the increased PEN
alty for LIQUOR violations would drive
the operators out of business and re-
suit in a sharp decline in arrests has
been borne out to some extent, the fall-
ing of being approximately third, as
compared to the preceding three months,
which were considered average. THIS
drop, however, 1t is said, Is not as great
as was expected.
On the contrary, the contention OF
opponents that juries would be inclined
to leniency on all liquor cases because
of the severity of the law also has tailed
to stand up. OF 50 cases presented to
the grand jury, there have been Is
indictments, cases in which mdict-
ments were refused and ID still pending
There have been no trials under the
Jones law yet, but meanwhile there mas
been no inclination on the part OF tur1es
to 90 lightly on prisoners up under
the old statutes. it is declared.
III Arrests Made.
Since the signing of the Jones law
by President Coolidge on March IL
lii persons have been arrested on liquor
charges. Considering the evidence OBJ
tainable as being substantial. prose-
cutting attorneys have held 50 under
bonds, ranging from $4,000 to 5000,
pending grand jury action. From these
the Is indictments came.
Desiring to present only those cases
in which the circumstances indicate
they merit criminal procedure, prose-
cutors have withheld IA cases Of per-
sons charged at police precincts with
sale or transportation. Assistant
United states Attorneys David A. Hart,
r. F. Camalier and James Kirkland
refused to press charges when afndavits
of police informers alleging sales are
not corroborated or police have made
arrests without probable cause.
The stringent provisions OF the Jones
law, failing to extend to those appre-
hended on charges of possession, IN
numerous instances persons arrested
and charged with sale or transporta.
tion at the precincts have been allowed
to plead guilty to the possession count
and escape prosecution under the felony
statute.
Such action is taken only when the
evidence is insufficient to warrant grand
Jury action and the accused prefers 10
admit his guilt on minor charge
rather than face the possibility OF con-
yictior1 on criminal counts.
Raiding on complaints of disorder or
similar minor provocation, police are
permitted II discovering liquor, to
charge suspects. only with possession.
Arrested on this count, "a persons race
Police Court action. insufficient EVIL
has led to sthe dismissal Of ~ OF those
apprehended on the charge.
There have been ITS quarts OF liquor
seized since March 2, and the quality
has been about the same as usual, ac-
cording to DR.. Albert Spear. Govern
nent chemist, who analyses the ma
iority of samples submitted to deter
mine the alcoholic content and decide
whether the liquor Is fit for beverage
purposes.
Comparison Of Case
Arrests in the three PREF lonths
averaged 1873. In Febru' persons
were arrested under the - vnlnition law
in January the number totaled zZ4,
while In December the figure was only
ISL. In March Of 1928, one year ago.
24e persons were arrested Tor hquor
violations, but In other montnS LIE
number decreased materially 70 mann
tain the comparable average.
police Continue to maintain that pur-
veyors of LIQUOR in some instances have
Increased prices to such . point That
men of average means are unable 10
b,ly 1t. and use bay rum or extracts.
Police Court records bear this OUT.
Judge Ralph Given and Judge Gus "A.
Schuldt have discovered that the use
of the medicated liquids was extremely
pT Discussing the effects of the law on
Police Court juries, Assistant United
states ATTORNEY Camalier declared no
Increased antipathy against enforce
Ynent has been shown by juries. There
have been more convictions since the
enactment on old charges OF sale,
TRANSFORMATION and possession, than IN
the three months which preceded the
massage. March has been one OF the
most encouraging months since my ap-
Immediately after the passage Of the
Jones law lull in Police Court activ-
tiles revealed the fact that bootleggers,
undetermined as to its effect. were dis
continuing their efforts temporarily:
Seret. O. j. 4Letterman, commander OF
the vice SQUAD, whose work has made
1t prominent. endeavored without sue
cess to make arrests Under the new law
for several days. However, within q
short time o revival Of trade led to the
arrest Of several persons by the squad
commander and his efiiciert aides.
Two Smoke Screens Laid.
sergt. George Little, leader Of the
LIQUOR squad, was warned that boot
lsrrers when making an effort tn run
jv" q load Of liquor would resort to any
tactics to evade arrest, but the police
have encountered smoke screens IN only
two instances. Two police mtormers
were shot to death during the month,
Enforcement advocates and opponents
anxiously await the disposition OF the
first case tried in local criminal courts.
ALTHOUGH. .be docket in the courts OF
the District IN which such onenSes Will
be prosecuted are crowded and cases
Ia some instances are untried Tor Two
wears. United States Attorney Rover
declared that q case wiz be tried
within one week.
aWhile it viii not be classed IS z
fest case" Rover said, 1--WE wish to try
a case and convince bootleggers We In
tend to prosecute under the Jones law.
/ believe that the law has had . benes
fetal effect and 1t might be said thai
one reason for prompt action is TO keep
fear Of the drastic penalties provided
in the measure instilled Tn the MINDS
Of violators."