Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-01
SPEED BOND GRAFT
CHARGESA ARE AIRED
Complaints Made in Hyatts-
vile Are Sent to State
Officials.

Transmission to Gov Albert G.
Ritchie, States Attorney ]. Frank Par
ran of Prince Georges County, Col. e.
Austin Baughman, commissioner Of mo-
tor vehicles, and the Prince Georges
County commissioners of testimony al
leging the existence of a bonding racket"
In Prince Georges County as charged in
Hyattsville Police Court yesterday, con-
stituted the latest development today in
the American Automobile Association s
effort to remedy condition which has
caused numerous complaints.
Meanwhile Sergt. John Joseph Cas-
sidy of the Maryland State police force,
investigate the complaints, searched the
court records at Marlboro for cases Of
persons arrested and required to give
bond for speeding in excess of go miles
an hour, only to be tried for speeding
more than 40 miles an hour.
The testimony was presented before
Police Court Judge j. Chew Sheriff yes
terday afternoon, but he refused to COM
ment upon 1t, declaring 1t had revealed
an investigation on the part of Col.
Baughman's Office.
Officer Is Arrested.
Sergt. Cassidy, accompanied by an
American Automobile Association Off
cial, was arrested by Deputy Sheriff
Ralph Brown early Monday morning
and charged with speeding in excess of
go miles an hour. The sergeant was
in civilian clothes and posed as an
automobile mechanic. It is alleged he
was required to pay 500 for q 81, 900
bond and told q hard luck story to
the bondsman, who Is said to have
agreed to attempt to have the speed
ing charges reduced, provided he would
plead guilty.
When Cassidy was arraigned yester-
day he was accused of speeding only
in excess of 40 miles an hour. To the
surprise of the parties involved, he
pleaded not guilty.
Brown told of pacing Cassidy at 81
miles an hour and when the court asked
the defendant II he cared to cross
examine the policeman Charles G. Col
Inns, attorney for the A. A. A., entered
the case as Cassidy's lawyer. Collins
attempted to cross-examine Brown on
how the bond was obtained, but the
court objected on the ground that it
had nothing to do with the speeding
charge. Collins replied that the fact
that 1000 bonds are required in 60
mile speeding cases was the only reason
such charges were preferred.
Judge Dismisses Case.
Harry Heffner, q relative of Browns,
who was with him when the arrest
was made, corroborated the deputy's
and then it was revealed for the first
time that the supposed automobile |
mechanic was really State policeman |
After that there was no objection con-
corning statements about the bond.
He and the A. A. A. official said
they were careful never to drive in ex-
cess Of IS miles an hour. G. D. Dun |
kum testified he tested Cassidy's speed |
ometer and found it miles fast at SIS |
he was speeding in line Of duty and dis
missed the case.
Cassidy declared that in four years |
On the police force he could not recall |
ever making an arrest for so miles |
so, he said.
Brown consistently denied having !
been approached by the bondsman to |
reouce the speed charge, and insisted |
volition because Cassidy appealed to
him, and he wanted to help the
mechanic out"
Evidence was introduced to show that
George D. Strayer, IT,, and Francis C.
Hough had been arrested in recent
weeks, had similar experiences to that
Of Cassidy. and complained to the
A. A. A.
Cassidy has been stationed in West
ern Maryland, where he gained con-
Siderable publicity last Summer by ar
resting Chairman G. q. Uhle of the
State Roads Commission on q traffic
charge. Brown has figured in several
cases that have attracted wide atten-
ton. Only two weeks ago he arrested
} Mount Rainier town bailiff on an
lntoxication charge, which so aroused
ihe towns officials they held a special
council meeting, exonerated the bailiff
md asked for disciplinary action against
Brown by the county commissioners.