Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-21
COURTS LAG BEHIND
|NDRY LAW TRIALS
WoodcoCk'S Report for July
Shows Number of Cases
Increased in Month.

A description Of the Governments
enforcement of prohibition throughout
the country in July was available today
in detailed summary made public by
Col. Amos w. w. Woodcock, prohibition
administrator.
Compilation Of performance reports
from the IL administrative districts in
dictated that the courts are not keeping
pace with the number Of arrests.
On July 1 last, when the Depart
ment of Justice assumed direct charge
of Federal enforcement, there were a.
173 criminal cases on court dockets.
During the FIRST month of Col. Wood
cocks administration there were 6,524
arrests. In the "a. reorganized admins
strative districts. New cases placed on
court dockets numbered 1918 and in
the 3O-day period ,694 cases were term
mated, some of which were brought
over from earlier months.
22,As7 Cases August 1.
The number of unfinished cases in
the country August was 2,497, which
"a 324 more than on July /. This num-
Der was exclusive of 1910 cases which
for various reasons were not placed in
court.
OF the cases terminated, 1892 were
by convictions, with the average jail
sentence 1925 days and the average fine
Si0e.59. The convicted persons paid
S216, 1872 AZ In fines and were given jail
sentences totaa4ng 127,804 days, an ag-
gregate of more than $50 years.
The summary Of prohibition activities
DISC showed the number Of intunctions
granted In equity cases, the number Of
Judgments of forfeitures, the automo-
biles seized, stills and distjllerieS seized,
and the amount of beer and liquor
seized. The compilation was prepared
| from reports made by each Of the IL
administrators in the country and at
| forded Col. Woodcock q description
at o glance" of the bureaus Nation
wide effort.
| Fourth District Records.
The fourth administrative district,
| comprising the District of Columbia
and five States, stood fourth in the
number of arrests during July, with
SEQ. The average jail sentence in the
district was 75.9 days, and the average
| fine $l5021. The number Of cases on
docket July was 2,539, and a month
later the unfinished cases numbered
| 1858.
The district was second in the num-
Der of stills seized, with 400, and sec
ond in the number Of automobiles
seized, with 102.
h The country wide figure for beer
seized was 1885, 277.50 gallons, and for
spirits" Ill ,67225 gallons.
| The summary was the first pre-
pared by the division of research set
up by Col. Woodcock, and afforded
only one basis of comparison, in the
number of criminal cases on docket at
the beginning and ending of the 30-day
period. These summaries from month
to month are expected by the admins
/ traitor to furnish a concise, accurate
description of the Governments effort
in all its aspects and at the same time
indicate any weaknesses that may de-
velop IN the enforcement system.
VIII Inform Nation.
Col. Woodcock anticipates that thu
summaries, with supplemental reports
will enable the bureau and the country
to keep abreast of the Government
effort. The IL administrators are re-
quired to furnish detailed performance:
reports at stated intervals.
In contrast to the 1892 convictions
were 202 cases which resulted in termi
nation by acquittals or mol PROSE- &C
ton. In the fourth administrative dis
trict, which includes the District of Co
lumbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Vir.
ginia and North and South Carolina
there were 149 convictions and 43 &C
quittal and mol PROSE- cases. OF tn
$50 arrests during the month, 296 wer,
held by United States Commissioners
and 22l were placed on docket.