Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-17
Action Seen Following Dis
missaI of Two Charged With
"Framing" Defendants.
TWO JUDGES BITTERLY
OPPOSED TO PRACTICE
Hart Declares Presence Of One in
Case Almost Always Sours
Mind of Jury.

Early discontinuance of the use of
police informers in inforcing the pro-
hibition law here appeared probable to-
day, following the dismissal of two
special employees" who we're charged
in Police Court trials Of framing" de-
PENDANTS In liquor cases.
One of the two informers, Leslie
Pitcher, was sentenced today to serve
1870 days in jail on bad check charge
Pitcher Pleads Guilty.
Pitcher pleaded guilty before Judge
Robert e. Mattingly today to the Is
suance OF two bad checks for a total
amount of $76.
He was accused of passing a worth
less check amounting to $2l to Thomas
L. Kelly of 1883 D street. and one for
SIS to Jerry D. Barba. a barber, Of
1912 Pennsylvania avenue. He received
80 days on each count.
Pitcher was arrested yesterday by
Detective Sergt. Clarence Talley of the
headquarters check squad Immediately
after his dismissal as a police informer
by the office of Inspector T. r. Bean.
vice squad chief, for alleged planting
of liquor which caused the arrest Of a
COloIc0 DOoLleBSeI.
Would Refuse to Serve.
Two members of a Police Court jury
that heard a liquor case Wednesday, in
which an informer vas accused of lying,
said afterward they would refuse to
hear another case where an informer
was used, according to q court official,
while David A. Hart, assist. MT United
States attorney. in charge Of prohibi-
ton enforcement. declared there would
have to be a change" Besides this at
least two judges of the court, who it is
known generally have never been in
favor of the use Of informers, have be-
come bitterly opposed to this method
OF enforcing the law.
Sours Mind Of Jury.
Stating that while nearly all Of the
cases brought to him recently by police
were made with the help OF informers,
Mr.. Hart said the presence of one in a
case almost always soured the minds of
the jury and ruined the case for the
prosecution. Taking into consideration
the caliber Of men usually employed as
informers," Hart continued, "a jury.
shouldn't be expected to believe any
teStiuc1v given by them unless it is
corroborated in full by the story of
police"
Hart said that almost invariably de-
PENDANTS are acquitted when charged
with selling liquor to an informer where
the latter was the only witness to a sale
The only thing which saves the prosecu-
ton in some instances Of this nature is
a guilty verdict on an additional count
OF possession. where police bear witness
to the fact that liquor was seized on the
premises operated by the particular de-
PENDANT.
MattingIy Agrees With Hart.
Judge Mattingly, who on Monday &C
cused William A. Warner, dismissed IN
former, OF lying on the witness stand"
agreed with Mr.. Hart that there GER
tainly will have to be some change"
Both Judge Mattingly and Mr.. Hart
believer that new policemen or prohi-
bition agents should be employed in
making the buys" necessary for build
Ing up the liquor case
In the past the informer has been
discovered" by the ONCE of Inspector
Bean and If, after some examination,
is found to have no criminal record, he
Is recommended to the prohibition unit
for the position. where he Is actually
hired at salary of SIS per day. Mr.
Hart charges that the men have been
hired with very little investigation as
TO their character or criminal record