Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
POLICE COURT AIDE
INDICTMENT SEEN
AFTER FUND CHECK
Criminal Charges Also Loom
AGAINST Several Bonds
men.
SHERWOOD REPLACED
AS FINANCIAL CLERK
Department of Justice Investi-
gators Continue Probe-Re-
port Findings Guarded.

Indictment of one Police Court
attache and possible criminal charges
against several bondSmen were fore
seen today as the new District grand
jury prepared to consider evidence
uncovered by the Department of JUS
tice in lengthy investigation OF
alleged irregularities in the Police
Court.
The court employee faces indict-
ment for an alleged shortage of 1850
discovered in his accounts by special
agents of the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation. 1t is reported he has
made a full confession. His case will
go to the grand jury Thursday or
Friday of this week and an indict-
ment is expected early next week.
Coincident with preparations for
grand jury action, Presiding Judge
Gus A. Schuldt of the Police Court
announced the appointment of Wilmer
S. Schantz to succeed Clayton B.
Sherwood as financial clerk of tn
court.
Confirms Report.
The announcement was the first
official confirmation Of reports that
Sherwood had quit his position perma-
nently 1t had been reported he was
on indefinite leave. Schantz, former
assistant financial clerk, has been act
ing as financial clerk in Sherwood's
absence
One phase of the investigation by
the Department of Justice concerns
the activities of five bondSmen. 1t
was indicated the investigators are not
fully satisfied with their findings in
this respect and a further study will
be made before grand jury action is
taken. A decision on this matter is
expected within the next few weeks.
Alleged improper conduct on the
part of some bondSmen precipitated
the investigation and resulted in the
appointment of a committee by the
District Bar Association to inquire
into the charges. The committee re-
ceived confidential testimony from
several witnesses, but has taken no
public action.
Report Is Guarded.
It also has been reported that the
Department of Justice men discovered
other irregularities in the court. These
reports, however, have not been veri-
fled, since the lengthy report sub
mitted by them to their superiors has
been closely guarded and officials have
refused to release any part of it for
publication.
Assistant United States Attorney
Henry SchWeinhaut, who will present
the case to the grand jury, said his
only witness this week will be c. B.
Bolden, an agent of the Division Of
Investigation. In addition, the jury
will be shown records said to reveal
the alleged defalcations of the court
official
Appointment of William ]. zepp,
former recording clerk, as assistant
financial clerk, also was announced
today by Judge Schuldt
SchantZ has been attached to Police
Court for years. He resides at 459
Delaf1eld place. zepp, an employe of
the court for 4 years, resides at 1T
Hesketh street, Chevy Chase, Md.
Judge Schuldt said that as a result
of the Justice Departments recon-
mendations, the court has instituted
a number of reforms in administra-
tive procedure. 1t plans to make
further Improvements, he stated.
Bond Recording Changed.
Details of the suggested changes in
the report are regarded by the judges |
as confidential, Judge Schuldt said
All of the proposals. he explained.
were constructive and designed to
facilitate effective administration of
justice.
Among Improvements already made. |
1t is known, are new and more eff
Gent systems for recording bonds. |
issuing informations. keeping books
and filing papers.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
centered attention on the bonding
situation and on the recording of
penalties and other actions of the
court. There had been complaints
that court papers were lost" that
fines were improperly listed and that
other irregularities were complicating
justice in the Police Court. The
judges of the court were never under
suspicion in the inquiry. Attorney
General Cummings has said.