Evening star., 1936-11-22
Jury TO RESUME
POLICE BOND QUIZ
Prince Georges Panel Will
Return Within Two Weeks
to Study Data.
By GORDON EAMES BROWN.

Within two weeks. perhaps as early
rs November 80, the Prince Georges
County, Md, grand jury will recon-
vene at Upper Marlboro to consider
charges Of police graft. under investi-
cation by county officials for five
weeks
A mass OF Washington automobile
drivers afidavits, police and bonding
records, justice of the peace reports
and court docket findings will be pre-
sented to the panel for action which
may bring half dozen criminal in
dictments.
Actually, the inquiry has been under
way for several months, since a
Mount Rainier attorney first began
studying police documents and inter-
viewing aggrieved District autoists
who protested irregularities by county
and State police.
Brutality Charged.
Charges made by the Washington
aans have centered on complaints
against an alleged police bonding
ring reputedly operating for the last
year to victimiZe motorists arrested
for serious traffic violations Other
protests registered in affidavits have
cited evidence of police brutality and
illegal arrest.
Three accountants are checking
Aff1davits through police and bonding
records, magistrates files and court
papers. This phase of the inquiry,
started last week, will probably be
completed in three or four days. &C.
cording TO States Attorney Alan
Bowie.
Only last Tuesday was the investiga-
tive personnel appointed when Ogle
Marbury, counsel to the county's
Board Of Commissioners, was chosen
TO assist Bowie as a special prosecu-
tor.
Appeared Before Jury.
Louis Lebowitz, the Mount Rainier
lawyer, who initiated the investigation
last Summer, took the matter to the
Keystone Automobile Club in Wash
ington several weeks after start of his
inquiry. That organization imme-
diately detailed it's legal staff Of
Harvey L. Cobb and Waiter Newrath
10 obtaining afhdavits from autoists
claiming victimization by Prince
Georges police.
Working on information taken from
the arrest and court records first ex-
amined by Jebowitz, the keystone
lawyers spent some four weeks con-
tacting motorists. Then, week be-
fore the grand jury recessed, Lebowitz
and Newrath, armed with afidavits
and accompanied by several witnesses,
appeared before the panel. That was
on October 20. Six days later the
jury disbanded. At that time it
recommended a recall for further
study of the charges and consideration
of additional evidence. The group
had already impeunded some of the
documents relating to cases cited by
the witnesses and the two attorneys.
Three Policemen Suspended.
Ten days later the Board of Com
missioners suspended two constables,
named as the arresting officers in q
suit previously filed through Keystone
against q county bondsman. The suit
sought return OF $40, which, it was
claimed, had been Illegally paid to the
bondsman.
Meeting again on November 10, the
commissioners suspended another
county officer. Their action was taken
on complaint of a Washingtonian,
who charged unlawful arrest by the
constable. No other suspensions have
been made by the board, although the
commissioners authorized payment of
salaries to the special Investigators
and officially expressed accord with
attempts to sift the charges of police
corruption.
Would Improve System.
Meanwhile, as investigators con-
finue with preparation of the case for
jury presentation Keystone Is map
ping an auditing system which will be
given to the Board of Commissioners.
The program will be offered for i'm
provement of the current method of
accounts employed in payment and
registration Of fines.
State Senator Lansdale G. Sasscer,
president Of the Maryland chamber
and Prince Georges political leader,
has also announced he will introduce
a bill at the Assembly's next session to
prevent changing or withdrawal Of
warrants without approval by the
States attorney. His measure will
propose law delegating the power of
warrant alterations solely to the pros
ecutor.
Under present statutes, any of some
30 justices Of the peace in the county
may change criminal charges. Sasscer
will also recommend an enabling act
permitting appointment of an assistant
to the States attorney.
Another expected development is
receipt of ruling from Maryland's
attorney general on whether justices
Of the peace may actually try traffic
cases. Under the present system magis-
trates merely set bond or collateral
amounts prior to the suspects appear
ance in Police Court. The Magis-
trates' Association has asked Attorney
General Herbert r. O'Conor for an
opinion on the matter. O'Conor re-
Gently gave an informal ruling. ap-
proving justice of the peace trials in
trafic cases. in a letter sent to Magis-
trate Robert Z. Ennis Of Capitol
Heights.
Wild Ducks Parade