Evening star., 1937-07-13
Prosecutor Tells How D. c.
Motorists Were Defrauded
at Hyattsvi||e.
SAYS MOST VICTIMS
NABBED BY 2 OFFICERS
Scared Drivers Put Up Cash for
Fear of Losing Permits,
0gle Marbury Claims.
Rya Stan Correspondent of The Star.

UPPER MARLBORO, Md, July
l3.-HoW Washington motorists were
defrauded by an alleged bonding
racket was described here today In
the prosecutions opening statement
to jury which is trying seven former
Prince Georges County policemen, a
former magistrate and a bondsman
on charges Of conspiracy to obstruct
justice.
The jury was completed shortly after
l. am. and heard the States case out
lined by Ogle Marbury, special as
sistant to States Attorney Alan Bowie.
Marbury said:
I'VE will prove that these defendants
conspired to obstruct justice in cases
where motorists were arrested and
charged with traffic violations. We
will prove that in so doing the de-
PENDANTS fraudulently took from the
motorists certain money.
Describes Method
This is the way their method
worked:
First, motorist would be picked
up by one or two officers, usually late
at night on the highways in the up
per part Of the county near Hyatts-
vile. He would be taken before a
magistrate and usually two charges
were placed against him.
"One charge would be serious and
one lesser offense."
rh,,r lo OH oFt
were driving while drunk and reck-
less driving, and the motorist would
be required to post collateral or put
up bond. often as much as sl00 cash
or 81 900 bond.
The prosecutor added:
The motorists arrested usually were
not the type to have s100 on them.
They would ask What can We do7'
One of these defendants would tell
the motorlst that a bondsman was
available
Accordingly, the bondsman would
be summoned. His fee was $50 for a
$1,000 bond. The motorist then would
one who might help him in an effort
| 10 raise tne money
Marbury told the jury that the mo.
torists usually were taken to the Hv-
attsville lookup while awaiting funds
| from washington. He said when the
victims of the racket obtained their
liberty they usually were badly fright
ened. The special prosecutor charged
that one or the other Of the defend
ants would approach the motorist and
offer to try to get him of as lightly as
| possible.
Papers Disappeared.
The prosecutor declared that motor
lists were warned of the seriousness of
their plight and the danger they ran of
having their permits revoked
In many cases the motorist would
agree to pay minimum fine on the
two charges, with the understanding
that his permit would not be revoked
So they put up sl10 or $3.50, as the
case might be. Sometimes the money
was paid in full, sometimes in part.
Now, the orderly step would have
been for the magistrate TO send the
warrants and bond to the judge in
Traffic Court. Some Of these papers
disappeared altogether. Some cases
Of motorists originally charged with
driving while drunk and a minor Of
fense appeared in Police Court as only
minor offense.
When papers for minor offenses
were sent along Marbury con-
tinued. they usually contained the
money for the minimum fine and
costs, When the case was called
there would be no answer and the
money go to the county treasurer in
the usual way"
The prosecutor declared the police
men knew what was going on" and
made no objection in court when the
cases that they had made on serious
charges we're called up and disposed Of
as minor offenses. The prosecutor
said he was prepared to prove a dozen
OF these cases between August, 1895,
and December of that year.
More than 200 talesmen were oues-
toned and rejected before jury was
completed.
Those on trial are Herbert j. Mof-
fat, former Hyattsville justice of the
peace; Elmer Pumphrey, Suitland
bondsman, and former Prince Georges
County Policemen Howard Slater,
Albert Anderson, Arthur Brown, Maui
rice Hampton, Warren Peake, Claude
A. Reese and Frank Bell
The policemen, almost half of the
Prince Georges County force. were
suspended after the grand jury here
indicted them last December along
with Moffat and Pumphrey.
Several Excused.
A new force was organized by the
Maryland State Legislature last
Spring.
One of the defendants, Howard
Slater, was prevented by illness from
attending court. His attorney, Frank
Hall, said Slater would go on trial
with the others, but wished to reserve
the right to move for a severance
should his condition prevent his later
appearance.
The defense is led by Lansade
G. Sasscer, president of the Mary
land State Senate, and discussed as a
possible Democratic candidate for
Governor. He is associated with Hall,
George Burroughs and T. Van Clagett,
jr, all Of Upper Marlboro.
The nine defendants were named
in indictments returned early in De-
cember for conspiracy to obstruct JUS
tice, and Moffat was indicted for mall
feasance in Office.
Thorne told the judges that he had
done some work for the Keystone
Automobile Club in his capacity as a
, mechanic.
He stated this connection would not
prejudice him against the defendants
and was not challenged by the de.
tense.