Evening star., 1937-12-09
RELEASE Of KNOWN
CRIMINALS ON BAIL
IS HIT BY NOLAN
Criminal Justice Association
Director Stresses Need to
Speed Up Courts.
WOULD REGULATE BOND
BUSINESS IN CAPITAL
Discussion Prompted by Trapping
Of Gang Allegedly Attempt
ing to Rob Safe.

Alleged safe-cracking and robbery
activities of the Williams-Steele gang
while at liberty under low bonds on
old charges emphasizes the need for
speeding up court machinery and
regulating the bail-bonding business
In the District, James A. Nolan, direc-
tor Of the Criminal Justice Associa-
ton, said today.
I'VE should not be letting known
thugs out to continue their depreda-
tions, and that is what we are doing
every day." Mr.. Nolan asserted.
His statement came as police ON
GERS complained privately Of asserted
failure of prosecuting officials to CO.
operate with the police in keeping
habitual criminals behind the bars,
but declined to comment for publi-
cation.
The discussion was prompted by the
situation brought to light since Sun
day night when police trapped four
men allegedly attempting to rob a
safe OF $4,000 in the $500 block OF
suitland road Sc, killing one of the
gang, Carlton G. (Cotty) williams.
Two of the three desperadoes who
escaped in hail Of police bullets now
are being held on open charges.
brains" Of Gang Sought.
Police still are seeking James r.
Steele, 81, whom they describe as the
brains of the gang. Capt. Ira z.
Keck, assistant chief Of detectives,
charged the same gang is responsible
for numerous safecrackings. hold-ups
and other robberies involving nearly
100000 loot during the last year.
All the men implicated in the Sun
day night affair have long police rec
ords. The records show that FOR more
than a year Williams had been at
liberty under $1,000 bond and Steele
under $500 bond on HOUSEKEEPING
charges. Their trials had been de-
layed several times. John M. Tabler,
Arlington, Va, who surrendered to
police Tuesday, had been under bail
for several months in connection with
the shooting of witness in another
case. Benjamin Honey Boy) Sewell,
colored, the second man being held
has been arrested several times pre-
viously
Urges Higher Bond.
I'VE do not believe that bond anc
delays in being brought to trial shoule
be made easy for habitual criminals oi
the stamp of Steele or Williams" Mr.
Nolan said He suggested that in sucf
cases bonds should be set so high tina
the prisoners would not be able to OBJ.
tain bail.
Pointing out that Steele's record in.
cludes an ecsape from the Leaven'
worth Penitentiary, Mr.. Nolan said 6
properly-regulated bondsman woule
not take the risk of providing high bal
for him.
District Attorney Leslie c. Garnett
asserting that activities of the Grim.
inal Justice Association SO far have
served only ito make law enforce.
ment harder" took issue with the ar
gument for high bonds. He said such
q practice would violate a prisoner
constitutional right to bail.
The District attorney and Mr.. No
Ian agreed that more judges are need
ed in the District court to expedite tria
OF criminal cases.
Garnett Blames Congestion.
Blaming congestion in the courts
for delaying in bringing to trial many
criminals who are at liberty on bond
Mr.. Garnett said
1--WE are keeping the judges busy
and now have 311 cases in Jail await.
ing trial. We endeavor to try thu
Jail cases as promptly as possible, ane
this naturally puts us behind in trying
some of those on bail.
When felony indictments in tht
District have doubled in the last foul
years without any increase in th'
number of judges to handle them,
don't see what the district attorney
ONCE can do to speed up trials"
He said the service Of an addi
tional justice, to be added early mex
year, would help relieve the conges
tion.
Mr.. Nolan said early action is i'm
perative on a bill pending in Con
gress to provide three additional jus
tices for the District.
Regulation Of bondsmen, Mr.. No
Ian said, should include provision
limiting the amount Of bail bonds
man might provide on specific
amounts of security, and requirin
the bondsman to produce the pris
oner periodically or automaticall
forfeit the bond If the prisoner shoul
be missing from this Jurisdiction.
Inquest Expected Soon.
J; Meanwhile, an inquest into tn
staying of Williams was expected t
be held tomorrow. Pending the in
quest. six police ofIicers VIII took pal
in the Sunday night ambush al
under technical arrest. williams wa
TO be buried today, In Cedar Hi
Cemetery.
I Along with Tabler and Sewell, pc
lice are holding for investigation Pa,
J.. Nelson of Savage, Md, who a.
legedly has confessed that he acte
as finger man" for the planned rot
berry Sunday night of the home owne
by his brother, Charles Nelsol
wealthy Prince Georges County MAJ
Police say he also admitted finger
ing" $12,500 robbery Of his brother
former home in Arlington Count
Va, several months ago.