The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-07-25
Action

8U8R8l0B MOVE
The new development came
on the heels Of Callen's surprise
request which he said was
motivated by - desire to serve
his client In the end that justice
will be DONE"
He said that he had complete
ly investigated Devriendfs past
history and was convinced that
the defendant was guilty OF .
crime, but doubted that the In
voluntary granddaughter charge.
which provides . penalty Of 1S-
years in prison, twas the right
charge"
LESSER CHARGE?
Callens stated that he be-
lieved q charge of negligent
homicide" would have been
"more justifiable." The charge
carries q lesser penalty.
Nearly 100 persons were In
the court room of Judge Reid ut
the time, and Devriendt was
hustled back to the county jail
under heavy police guard to
avoid possible reception OF
violence which flared in the hall
outside the court room earlier
when Gerald Cress, 21-year-old
brother Of the victims, attempt
ed to attack the prisoner.
BROTHER AROUSED
Relatives and friends of the
youth interviewed and avoided
possible bloodshed after Cress
had threatened the aged man
with what you deserve
Following his arrest, De-
vriendt pleaded guilty to the
charges in both justice and cir
cult courts, and sentence had
been delayed at the request of
Callens who volunteered his
services on the grounds that
"any criminal, no matter how
black his record, deserves the
right Of counsel"
He said that he was making
no charge for his services.
Following the circuit court
session this morning, the at
torney told a Daily Monitor re-
porter that he believed the in
voluntary manslaughter charge
lis unfair to society as well a.
to the prisoner.
"The same laws and people
who let him down during the
past now wish him to spend the
remainder of his life behind
bars"
CITES STATEMENT
Callens referred to statements
Of State Police officials who
raped the practise of letting
drunk and reckless drivers re-
main on the highways following
conviction.
They maintained that the law
was lax in handling previous
cases against Devriendt.
"All I want" Callens told
Judge Reid, in asking that the
plea be set aside, sis to see that
justice is done"
NO PROTEST
Prosecutor Johnston, appear
ing personally on behalf OF the
state, said that he could not
legally protest the request due
to law, but said that II had hoped
that the defendant would not
add further to his wrongdoings
by putting the burden Of an ex-
pensive, court trial on the tax
payers
He said that his office is ready
to prosecute the case ito the
full extent"
A few minutes after court ad-
journed, the prosecutor called q
press conference In his private
office where he announced the
seizure of Munro's dockets. Both
state and township records were
being studied.
Munro was present at the
court session this morning, but
was not detained.
VETERAN OFFICER
Munro, who has his office in
his home at 1000 Chalmers, was
first elected justice Of the peace
for q short 15-month term in
1910, defeating Irwin Little.
During that term which ended
July 4, he also served On the
Warren township board.
He started his four-year term
in the Fourth Of July, and At the
same time gave up his township
board post a. required BY law.
He would be In line for another
post on the same board after
serving the first hah OF his four
year justice term.
He Is not IN attorney, and
for the past seven years has
been employed by . Detroit
automotive arm. He was de-
putty sheriff during the term Of
former Sheriff Robert G. Havel.