Evening star., 1944-07-14
|Laugh|in Pleads
Not GuiItyin
Baltimore
Lowyer Charges
Indictment Seeks
To Discredit Him

~ 0SS$bCOUl 0lW
3. James j. Laughlin. whose activ.
ties caused him to be ousted as a
defense attorney in the mass sedi-
ton trial here, appeared in Balti.
more Federal Court today and
pleaded not guilty to charges of OBJ
structing and impeding Justice in
connection with the l94l Hyattsville
bank robbery.
Judge William c. Coleman set the
trial for September II and indicated
ne would not consider a postpone
ment. Bond was continued at
S2,50O.
Mr.. Laughlin Immediately filed a
motion asking for a delay in the
trial date in which he reiterated
earlier charges that his indictment
was inspired in an effort to dis
credit him" as an attorney in the
sedition trial.
Attacks Grand Jury.
He also attacked the grand Jury
which returned the true bill against
him for what he termed a lack of
secrecy. He said this condition
raised a serious question" as to
the functioning Of the Federal grand
jury for Maryland and cited a radio
prediction concerning possible ac-
tlon against him in Baltimore which
was made over the radio by Drew
Pearson on May 81. about two weeks
before the grand jury acted.
Mr.. Laughlin was given until Au-
gust to file any other pretrial mo-
tions he cared to submit. He in
formed Judge Coleman that If tho
arrangement is satisfactory" to the
court, he will continue to act az
his own counsel in the case for
the moment"
The attorney, who was ordered
out of the sedition trial by Chief
Justice Edward c. Eicher of District
Court here on July S. after he filed a
petition with the Speaker Of the
House asking for Justice Eicher's
impeachment told the Baltimore
jurist today that it would be neces-
sary for him to call certain persons
in the sedition trial to appear as
witnesses for him in the Baltimore
case.
Custer Appeal Still Issue.
He also informed Judge Coleman
that his appeal from his custer from
the Washington proceedings still
was at issue, since it was confirmed
by the United States Court of Ap-
pealS in a 2-to-l decision and was,
therefore, inconclusive. Under the
circumstances, Mr.. Laughlin said, he
might be obliged to return to WASH
lngton at any time to resume his
defense Of Robert Noble and Edward
James Smythe, two defendants.
Mr.. Laughlin was indicted by a
Federal grand jury in Baltimore on
June 2 on charges arising out of the
trial OF persons later convicted of
robbing the Prince Georges County
Bank & Trust Co., in Hyattsville.
on September Is, 194l.
The Government charges that Mr..
Laughlin, in his defense of his
client. Hilliard Sanders, used an al
legedly forged prison record in an
effort to show that Sanders was
actually visitor at the Florida
state Prison on the day of the
CRIME. 1t also is charged that L. F.
chapman. superintendent of the
penltentlary, was misled into max
ing statement that he was almost
certain Sanders had visited the
prison on that iav
Accused of Obstruction.
Another count of the Indictment
returned by the Baltimore grand
Jury charges that between January
IL and February 5, 1912, while a
motion for a new trial for Sanders
and Leo Keefe. co-defendant. was
pending. Mr.. Laughlin "unlawfullv
and knowingly did corruptly er.-
deavor to influence and obstruct and
impede the course of Justice" bv
ming eight af1idavits tending to SUD,
port Sanders alibi that he had been
AT the Florida prison on the day of
the robbery.
The robbery of two messengers for
the Hyattsville bank was one of the
most spectacular ever recorded in
TINS area and involved a loot at
S32,ol6.95 in cash and S75.OO0 in
non-negotiable cashiers checks. The
messengers, Jack Dameron, II, of
Hvattsville, and Van Stauber. I8
University Park, were en- route from
tne oank to the Washington Subur-
pan Sanitary Commission Offices in
Hyattsville to leave a SIG, 900 payroll
when their car was blocked bv a
small black sedan containing three
men.
Two OF the men leaped out of ths
car with guns in their hands and
seized the satchel carried by one
OF the messengers. AS they were
returning to their car, the man in
side called attention to a second
satchel still in possession of the
messengers. The other two hurried
oack to the car and seized this bag.
alter which the sedan raced of to-
ward Washington.
agents OF the Federal Bureau of
investigation, with MARYLAND and
district police. began a search for
the bandits. Sanders was the first
10 be arrested, the following Octo.
per. Later Keefe was picked up.
lhey were tried together in Janu.
ary. 1912, and each was Hven A 90.
year sentence and a $1,000 fine.
Later. three others were arrested
and sentenced to prison for being
involved in the robbery.
OPA Delays Hearing
For Stables Restaurant