Evening star., 1944-09-11
BY NORMAN KAHL,
Star Staff Correspondent.

BALTIMORE, Sept. 11-An all
male jury was sworn in 40 minutes
after court opened today to hear the
case of James J. Laughlin, Washing.
ton attorney, who is being tried be-
fore Federal Judge John Paul on
charges Of impeding justice in con-
nection with the Hyattsville bank
robbery case of 1941. Mr.. Laughlin
was ousted several weeks ago as de-
tense counsel in the mass sedition
trial in the Capital.
United States Attorney Bernard J.
Flynn was prepared to make his
opening statement to the jury and
outline charges that Mr.. Laughlin
participated in the presentation of
perjured testimony when his client,
Hilliard Sanders, went to trial in
January, 1912, for his connection in
the armed robbery of messengers
from the Prince Georges County
Bank & Trust Co. in Hyattsville
Sanders is now serving a 2O-year
prison term.
Plans Contempt Petition.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Laughlin an.
nounced he would file a petition
with the court asking that Mr.
Flynn and several Jail officials be
held in contempt of court for hold
ing six defense witnesses in places
OF confinement other than the
Baltimore City Jail.
Mr.. Laughlin, who is acting a.
his own attorney, said that Sanders
Kenneth Palmer and George Pea
BODY, all brought from the Atlanta
Federal Penitentiary: Robert Noble
brought from the District Jail ano
Frank j. Kane and William P
CroSWhlte, formerly of the Atlanta
prison, are being held in the Mary.
land State Penitentiary here.
In his petition Mr.. Laughlin
charges that these witnesses have
been placed in the punishment ward
and that Croswhite and Kane had
been subjected to threats and
abuses on the part of guards when
they objected to their confinement
IN the State Penitentiary.
Laughlin Request Rejected.
Mr.. Laughlin's petition asks that
besides Mr.. Flynn. the wardens of
the Baltimore City Jail and of the
State Penitentiary as we'll as the
United States marshal be directed to
SHOW cause why they should not be
cited for contempt.
Judge Paul rejected a request bv
the defendant that the witnesses be
brought to the courtroom from day
to day during the proceedings.
The character of these witnesses
Is such that you must realize tn at
some care must be taken as to their
custody" the jurist said.
Il don't think it would be wise
to bring them to the courthouse.
even II it were otherwise desirable. i"
Judge Paul, however, promised Mr..
Laughlin he would be given an op-
portunity to see the men at the
penltentlary during the afternoon.
Plea for Delay Lost.
The Washington lawyer. it is
charged by the Government. intro
duced evidence falsely indicating
that Sanders was a visitor in the
Florida State Penitentiary on the
day of the robbery.
Several motions filed by Mr.
Laughlin about two weeks ago to
get postponement of the trial were
rejected by Judge Paul, who was
called in to hear the case after Mr..
Laughlin filed an affidavit of pref
udlce against Judge William c.
Coleman.
Mr.. Laughlin has indicated that
several defendants and attorneys in
the Washington sedition trial will
be called to testify for him. He
has not indicated the nature of
their testimony, however. It was
on his plea that these persons might
not be able to leave the sedition
trial to come to Baltimore that Mr.
Laughln sought a delay.
The attorney has said he would
base his defense on what he learns
from Sanders when he is able to
see him.