Evening star., 1948-06-25
Press Protests
Rule
To Curb News
Plan Would Restrict
Reporting Of Police
And Court Actions

went on record last night as unans
imously opposed to proposed Mary
land court rule designed to curb
publication and broadcasting Of
crime and court news.
Meeting at the Quonset Inn, Sill
yer Hill. representatives Of the
two groups, including newspaper
publishers and editors, reporters and
radio executives, voted to protest
the proposed rule and appointed q
six-man committee to carry out
their fight.
The committee was instructed to
draft formal resolution opposing
the contemplated measure as
violation of the rights OF free
speech. free press and the rights
Of defendants. A telegram Of pro-
test was directed to be sent i'm.
mediately to the Maryland Bar As
ISOLATION, now holding its annual
convention at Atlantic City,
Curb on Pictures Proposed.
Copies of the resolution also will
be sent to Chief Judge Ogle Mar
bury Of the Maryland Court Of
Appeals. to the Standing Commit
tee on Rules and procedure of the
same court, which proposed the
rules; Gov. Lane. Attorney General
Hall Hammond and other State
officials, as well as Senators O'Conor
and Tydings, both Democrats Of
Maryland.
The proposed rule, If approved,
would prohibit publication of a.
picture of an accused person with
out his consent; prevent police,
States attorneys or anyone else
officially connected with a criminal
case from releasing statements
made by the accused. tell of his
actions or forecast future course Of
trial, and prohibit police and
other officials from giving and
newspapers from publishing, any
evidence brought to light after an
arrest.
Such restrictions, the group was
told by Phillip ]. Austensen, presi-
dent of the Prince Georges County
association, would seriously en-
ooAlSCl vi VIC CSS
throughout the State.
The committee designated by Mr..
Austensen, a Washington Post re-
porter, includes Joseph NJ Matthias,
Bethesda attorney and a board
member and legislative chairman
of the Montgomery County Press
Association, who was named as
chairman.
Dinner Meeting Held.
Other committee members are G.
Bowie McCeney, publisher of the
Laurel News-Leader and an officer
in both the Prince Georges and
Maryland State Press Associations:
Samuel A. Wyvill, editor publisher
Of the Marlboro Enquirer-Gazette;
John w. Coffman, jr.. editor and
publisher Of the Takoma Park
Journal and president Of the Mont
gomery County association; Charles
A. McAleer, Prince Georges County
reporter for The Star, and Joseph
L. Brechner of Silver Spring, gen.
eral manager of Radio Station
WGAY.
| Last nights session actually was
the regular monthly dinner meet
ing of the Prince Georges County
group, but the executive committee
of the Montgomery County group
also participated.
The proposed restriction. which
has been in effect in Baltimore City
for several years, would be not only
objectionable from a newspaper
standpoint, but possibly prejudicial
to the interests of defendants" who
may benefit from full publication of
facts surrounding their cases. Mr..
McCeney declared in presenting the
motion to oppose the measure.
Baltimore Case Cited.
The group was told by Mr.. Austen-
sen that four staff members of the
Baltimore Sun and Baltimore cap
tain of detectives were cited for
contempt about year ago for di-
vulging contents of a confession in
a case involving shooting of 15-
year-old boy. Those cited escaped
with warnings. Mr. Austensen said.
The two county associations have
won the support Of sevexal papers
throughout the State in the last
week, as we'll as from officers of
the Maryland Press Association.
Among the papers offering their in
dorsement was the Salisbury Times
and several published by State Sem
ator p G. Stromberg of Howard
County.
Besides the papers previously
mentioned, other papers and agen-
cies represented last night were the
Suburban Reporter, Seat Pleasant:
Cheverly Citizen, Prince Georgian.
Prince Georges Post, Hyattsville In
dependent, the University of Mary
LAND Extension Service Editorial
section, the Washington Times
Herald, and the Washington Subur-
ban Sanitary Commission publicity
director.
In other business. the Prince
Georges group voted honorary
memberships to william A. Carson.
president of the Board of County
Commissioners; States Attorney A.
/ Gwynn Bowie, Linden Briscoe, clerk
to the county commissioners and
! liquor board, and Dr. James I. Boyd,
deputy medical examiner.
| Sherbow Gives Advice.
ATLANTIC CITY. June Is P).-
Judge Joseph Sherbow of the Balti-
more Supreme Bench urged last
night that all Maryland courts use
Baltimore rule which restricts
news stories about crime.
| In an address on contempt OF
court by publication, broadcast and
television" prepared for the annual
meeting Of the Maryland State Bar
Association. the Judge suggested
some modification of the Baltimore
rule
Generally. his proposal would
prevent publication of facts and
evidence which come to light after
arrest Of the accused.
As he illustrated it:
IF the revolver used in shoot
ing) is found before the arrest, this
may be published. If found after
the arrest, it may not be published
unless mentioned at the magistrates