Evening star., 1948-07-25
Delay Asked in Replies.
To Contempt Citations.
Till After James Trial.

DIAL 1MonE, ouly Zf.-Otdte AT
torney J. Bernard Wells today asked
attorneys for five Baltimore area
radio stations cited for contempt of
court to refrain from filing answers
until after the trial of Eugene H.
James. colored janitor accused of
killing Marsha Brill, II.
The stations were cited for their
handling of news Of the murder of
the girl in Baltimore and of Carol
Bardwell, also IL, in Washington.
Both girls were slain with a knife
and James is accused of both mur-
ders.
James trial in the Brill case is set
for September 20 here. The court
has given the stations until October
l to show cause why they should not
be adjudged in contempt.
Conferred With Court.
Mr. Wells said he made his re-
quest to station attorneys after con-
ferring with the court.
What the court found objection
able in the radio broadcasts might
be restated in the answers, Mr.
Wells said.
He added that publication of the
answers would defeat the purpose
of the court-to avoid publication of
some facts before the trial.
Mr.. Wells said that attorneys for
the stations contacted have not
stated whether they propose to
withhold filing of their answers.
Elisha Hanson of Washington,
counsel for the American News
paper Publishers Association. dis
closed earlier this week that he
CLANS to petition the Maryland
Court of Appeals for an order which
would require the Baltimore courts
to strike the rule restricting crime
news
Mclaughlin Plans Action.
| The National Association of
Broadcasters and the Montgomery
and Prince Georges County press
associations have thrown their sup
port to the defendants in the con-
tempt. cases.
Meanwhile, in Hagerstown, State
Senator D. Kenneth Mclaughlin,
Republican, of Washington County
said today he expects the next leg
islature to act to void any rules
imposed by Maryland courts on the
press and radio.
He said he would support or intro
duce such a bill.
Mr.. Mclaughlin, HagerstoWn
attorney, would not comment on the
citation of the radio stations.
His sole concern, he said, is the
prevention of the spread of the
Baltimore rule over the rest of the
State, as has been recommended by
special committee of the Mary
land Court of Appeals.
Lofstrand Might Buck Bill.
Mr. Mclaughlin stated he felt the
next legislature would also act "as
far as Baltimore City is concerned" !"
He said a measure to void press
court rules should be the first order
of business in Annapolis.
II have natural revulsion to-
wards efforts of the courts to muzzle
the press. Il have an idea that the
legislature is incensed with this
development" he said.
Anders r. Loftstrand, jr., chair
man of Montgomery County's Re-
publican delegation in the Maryland
House, said he would be inclined ito
support bill having as its purpose
the prevention of the muzzling of
the press"
State Senator L. Harold Sothoron.
Democrat, of Prince Georges, had
no comment" on Senator McLaugh-
Inns statement.
Baltimore City Supreme Bench
rules forbid, among other things, the
publication of statements made by
an accused after his arrest! the TAX
ing of his picture without his con-
sent, and the publication of any
forecast of the future course of
trial.
The rules were adopted, the court
~ ipS,rro 70 fria1c