Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-17
Fay Reports Decline
OF Narcotics Cases
In District Court

Narcotics cases filed in District
Court criminal division during the
fiscal year ended last June 80 &C
tually showed a slight drop from
the number filed during the pre-
vious fiscal year. United States At
torney George Morris Fay an
nounced today.
The figures released by Mr.. Fay
are more up to date, by one year,
than those released yesterday by
the Washington Criminal Justice
Association.
The prosecutors breakdown
showed 90 such cases filed the last
year, with So disposed of either by
guilty pleas or verdict. Seventeen
cases were dismissed, either by
verdict or disappearance of de-
PENDANTS, and the balance of cases
are still pending.
Confers With Police.
In the fiscal year ending June
80, 1850, So cases were filed in
District Court. There were 70
successful prosecutions and is
IdiSmissals for various reasons.
The other case was pending.
just before releasing the figures
this morning. Mr.. Fay conferred
for more than half hour with Mai.
Robert ]. Barrett. police chief;
Inspector Robert v. Murray, chief
of the detective bureau, and In
spector Robert S. Bryant, assist
ant police superintendent.
Mr.. Fay acknowledged that they
discussed both narcotics and gam
bling in the District "in general
way" Mostly, however, the con-
ference dealt with general in
vestigative and prosecutive prob
lens of interest to both depart
ments," he said.
Mr.. Fay added that he and the
police officials did not discuss pos
sible prosecution of Communists
here. He recalled that last week
in a talk with Justice Department
officials, he was told that the de-
partment is still studying the ma
tional picture to decide where
''best cases" may be made. Mr.
Fay said he has not yet been told
whether Washington is such an
area.
| Convictions Increase.
OF the number of criminal cases
tried in District Court last year
70 per cent resulted in convic-
tions, a 2 per cent increase over
the preceding year. His Office was
successful in SO per cent of the
cases in which it participated in
the United States Court of APP
lpea1s, Mr.. Fay said.
/ Meanwhile, bill Tightening
penalties for violation of Fedora
narcotics laws was on the way tt
the Senate from the House today
Although Overwhelmingly adopt.
led by the House late yesterday
1.-THE measure aroused unexpected
debate over complaints that Il
would unduly limit disc etionary
Authority of Federal judges.
| The bill would set maximum
fines Of $4,000 for all serious viola.
lions Of the law and fix minimum
prison terms of 2 to 5 years fol
first offenders, 5 to 10 years fol
second offenders and 10 to q
years for third and subsequent
defenders.
J Curbs Probation.
1 It also would ban suspended
sentences or probation on seconc
and subsequent convictions.
i Chairman Celler of the House
Judiciary Committee and other.
who agreed with the overall meas
lure warned that miscarriage oil
Justice might result from hard anc
fast limits on sentences.
i A judge, under the proposed
legislation, could grant suspend
!; ed sentence or probation to q
firSt offender. But he would have
to fine a second offender $1,000
and impose a prison term of al
least two years, even If there
were extenuating circumstances
especially in the case of a teen
ager, MIR. Celler said.