Evening star., 1951-01-02

lished that several professional
oondsmen have not only flouted
-. the law but have flagrantly
operated as an arm of the criminal
element under the very caves of the
courts in which they pursue their
activities. Special rates were and
are afforded when persons employed
as numbers writer's are taken into
custody although such persons are
not required to pay for their bail.
The full rate is assessed only against
those who engage in such operations
on their own initiative. The evidence
is overwhelming that many pro-
fessional bondsmen have consist
emily maintained fictitious records
over a period of years. Such entries
as "3-X," Scar" and others of like
character, or no entry at all in
records, eloquently bespeaks the
manner in which such bondSmen
have pursued their calling.
Several of such bondsmen openly
avowed their inability to furnish
your subcommittee "the name Of
the person calling him and request
ing him to come to such place,
and it clearly appeared that many
persons detained had neither them
selves sought their release from
incarceration nor did they know
the identity of the individuals who
bespoke the intercession of bonds
man in their behalf. 1t was equally
clear, and overwhelmingly so, that
many bondsmen could not or would
not state the identity of the indi-
viduals who paid their fees, al
though many persons they released
on bail had not. One bondsman
even claimed his records were con-
fidential."
Denial Was Perjury.
If, in conformity with the law,
such bondsmen furnished to police
officers or to persons in charge of
places of detention, the names Of
the persons who called them, they
perjured themselves before your
subcommittee in denying they had
such knowledge. If such names
were so furnished they comprise a
public record which was intended
to be and which should prove an
effective aid to police and prose-
cutting authorities in establishing
a link between the so-called un-
known higher-ups in the criminal
element who prosper in gambling
operations and those who served
and abetted them. Notwithstanding
they were furnished bondsmen and
lawyers, it was abundantly clear to
your subcommittee that many per-
sons arrested on gambling charges
did not know by whom they were
Your subcommittee is
satisfied bondsmen and lawyers
linked with their activities have
such knowledge.
If, on the other hand, bondsmen
did not furnished the names of
the persons who called them on
behalf of those detained, in con-
formity with the provisions of the
law governing bondsmen's opera
tions, they perjured themselves
when, in renewing authority to act
as such, they furnished aff1davits
Of compliance with the provisions
Of the law.
1t being abundantly clear from
the evidence submitted that many
oondsmen are closely allied with
and comprise an integral part of
4 criminal enterprise and that their
operations were conducted in de-
fiance of the law governing their
activities, your subcommittee COM
mends this, aspect of its investiga-
ton to appropriate law enforce
ment authorities for the necessary
attention it merits.
SUPPRESSION OF GAMBLING.
-. Gamblers operations are no
mere side enterprises. Perusal of
the roster of those whose services
therein brought them afoul of the
law in the period between July,