Evening star., 1962-03-17
Mcclure Burs
Leniency PIeo;
Three Get Jail
BY DANA BULLEN
Star Staff Writer

given notice that he believes
stiff Jail terms-not leniency-
Is the only way to curb the
recent rash of violent crime
here.
In three separate cases yes
terday. the judge used stern
language from the bench to
show his concerned over crime
in the District.
"You can't go out in the
street without being hit on the
head" he said. You can't
ride a bus. You can't close your
place of business at night but
what thieves get in.
This thing is really serious.
and it has got to stop. The
only way to stop it is to have
the word go out (that) if you
are caught it is just too bad,
you go Ito jaiD.
Law or Chaos
1--WE are either going to have
a community of law and order.
or we are going to have chaos"
he said. Thieves knocking
people down in the street and
purse snatching has got to
stop.
What kind of a city are we
living in?"
In the first case yesterday,
Judge MCGUIRE sent Clarence
M. Williams. 81, of the 2100
block of Newport place NV,
to prison for two to six years
for stealing 1894 from a Geor-
gia avenue market.
Williams lawyer, who asked
for "leniency," said his client
got out of Jail only last year,
was not educated and meant
no violence although lie carried
a tire iron on the break-in.
Judge Mcguire said Williams
record started with a one-year
sentence for larceny when he
was II and included a 3-to-9-
year robbery sentence in 1916
and a longer term in 1854.
Nov, I have no sympathy
for you at ALL" the judge said.
There is too much house.
breaking going on in this town,
and the only way to stop it is
to impose sentences that will
stop it,"
The Judge said he would have
given Williams a "stiffer" SEN
tence except for the fact that
the defendant had pleaded
guilty.
Purse -Snatching Case
In the second case, Judge
MCGUIRE handed down a six-to-
18-months jail term for Her.
bert Vaughn, jr.. Is, of the 1900
block of Corcoran street NV.
for two purse snatchings.
Vaughn's lawyer pleaded that
there had been mo real force
involved other than running
past the girls and grabbing
their pocketbooks." He asked
parole for his client.
mo. I am not going to pa
role him." said Judge MCGUIRE.
Il am going to send him to
Jail"
when you snatch a pocket
book, you are just snatching a
little time out of your life. That
is the way it is going to be-"
the judge told the defendant.
II do not care whether he
pleads guilty or goes to trial.
If you snatch a pocketbook you
are going to Jail. I do not care
if it is your first offense or your
last offense."
First OffenSeS
The judge said both purse
SnatchingS were in the daylight
hours on main streets. If you
had any record, I would have
given you three to nine years."
he said.
In the third case, John R.
Towles. %, of 1411 Chapip
street NV. received an eight
month-to-two-year sentence on
houSebreaking and larceny
charges.
The judge was told-in miti-
CATION of the offenses-that
Towles was a veteran of the
Korean war.
II do not care whether he
was in the Korean war or half
a dozen wars" Judge MCGUIRE
said. That is no excuse for
any conduct of this type"
I am not going to put him on
probation" Judge MCGUIRE told
Towles and his lawyer. II am
going to send him away"
Towles, and the other two
defendants, we're three of %
persons up for sentencing on