Evening Star Newspaper, May 2, 1930, Page 10

‘A—10 = BONDING RACKET CHARGE MINIMIZED Prince Gedrges Officials In- clined to View Lightly A. A. A. Complaint. While officials of the American Auto- mobile Association conferred on plans to further their investigation of the alleged “arrest and bond” racket charges which they claim to have un- covered, and the Maryland commis- sioner of motor vehicles was awaiting the report of his investigators, county officials seemed inclined to minimize the seriousness of the situation revealed by the test case at Hyattsville ‘Wed- nesday. State's Attorney J. Frank Parran declared it appeared to him as if & mountain was being made out of &/ molehili. He declared it frequently happened that officers, out of sympathy for the motorist, reduced charges from speeding in excess of 60 miles an 'hour to 40 miles an hour. It is “natural” for a bondsman to try to help his client out by having serious charges reduced, if possible, the State's attorney said. Uninformed of Case. Parran asserted he knew mothing| about the particular case involving | Sergt. John Joseph Cassidy except what | he had read in the newspapers, and from that it appeared suchhl test case was “not geoing to get anywhere. n"ugnmeg ca.sge comes before me and there are sufficlent facts to justify it, I will take the proper action,” he said. “If, the newspapers devoted & little more time to defending police officers rather than criticizing them, the county would be better off,” was the comment of County Commissioner William A. Duvall, in whose district the alleged | bonding racket is being operated. How- ever, if the officers are not right, ey do not deserve backing, of course, | driving in excess of 60 miles an hour, officer amended the warrant so that | the sergeant only was accused of speed- | ing in access of 40 miles an hour, He pleaded not guilty to this charge, how- ever, and the testimony regarding the exaggerated speeding charge and bond- ing followed. Judge Sheriff according- ly dismissed the case. The case caused considerable com- ment in all sections of the county yes- terday. At the court house in Marlboro some county officials were frank to ad- mit that the bonding situation in the county was “bad.” BAUGHMAN SILENT. Vehicle Commissioner Declines to Dis- cuss Situation in Advance of Probe. Spectal Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, Md., May 2.—Motor Vehicle Commissioner E. Austin Baugh- man declined to discuss the “bonding racket” as alleged to be practiced by Prince Georges County police, by which motorists are compelled to file a bond costing $100 on charges of speding. He said he was going to confer with Sergt. Cassidy today to learn more in detail what the situation is and what he can do about it in addition to what Sergt. | Cassidy did under his direction. He was unwilling to discuss the sit- uation further than to say that appar- ently Sergt. Cassidy had accomplished what he had been sent to accomplish. He is sald to regard the local laws of Prince Georges and Montgomery Coun- tles as aiding in the use of the bonds- man and the changing of charges which marked the Cassidy case. It was suggested by some of those who discussed the situation that local laws in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties governing the trials of viola- tions of the motor vehicle laws formed an element in this situation. These laws were sald to aid in the working of the scheme of first making a charge of getting the bondsman on the scheme and subsequently reducing the charge to the less grave charge of driving in excess of 40 miles an hour. 5100000 FIRE HITS e eing with the State's sttorney, Commissioner Duvall voiced the senti- ment that such an investigation as was conducted by the A. A. A. an‘d the commissioner of motor vehicles “would dent, sent the foll bert C. Ritchie: Al“'l"he ‘American Automobile Associa- tion desires to call to your attention the manner in which motorists passing through Prince Georges' County are being victimized on speeding charges in & way that bears all the earmarks of a racket, participated in by county police officers and _professional bondsmen. Numerous complaints have been filed with the A. A. A, and these were of such a character that we decided to Jsunch an inquiry in order to protect car owners using the highways of this section. Charge in Brief. «Briefly, ‘the practice is to charge | motorists ‘'with exceeding 60 miles per | Tour in order that they may be required | to t a bond of $1,000, and then amend the warrant to a charge of ex- ceeding 40 miles per hour, provided the defendant pleads guilty. Meanwhile, the motorist, in the majority of cases, s forced wéawrt to t}:e “STX of bol;dsu; men, suggested by county police, an pay 10 per cent on $1,000. It has been shown that the bondsman acts as inter- mediary and approaches the officer to have the warrant amended to the less serious charge. “As & r:gult of the complaints to this association the co-operation of Col. E. Austin Baughman, co) - sioner of motor vehicles, was secured for an investigation of the charges. May 1 also say that Col. Baughman was very much impressed with the evidence of this wrongful application of the Maryland motor vehicle laws and rendered every possible co-opera- tion. “On last Saturday Col. Baughman assigned Sergt. J. J. Cassidy of the State police to assist the A. A. A. in & check-up on the complaints. Sergt. Cassidy, with an A. A. A. representative, was arrested late Sunday night while traveling at a rate of 55 miles per hour and charged with speeding at 66 miles per hourwuubh t.&ey were tmve;n:de. tel; y the county officers, :‘;J‘n wyere in civilian clothes.” Arrested by Brown. Cassidy was arrested by Constable Ralph Brown and taken before Justice ©of Peace George Phillips at Berwyn, where he posted the $1,000 bond. The PAW PAW TANNERY Two Units of Six in Plant Are Destroyed by Blaze. Special Dispatch to The Star. HAGERSTOWN, Md., May 2.—Two units of the six-unit plant of the United States Leather Co. tannery at Paw Paw, W. Va,, near here, were de- stroyed by fire last night. The blaze, which originated in the yard of the plant, 1is believed to have been caused by defec- tive wiring and entailed a loss esti- mated by company officials at $100,000. The entire plant is covered by insurance and George W. Ambrose, superintendent, announced that reconstruction work will | get under way immediately. The tannery affords employment to & majority of the residents of Paw Paw, | and when the blaze was discovered citi- zens rushed to the scene and attempted to combat the fire with use of fire ap- paratus at the plant. Their efforts were inadequate and fire companies at Cum- berland, Hancock, Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs were notified. The Hancock Fire Company, which only last night celebrated the first anni- versary of the installation of new appa- ratus, covered the 37 miles over moun- tainous roads in the fast time of 1 hour and 5 minutes, and 35 minutes after ar- riving had the flames under control. Other companies which had been called were stopped and sent back. The Berke- ley Springs company was the first on the scene, but equipped with only chem- icals was unable to cope with the blaze, ‘Two of the six buildings at the plant were destroyed and three others scorch- ed. Tanning is the largest industry in Morgan County. Bradley Lane Cement Laid. By a Staf? Correspondent of The Star. BETHESDA, Md., May 2.—Laying of concrete on the north roadway of Bradley Boulevard was completed yes- terday and the highway will be open for traffic in a short time. In the im- provement of this highway for 2,000 feet west of Wisconsin avenue, a 30- foot center parking has been provided, and it was said that this is to be land- scaped by George P. Sacks. There are now two 21-foot roadways on either side of the center parking. T FIRES SWEEPING HE EVENING STAR, ALLEGED RUM CAR SNOW HILL AREA! CAUGHT IN TRAP Most Disastrous Forest Blaze in 50 Years Raging in Worcester County, Md. Special Dispatch to The Star. SNOW HILL, Md., May 2.—The most disastrous forest fire that has occurred in Worcester County in 50 years has beea raging in Adkinson distrist since yesterday. The fire started in a section of the western part of the county known ss the Old Corner House farm and, driven by a stiff breeze, burned over hundreds of acres of the best pine, maple and oak timber in the county. Sky Filled With Smoke. By 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the western sky was filled with dense smoke and the fire caused a glow over the countryside. In Snow Hill small flying particles of charred brush were failing in the streets. The State forest fire warden from his tower on the Snow Hill-Salisbury State highway called for volunteer fire- fighters and at 3 p.m. 300 men were fighting along the roads bordering Nassawongo Creek in an attempt to prevent the spread of the flames to valuable timber and farm lands in the Longridge section. The Snow Hill Fire Department was called out at 6 p.m. to prevent the burning of Frank A. Warren's farm house and other farm houses in that section. Two Farm Houses Burned. Two farm houses in the Furnace tract have been burned. The valuable timberlands owned by a syndicate known as the old Furnace tract are now on fire and every effort is being made to prevent the utter destruction of this forest. Seventeen thousand long-leaf pine saplings, recently planted under the supervision of the State Forestry De- partment, were burned on the land of E. M. Jones. ‘The drought has made the forest dry timber and fires in the forest have been of dally occurrence, the State forest fire warden reports. The fire was 8o rapid in its progress it was im- possible to check it at its origin. CONVICTED OF LETTING FIRES OUT OF CONTROL |z Two Prince Georges Citizens Let Off With Suspended Fines—Truck Driver Penalized. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. Hyattsville, Md., May 2.—The sequel to some of the disastrous forest fires which damaged nearby Maryland wood- lands last month was heard in Prince Georges County Police Court yesterday, when Judge J. Chew Sheriff convicted two men on charges of violations of the forestry laws by permitting firg, to escape to adjoining land. The men, Hiram Jackson, 300 block of Fifty-third street northeast, and Al- fred Nelson, 5300 block of Dix street northeast, were each given suspended fines of $5 on recommendation of Dis- trict Forester Walter J. Quick, jr. The court was told the men permitted brush fires to get out of their control at Vista, Md. Negligence of this sort is a crim- inal act in Maryland. Oscar Pryor, colored, driver of a large grocery truck, which collided with an intercity bus near College Park on the Baltimore Boulevard, was fined $10 for failure to keep to the right of the center of the road. He was arrested by Lieut. Raleigh of the Maryland State Police. James C. Chilton, driver of the bus, was charged with reckless driving, but ac- quitted. Anna R. Byrd, colored, was fined a total of $30 for exceeding 40 miles an hour and passing a car at the top of a hill. Constable Ralph Brown made the arrest. PRSI An all-empire menu at a recent din- ner in London included Cape wines, South African grapefruit, East Indian turtle soup and Kenya coffee, and the dec.;glrauum consisted of Australian wa All sizes in the assortment from 33 to 42. we feel sure and certaia that biggest and best assortment Suits of All-Wool dark shades. .. Choice of two or three bu tailored throughout. teed linings. Boys’ Scouter Shoes $1.95 Value High - erade, sl .19 i e : : cap toes. Bizes 11 w; the first tc announce the savings. wearing qualities, providing practically two suits. UFMA Startling News for Men of Washington! Great Purchase and Sale of $20 to $27 All-Wool Suits With Two Pairs of Trousers 15 When better clothing ca the public below regular prices, Kaufman’s are about n be bought and offered In this purchase it is without a doubt the of high-grade garments that it has ever been our pleasure to offer, Tweeds, Twists, Cassimeres and Worsteds in the season’s most popular Tans, Browns, Grays, Blues and Oxfords, in Light, Medium and tton sack models, faultlessly The two pairs of trousers doubles the Guaran- Men’s $3.50 and $4 xfords Black or tan blucher or bal 90 models, with rubber or v leather heels; genuine | Good- year welt; sizes 6 to 11. fman’s—First Floor Clarence Masthro‘ok Victim of Police Strategy on Coles- ville Pike. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. SILVER SPRING, Md., May 2.— While running along the Colesvile pike with a load of alleged liquor in his car, Clarence Mastbrook, 21 years old, giv- ing an address in the 600 block of Mas- sachusetts avenue northeast, in Wash- ington, drove into a trap set for him by Patrolman Joseph B. Nolte of the north- ern district station of the Montgomery County police, at the Burnt Mills bridge over the Northwest Branch. Had Advance Tip. ‘The police received information that what appeared to be a load of liquor was coming down the Columbia pike. Nolte, with Justice of the Peace Ward W. Caddington speeded up the road to the narrow bridge. The officer kept the police car at the bridge and sent the judge up the road to signal when a car bearing the description received by the police came into view. Caddington took position on a hill, where he could see into the car as it passed. When it ar- rived he signalled Nolte at the bridge, and he placed the police car across the road. When the driver saw the road blocked, and the policeman standing by it, he came to a sudden halt. He was then in betweeh the two officers, and when Nolte beckoned for him to come on, he did. ‘Without Registration Card. It was found that he had no registra- tion card for the car, and that the ve- hicle had tags issued for another ma- chine. When taken to the substation here, a search warrant was issued, and examination of the car showed that he had 336 quarts of alleged liquor. addition to being charged with two vio- lations of the motor vehicle laws, he was charged with transportation of intoxi- cating liquor with intent to sell the same. Justice Caddington required him to post & bond of $500 on all three charges, for his appearance at the Mont- gomery County Police Court at Rock- ville Saturday morning. The car also Jul was held pending the outcome of the trial. Licensed to Wed. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. May 2 (Special).—A marriage license has been issued here to John R. Moore, 57, and ma J. Hutchinson, 56, both of Clin- ton, Md. In| INMATE FINDS LIQUOR, FIGHTS WAY TO JAIL Police Called to Alms House for First Time to Get Obstreperous Whisky Discoverer. Special Dispatch to The Star. DANVILLE, Va., May 2—The Police Department for the first time in its history yesterday received a hurry call to the city almshouse, where James Dooley, 72, an inmate, refused to be Eacifled after finding a quantity of quor in the pines near the institution. ‘Two policemen, finding the inmate more than they could handle, removed him to the city jail. GUILTY OF KILLING Death Car Driver Convicted by Fa- ther of Man Who Defends Him. Spectal Dispatch to The Star. CUMBERLAND, Md., May 2.—John W. Reidenbaugh, 21, charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Mrs. Emma Alburtis, 72, widow of Otho Alburtis, in an automobile ac- cident, was found guilty yesterday by Judge Albert A. Doub. He was defended by Albert A. Doub, jr., attorney, son of Judge Doub. The State charged the accident was the result of Reidenbaugh, who was driving with a pafty of young women, ignoring a stop sign at Hill Top Drive and Louisiana avenue, and that he was driving recklessly. He struck a car operated by Mrs. Deborah Burkett, who had Mrs. Alburtis as a passenger. S S — ALLEGED BANDIT JAILED Sentenced to Five Years on Convie- tion by Cumberland Jury. Speclal Dispatch to The Star. CUMBERLAND, Md, May 2—Glen Evans, alleged local bandit, was found guilty by a jury yesterday on a charge of assault with intent to murder. He was irmediately sentenced to five years in the penitentiary by Judge Albert A. Doub. Evans fired through the door of a room in the house of Carl Newell, Wil- liams street, where he had rented a room, when officers sought his arrest in connection with several holdups last . Splinters struck Newell and Sherift William R. Harvey. When officers finally broke in after having tossed tear bombs inside, Evans had escaped through a back window. 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