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™ Business Offices, 324 State Bui ‘4 oe ee ct wee ee 8 pie tee aan + > Seo Tere wats ute alleged “Drive money—$23,000 ‘ire bills—iaarked” for Coos 4 Baw OE Tt Snows Newe and Prints 10° Babes od aoe day by THE ERAL COMPANY, INC, . ‘. Pittsburgh, Pa. Phone 2228 A Pebleation Plant, Donner Print. Company, Ingram, Pa. Thone 1063 Wainut ee en Editors: ARTHUR G. BURGOYNE THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1625 EDITORIAL ERNEST E. ROESER A Sensational Trial—And [ts Lesson. Py A trial in the Federal courts recently, deeply concerning a number of citizens, some prominent and some not so prominent except that they, have plenty money, seems to have been slighted in the way of havin recognition for its true importance. There is no intention by THE GRAPHIC to dig up past history, nor to Jean toward the sensational, either in news or editorials, unless it so happens that by doing so something of worth might be achieved. The reference to this trial, ending in the acquittal of Maurice Friedman, indicted on many counts, is made because it shows plainly that disrespect of constitutional law will continue to increase unless there is 27 improvement in the manner of handling important cases. 4 Had zhe Department of Justice worked up the case in point, which’ involved « number of individuals and practically all the breweries he: abouts, the progress of the trial would have been different. This fact! must be admitted. Moreover it must also be admitted that an oft-; repeated demand for Department of Justice men to take charge of law violations in this city is the one thing necessary to a clean-up. When the indictments in this case were being considered, they received the personal attention of Mrs. Willdebrandt, representing the attorney general's office. Mrs, Willdebrandt has all cases concerning prohibition in her charge in Washington and she came here especially for the noted bribery cases because of their great importance. Unfortunatly neither Mrs. Willdebrandt mor any other specialis came here to tal-c part in the trial. The prosecution was carried on by a man who, while a fav yer, is regularly employed as an investigator in the Intelligence U1it of Prohibition Enforcement. Consider then, the proceedings of the trial, especially remarking that the investigator was up against two lawyers of the Allegheny County bar who know every, trick of the gome. Federal attorneys sat on the side-lines. identificati d lying on the table as exhibits. (By th~ way, who gets this taint: iqney.?) Then there wag the testimony of parties, of beau- tiful women. of juxurious quarters in a hotel, of drinking and carousing and, fmally, of scgotiations resulting in packages of greenbacks intended as bribes being “lipped under pillows, to be found by the “brib-ee.” “Evidence of a sensational character was given,” daily newspapers—and this was absolutely correct. The point of all this is that had the case been prepared by Depart- ment of Justice men, trained in this work, who can make their evidence said one of the - stick notwithstanding assaults made upon it, much more would have been elicited in the trial. It was worthy of attracting national attention eas it was, Consider what would have bean the result if the member of the Intelligerce Unit who acted ag trial lawyer would have had the assistance of able prosecuting attorneys, or, even, if those federal attorneys who were spectators had helped with the prosecution. Much of the evidence fell down. It is ome thing for certain events to take place; it is quite another to prove in cowrt that they took place, especialiy whe. a defendant has able criminal lawyers locking after him. One war of making sure of proving faets in court is that they be prepered into « case by trained men. Real investigation takes only what is necessary tc convict. . . Prohibition enforcement officers are not, strictly speaking, trained mep. Depart-sent of Justice men are. Eaforcement men come from various walks of life into a new business, matching wits against really smart law-breaxers. . re Te: er noe ato ogee ew ge po. "4" 2 MEDC TIMeNT G1 JUSTICE Mal Will We. nell do fis auty, tou, for‘he does not know who his partner really ms er how he stands. There is. never any danger of these men cettling imto what are known as “mobs,” worki.g in groups 80 long that they become mechanical and ineffective. And this danger does confront enforcement men, for they Work in groups and become sort of settled. _ “There has been considerable agitation in Washington to have the Department of Justice take charge of enforcement. If it ever does, there will be a big change in many cities; this one in particular. It is npi, unusual that big bootleggers d'scuss this possibility and the kage remark is made by one of them, “Well, if they ever do, I'm retired for good.” And the others ned their agreement with this declaration. There may be something come out of the agitation for a change. John Hoover is now in charge of the Department of Justice. He is unlike the old-style, meloiramatic “secret service” man—as much dif- ferent from William J. Burns (retired) as day is from night. Hoover is a young man, but with plenty of experience. He has as large a ca- pacity f ar work as is accredited to Will Hays, with tremendous dynamic force., No one would ever take this human dynamo for a detective and that’s in his furor, But if ever John Hoover takes hold, pity the boot- legper or briber who is under fire. He's a real D. J. man! - Ee ar a Ee