I just did a google search on bail, and discovered that Google now shows news archive results.  The second result in the news archives was from the Deseret News, July 13, 1951, and it provided an interesting glimpse into the “Red Scare” – an episode in U.S. history that has always interested me.

The article is titled “N.Y. Judge Obeys Order to Free 15 Reds on Bail”.  Apparently Federal Judge Sylvester J. Ryan had revoked a $176,000 bail bond issued for 15 “high-ranking” communists, because the trustees of the Civil Rights Congress bail fund (which was I’m assuming was an organization supporting the civil rights of the “reds” and which put up the bail money) were “totally unreliable” as bail bondsmen.  The reason:  Judge Ryan held an inquiry into the affairs of the CRC, and held three of the trustees in contempt of court for refusing to provide the names of people who contributed to the fund.

Judge Learned Hand ordered the release of the accused communists after they had spent two nights in jail, citing a Court of Appeals panel directing the U.S. attorney to accept the Civil Rights Congress bail pending the result of Judge Ryan’s hearing.  Apparently Judge Ryan hoped to discover information on the whereabouts of 4 members of the Communist Party National Committee who had jumped $80,000 bail to avoid 3-5 year prison sentences for plotting to teach the forcible overthrow of the government.

Wow.  So not only did the accused have to come up with a hefty bail amount, the source of the funds was also under scrutiny.  At least until Judge Learned Hand came to the rescue!