Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-28
Protecting the Homicide
(AIfred Henry Levi. In Collier. weekIy1

Golfers Weekiy.)
can murders would ebb to fewer than
nine hundred.
There are laws against carrying pis-
tolls. knives, and blackjacks. Every
state, every city, has these laws. Some
Of them, like the Sullivan law passed at
the last session of the New York leg
islature, are extreme in their pro-
isions.
AS to the latter statute. 1t Is the
expressed opinion OF certain magfs-
trates and other low officers that sun
dry of it's provisions conflict with the
constitution. Apparently those magis-
trates, who have given opinions against
murders shorn Of the least splinter OF
their constitutional rights.
1t doyetails with the present purpose
to call attention to a defect, which is
found in eevry American ordinance or
statute forbidding pistol carrying. 1t
is not a latent defect which the dim
eyes of our lawmakers overlooked in
favor of the lawbreakers; but leak
coldly contrived, by the law architects
who drew the ordinance or statute. and
thru which the good therein con-
tanned Is allowed to escape. The clause
In question is that which arranges for
the issuance Of permits" The law de-
clares that no one shall carry pistol
and provides punishment for those who
offend. But 1t adds that certain Off
Gals, therein named, shall have au-
thority to issue permits" to whomso-
ever they WILL to-so to phrase it-vio-
late the law. Upon principal of par
TALLY, understood doubtless in an old
er day when the church dealt in dis
pensations, the mayor. the police com
missioner, police magistrates in most
cities may give any man the right to
carry pistol. and to keep himself
ready upon the instant to murder
whomsoever he sees fit.
To be sure. the prudent theory of
those who drew the law and voted
for its passage was that the officials,
/ thus endowed with power to issue gun
! carrying permits, would go conserva-
lively about their business. The law
makers, when they contemplated those
permits, had in mind night watchmen
express messengers. and others whose
duties are to protect property and life
from criminal attack Assuredly they
did not intend that It should be en-
ployed to arm thugs and strong arm
rogues for the commission OF murder.
The abuse into which that power. tc
Issue permits has fallen may be guess
ed at from the word Of Inspector Mo
| Laugillin. He said that OF every ter
to whom. permits to carry pistols have
been issued nine are professional GRIM
inals, and the odd one does not neet
a gun. 1: .es @-fs
i In a crowded East side tenement two
women are murdered. They are slaugh-
tered with an az, and there are evil
dences of a desperate struggle. Al
hour after the women were murderet
the husband Of the younger one puts
/ In his appearance. There are ways o.
checking up conditions, which show
that this must be SO. The murderer
has waited. He falls upon the hus'
band, AK In hand and murders him
The noise of battle must have reached
the street.
i There is family in the rooms owe
the scene of the murder, q family II
the rooms to the right Of the scene, o
the murder, q family In the rooms +
| the left of the scene Of the murder
The wallis and floors are Of the flimsi
est construction. And yet when tn
detectives arrive not one Of those fou