New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-25
SOCIETY VERSUS THE BANDITTI
Drastic Measures Needed to Meet the
Present Crisis.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The alarming increase OF daring
'hold-ups" I'm New York City by reck-
less group OF bandits calls for drastic and
concerted action on the part OF all GOOD
citizens. II Is no time for sentiment IL
Is time for calling into play all the
machinery OF the law and all the force
OF public opinion to rectIfy as far az pos
sible an intolerable condition.
when the Sullivan law was passed
making 1t z crime To carry concealed
weapon. many OF US rejoiced and felt that
II was step in the right direction ana
that it would result in lessening crimes
against the person. But our hopes nave
been sadly disappointed. The only erect
OF the law, so far as ! am able to judge.
has been 10 disarm the weak ana IN
offensive. who need protection, and 10
make easier the work OF the conscience
less banditti, who for the sake OF a
dollar do not hesitate 10 take human IRE
For the better protection OF society two
things. il seems to me. should be done.
and done n, once. First. the Sullivan law
should be so amended as To make II a
crime 10 carry Il concealed weapon oniy
when a person go convicted Is unable 70
show a good reason TO the court Tor thus
protecting himself. IL this seems TO give
too large "A discretionary power To the
court. ii might be wiser TO repeal the Ia"
entirely and make 1t mandatory that
every person who for his own protection
desires To carry loaded weapon shall
first obtain permission Of the court.
Second, a law should be passed making
it a crime-punishablc by Imprisonment
for life-for any person TO point loaded
weapon at another. either for the pur-
pose Of committing robbery or OF forcing
the person No inundated into any un-
willing course of action. as FOR example
in the case of "A young woman who, ON
threat OF murder il forced into white
slavery" or is compelled TO marry against
her wishes. Such acts OF intimidation are
of frequon, occurrence.
These heartless bandits who at the
point of a revolver, violate the persons
Of dcfencelcss women or plumber banks
and stores are murdercrs AZ heart, as
has been seen In scores OF cases. and do
not hesitate To take human life when any
attempt .is made to thwart them III their
Infamous purpose. believe thht thcy
should be treated as murdcrcrs before the
law and 80 punished. II seems to me
that a few life sentences mctcd out to
these savagos Qor such they arc) would
do more than any other one thing 10 root
out this growing evil and safeguard the
live. and property Of our people. If such
"A punishment were supplemented By Hog
ging. as IL to be done I'm England In the
case Of convicted white SLAYER II
might be well.
I rejoice as much al any ono can IN
the more humane spirit that now pcrvadcs
our administration OF justice. am the
last one to advocate a wholesale return
to the barbarous methods IN vogue III
"A former age. But there are crises when
severity Is the truest justice. Such u
crisis is now upon us. For the good OF
society at large and for the better pro-
lection OF the innocent and the defence
less, an outraged society should lift a
strong arm to punish and suppress these
heartless bandits who to-day infest our
large cities Face to face with such an
evil, severity Is not only the truest JUS
tice, put the highest expression Of mercy.
+. s. II.
White Plains y Y Jan "a 1918