The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-04
MAYOR TO POLICE:
"CLUB THE CUNMEN!'
Right to Use Revolver Too in
Self-defcnce, but Urges
Caution.
DEPARTMENT Is READY

Mayor Mitchell yesterday gave his off,
clal and emphatic Endorsement OF the
opinion held by many persons In New
York that the very beet cure for gangster-
and gunner Is a husky policeman with a
stout club lie came out strongly In
favor OF old fashioned methods OF dealing
with those individuals who shoot and
stab men and women and poison dumb
animals In The dark
With his word o. the COPE TO go ahead
and clean up the mess In their own way
he cautioned them against any such In
discriminate maltreating OF ordinary citi-
zens az led the preceding administra-
t!on 10 ban clubbing altogether A police
man can defend himself and the public
from the crook and tho disturber by the
usual methods against the sneak with
gun there is only one way OF helping
anybody, and that 10 by swinging a club
on his head. early and often.
THE Police Commissioner has been un-
der instructions from the start said the
Mayor. TO direct the police 10 Use their
clubs when dealing with the crooks. gang
sters and gunner OF this town. II Is
not question OF restoring their clubs
to policemen. They have them already.
They also have their revolvers, and they
are entitled 10 use them In self-defence.
And | hold that self-defence In dealing
with gunner consists In getting there
FIRST
II want II made plain that In dealing
with gunner actively plying their trade Il
's right for the police to use their clubs,
but that the use OF clubs on law abid ng
citizens Will no; be tolerated. | am
afraid. | admit. OF swinging back II
the pendulum There must be no club
b,ng " citizens arrested for misdemeanors
or minor Offences, but the use OF clubs on
notorious gunner who are menaces TO tho
community and to the police who have
20 arrest them Ii another matter Ny
word TO the policeman Is When you have
"a handle gunman club him But he
careful not to club any other sort %
citizen
Police Commissioner Woods also issucc
statement touching on the gunner AND
iheir prevalence In the city. lie said
The police are not attempting io shiri
any respons bllity In the matter Of the
presence Of gunner In New York. II Il
our duty to protect the city against the
iswle-e acts OF these outlaws. and We
acccp, tho job"
lie went on 20 say that the important
thing Is 10 prevent a certain type of ci'i'
zen from getting hold Of KUN. and thai
the police have offered their services "a
the city Magistrates ~ the inNcs.; lgnti'u
OF AL persons who apply for 81 permit
- carry n revolver lie said thai durins
1918 there were arrested f3a men who
-ither p,eaded guilty or were found gu.!tl
OF carrying concealed weapons ana tha'
no .withstanding ne drastic character Of
the law. winch make this crime "a t,lony
only thirty-seven 90 these men We're SCI
To state prison and fDrty-four 20 III
mira. 20 which places hey rcccN'ci sen
fences not NOR severe than they wouii
had their crime been only a m,Sdeweauor
detectives con,inu-d Yesterday the,
efforts 20 locate the slaNers Of Barnet
Ham Inspector Faurot sad Z wa~ on,
~ those cases whero. wen litt." tu GO %
ms men were forced 20 make ta'-.v Way
slowly H.. and other police officials WeI'
aunr the less confident that the gunIer
viii eventually be run down tie -ht
tia; nothing might develop To- days. ,nl
yet the whole problem nlgh; Dee solve,
n an hour.