The Washington herald., 1919-10-05
(By o. o. McINTYRE.)

New York, Oct 4.-The police and
the populace are unable to explain
the sudden crime wave that is sweep
ing New York. 1t is particularly an
ofshoot Of the underworld and for
daring it has, never been equaled.
Bank tellers are stuck-up in broad
daylight men and women are bod up
in the street before dark and after
and messenger boys walk OF with
more than a million dollars in securi-
ties in a month.
Black k-jacking Is not confined to dark
alleyways anymore. Two young men
in the latest Broadway clothes stepped
up to the cashier of the Strand Roof
at noon this week and poked guns
under his nose.
When he showed resistance they
slugged him and walked of with S3.00O.
Thirty feet away young couples were
employing the noon hour in jazzing
to the tune of brass band.
There Is no question. according to
the Health Commissioner of New
York. about more drugs being used
than ever since prohibition became
effective and some Of the police off,
cials believe that most of the crimes
are the work of drug fiends.
However, the three hotel bandits
who robbed eight hotels in a week
by the stick-up method were not dope
fiends 1t was found when they were
caught
There are many reasons offered
for the sudden reign of lawlessness.
One disciple Of Freud writing to a
New York newspaper declares that
repression Of the people is respon-
sible for the wave Of crime that is
sweeping the world and points to
the Chicago and Omaha race riots
as being impossible under non-pro-
hibition.
that when you repress a people
they suddenly burst out in a spasm
of violence. This will continue un-
til legislators learn to keep their
hands Of"
hold-up men arrested are soldiers
who have been out of jobs since
they left the service and In many
family ties have been broken up
anu lney diS SoihS " hehe soSiceS
pay.
Still others believe 1t is a Boil
shevistic plan. Whatever 1t is. II is
making the metropolis unsafe for
the wayfarer. People are being
slugged and robbed right in the
heart Of the city while the police
are down in the East Side coffee
houses breaking up harmless stuss
games and smashing up the furni-
ture.
David Lefkovitch Is an office boy
in the employ OF one of the morning
papers printed on Park Row. David
hadn't held the job long. but being
an assiduous sort of a person and
Of husky stature. he received that
most important job Of gate boy. A
gate boy sits at the door leading
to the editorial rooms and any per-
son desiring to see an editor must
first give his name to the gate boy,
who may forward 1t to the editor.
During the actors strike four i'm
pressive-looking gentlemen entered
the offices where David holds, forth
and asked that they be escorted to
the once of the managing editor.
who wants to. see him?" demand
ed David.
"Just say Mr.. Belasco and three
Of his friends" was the answer.
David took Mr.. Belasco's card and
looked 1t over. Then he looked over
Mr.. Belasco'a> friends
What Is IL y'want to see him
about!" demanded David with a show
of belligerence.
"Just say it's David Beiasco AMI
Harrison Grey Fiske and George
Broadhurst and Louis Mann" was
Mr.. Belasco's sharp reply.
Nuthin' stirrin'." snapped Lefko-
witch. unless you tell me your busi-
ness"
Just say we're actors" suggested
Mr.. Mann.
David Lefkovitch's scorn was mag
nificent. He turned away for q mo-
ment and then eyed Mr.. Mann bale
fully.
"Actors, what are you. anyway
A quartet?"
Many OF the artists and writer's are
buyin< Hslands uD In Maine to escape