The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-23
YULETIDE WAVE
. OF Crime SWEEPS
ACROSS COUNTRY
Every Large City of Nation In
yaded by Criminals.
Robbery and Murder Mark the
Christmas Season.
THE pnIInE hlE pnlUIQl rec
THE POLICE ARE POWERLESS
Curfew Law Goes Into Effect to
Aid Law Officers.
Only Few Big Centers Free
From Lawless Outbreaks.

New York. Dec. 23.-The Christ
mas crime wave" which has affected
practically every large city in the
country. is growing as the holidays
approach, according to information
gathered today by the United Press.
Despite police reinforcements in the
shopping districts, establishment of a
modified curfew, arming of employees
and other prece utions, crooks con-
tinued to ply their trade in New York
City.
Crime Wave Spreads.
Other cities and towns in the metro
politan district were experiencing SINH
lar conditions, crimes in those COM
munfttes increasing as they were in
vaded by crooks driven from here
In cities as distant as Buffalo and
Albany, known criminals were being
met at trains and ordered to continue
their enforced pilgrimage.
Chicago reported its "crime gen
orally on the increase" Murders and
holdups and burglaries were growing.
altho there was a decrease in payroll
| robberies. Police blamed unempIoy-
ment.
1000 Arrested in Cleveland.
In Cleveland, more than 1000 ar
| rests had been made since the drive
| against crooks started six weeks ago.
out mere was no appreciate diminu-
| tion in crime.
The American Legion and other
civilian organizations were planning
. to cooperate with the police ia St
Louis to check the christmas crime
wave" change in the platoon sys-
tenn added 90 per cent to the effective
strength of the police department.
Holdups and robberies are occurring
nightly and murders are frequent.
| Worst in the East
The Atlanta police. facing the worst
situation in the city's history asked
for refnforcements and additional mo-
/ tor equipment. They were planning
TO arm detectives with shotguns
Six murders have occurred in Mem
| phis in the last six weeks. The city
is also suffering from an epidemic of
criminal assaults on women.
| Arrest of negro gang who had q
rendezvous in the outskirts was be-
| lieved to have checked to some ex-
tent a wave of crime in Jacksonville
Fla All suspicious persons were be-
| ing picked up.
Boston police were preparing for in
creased criminal activity as Christmas
approached Nearly fifty suspects had
| been rounded up in a drive against
| crooks.
| Pacific Coast Affected.
| On the Pacific coast, civilians in
1 many cities were cooperating with the
police. San Francisco reported a big
1 influx of undesirables from the east
with rohberies and holdups increasing
Sex crimes have been fewer, however,
/ since prosecution of the 's1ouvar rd
i street vice gang" of which the santa
Rosa lynchings we're an offshoot
A vigilance committee in Oakland
was organized to protect women In
Tacoma shotgun squads patroiled the
streets at night Police fnslLos An
| geles began enforcement of a dor
| mant curfew law, prohibiting children
| on the street after 8 y. m. because. OF
numerous attacks on women and girls,
Every person on the street after mid
night was subject to investigation.
All women leaving their homes aft
Ter dark were advised to obtain a DO
! lice escort. Major crimes were de-
creaslng but petty crimes increasing
in Portland, Ore.
Shop Liffcrs Busy.
| A period of holdups and robberies
| IN milwaukee, was punctuated by the
| daylight looting of jewelrv store
| Shopiifters were also particularly ac-
| tive. An epidemic of minor robberies
was reported from Racine, Kenosha
| and other Wisconsin cities.
The indianapolis police force has
Deen increased and all suspicious per-
sons were being detained there. The
| latest robberies included $4,000 from
bank; $4,000 from fur store, and
| $A5,0O0 from jewelry shop.
Half Dozen Murders.
Half dozen murders have oc-
Cured in Denver in the last few
weeks. The police have been rein
forced and motorcycle Styling squad
rons established to cope with the in
crease in all branches of crime
Newspapers in Kansas City were in
timating that criminals were being
protected"
| Cities which reported a decrease in
crimes as a result of the emergency
measures. or entire absence Of a
christmas crime wave" included De-
troit. St. Paul, Des Moines, Lincoln
! and New Orleans.