Evening star., 1921-03-07
URGES SEVERE LAW
IN PISTOL T0T|NG.
Maj. Gessford, Police Chief,
Proposes "CIean Up"
of the Vi0Iat0rS.

imposition of the maximum penalty in
concealed weapon cases is urged by Maj.
Gessford, superintendent of police, as an
effective means of reducing to a mini
mum the practice of carrying weapons.
The superintendent has called attention
of his captains to the necessity for en-
forcing strict compliance with the law
against unauthorized persons going
about the streets armed.
Captains of the several precincts and
members of the detective corps are con-
tinuing their "clean-up'' activities which
started some time before Inauguration
day, and it is the intention of Maj. Cess
ford to have them continue it until
pistol toters' are brought to a realiza-
ton that the practice must be aban-
doned
More Severe Penalty Urged.
Until the District is given a more Sc
we're law to deal with the purchase and
carrying of deadly weapons. it is stated.
Maj. Gessford can only hope to have
imposition of Jail sentences. The super
intendent of police today referred 10
Jail sentences imposed by Judge Nc
Mahon and paid the judge compli-
ment for the interest he had displayed
in an effort to put d stop to the dan
gerouS practice.
II is believed in police circles that
the shooting of Charles Is. Henderson.
former senator from Nevada. will
spur members of Congress to action
on one of the several "pistol-totin y
measures brought to the attention of
the national Legislative body the past
year or more. Many comments heard
in the House office building. following
the shooting, it is stated. showed deep
interest aroused in the pending meas
ures and the police hope for good re-
suits.
Orders to Police Captains.
Mai Gessford's several orders to his
captains included suggestions that
poolrooms and other places be kept
such places as are freQuented by per-
sons calculated to carry weapons, say
ing each captain should be familiar
with points in his precinct where
questionable persons assemble.
The superintendent of police thinks
every man on the force should be
deeply interested in the question of
accomplishing the arrest of armed
persons. more especially in view of
the fatalities in the department the
past few years. He does not favor
spectacular efforts. however. believ-
ing that such methods only serve to
excite Iawbreakers and possibly in
crease rather than diminish the num-
Der of persons carrying weapons.
About 1890 o'clock am. John
Everett. colored, fortyone years
old. resident of King court,
was standing in front of his home
when the report of a pistol was heard
and a bullet inflicted a flesh wound
in his right leg. The identity of the
individual who fired the shot was not
learned. Everett was given first aid
at Emergency Hospital and returned
to his home.
Wounded Officers Improving.
Sergt J. NJ. Roper of the second
precinct. who was shot and dan
gerously wounded while in pursuit
of George Ewell. colored, near 9th
and l. streets Friday night. this morn
ing was reported at Emergency Hos
pital as being slightly better.
Policeman Joseph F. Waldron. who
also was shot while endeavoring to
arrest Ewell, also is much better. and
Ewell, wounded five times. is expect
ed to recover.
Maj. Gessford's report of the opera
tions of the police department for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1920. cites
a total Of 343 arrests for concealed
weapons during that period The re-
port shows that defendants in 29S
cases were held, 90 dismissed and 27
charges nol1e pressed.