Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-06-16
OF
CRIMINALS is
HELDATFAULT
n. II. Ellis of Bar AssOcia-
TONS Inquiry Committee
Finds Law Disrespected.
HE URGES PUNISHMENT

LEXINGTON. Va, June 16.-The cod
ding Of criminals" rather than, the ner-
vous reaction from the World War was
blamed for the crime wave all over the
country by Wade H,> Ellis. a member OF
the American Bar Association committee
Investigating the increase in crime. who
spoke at Washington and Lee University
Of which he is a graduate. The findings
Of the crime committee. disclosed in part
Tor the first time by Mr.. Ellis. will be
made known in detail when the report
Of the committee is filed next month.
Mr.. Ellis said that in the period from
1910 TO 1921, the number Of murders in
cities like New York, Chicago, st. Louis,
Los Angeles and practically all the
large Centers OF population increased
nearly $50 per cent. and he asserted that
this increase, when compared with that
# England and France, was both
Illuminating and appalling" Referring to
conditions in New York City, 1Ir. Ellis
said:
DAYLIGHT CRIMES
SHOW INCREASE.
Grimes Of highway robbery on the
streets and in the stores in broad day
light have increased in startling pro-
portion. In that city, for example, one
out Of every thirty registered automo-
Bankers Association reports show that
in 1917 there were 115 burglaries and
eighty hold ups OF banks throughout the
country. and in 1921 there were $40 bur
glaries and 1876 hoId-ups. The losses
paid By the burglary insurance compan-
les grew from S1,6S61 los in 1915 10 S10,
1S9.S53 in 1920, an increase OF 543 per
cent"
Mr.. Ellis chen asserts that this condi-
ton is not entirely due TO "shellshock
from the war" nor 10 unemployment, nor
TO the great influx Of aliens. He adds:
"Au these instances combined do not
answer the question. The real causes lie
deeper. They inhere in the widespread
and growing disrespect for all law. The
delay in punishment, the inadequacy of
the penalty, the codding Of criminals, the
ease with which they escape, the tech
nicziities surrounding the indictment, the
trials, the appeals, the probation, the
suspended sentence the Communication and
the pardon have more 10 do than any
thing else with the breakdown Of ou-
criminal Jurisprudence
FEELING THAT COURTS
ARE LUXURY FOR FEW.
And deeper still IS the lamentable
fact that in the hearts Of thousands, per
haps millions. Of the submerged in our
pOpulatiOn-the poor. the unfortunate, the
Ignorant and the envious-there IS a
feeling that the courts of America are
luxury for the few. that in both civil
and criminal cases the expense Of htiga-
ton is beyond the means Of the great
masses OF the people; that these courts
are not their courts; that this country
is not their country, and that By a sort
Of exclusiveness in the attitude Of or
gsnized society they are put beyond the
pale OF law.
This produces a hostile mind toward
American institutions and gives TO the
down-and outer. dark thinking, muddle-
Drained, e kind Of savage justification
for taking the law into his own hands"
Among the remedies proposed by Mr..
Ellis are these: Establishment Of a Fed
eral bureau to gather and analyze
statistics on crime, swift punishment Of
offenders, prohibition OF the manufac-
ture Of firearms. and the placing Of JUS
tice within reach of the poor.
Mr.. Ellis also advocated stricter regula-
ton Of the admission of immigrants and
the enactment OF a Federal law making
II q criminal offense for native born or
naturalized citizens 70 teach or incite the
overthrow OF the Government.
The speaker called attention to "a
certain fashion-silly, detestable, but none
the less vicious-among small class Of
notOriety seeking professors" who be-
lieve themselves liberal when they teach
contempt for the established institu-
tons Of America He cited the college
student who turned radical because he
was victim Of a fad. These. he said,
were in a very small minority, but they
were the most effective enemies Of
peace"