The Washington times., 1922-12-31
CRIME IN CITY
Grows, POLICE
RECORDS SHOW
lawlessness in II Months of
Year so Per Cent Greater
Than Five Years Ago
TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS HIGH
Responsible for Half of Arrests.
Many Also Caught in
Drug and Liquor Crusades

Washington is growing more and
more lawless, police records show.
A report just issued shows the
number of crimes and other Of
lenses against the commonwealth
were 80 per cent greater during
the first eleven months of this
year than they were five years
ago, in 1917.
Approximately ID per cent Of the
population of the Nations Capital
was caught in the police dragnet
thrown out for all offenders dur
ing the period.
65,S15 ARRESTS.
Statistics show that during the
eleven months 65.315 Washington
ians were arrested. In 1917 there
were 1862 arrests. or the grand
total this year the police succeeded
in obtaining more than 81 per cent
convictions in police court and the
District supreme courts. great
percentage were either fined or SEN
fenced to Jail.
Prohibition and speed mania are
held mainly responsible.
While the police centered much
Of their activities during the past
eleven months in attempted sup
preston of liquor traffic. footpads,
burglars and other types OF thieves
were unusually bold. Many homes
were looted: many merchants rob-
bed at pistols point. This activity
is due largely, police say, to the
quantities of bootleg liquor sold
here.
DOPE TRAFFIC IS LARGE.
The crusade against the dope
traffic has been vigorously waged
by Detective Sergeants Robert Sand
ers and Harry Evans, of the mar
cotic division, aided by Samuel l..
Rakusin, narcotic inspector OF the
Bureau Of Internal Revenue. The
narcotic squad made 122 arrests,
most of them resulting in convic-
tions, but police admit there are yet
At least 5000 dope addicts in Wash
ineton who are receiving daily sup
plies of Illicit narcotics from ped
dlers.
Almost half the arrests were for
traffic violations. They totalled 2S''
21s. of which 9,149 were for speed
ing. Most OF those arrested FOR
feited collateral.
While 3,400 men and women were
arrested for bootlegging during the
eleven months for violations OF the
dry law, more than twice that num-
ber-S, S,3S5-were arrested for other
violations of the Eighteenth Amend
ment. OF these 1899 were charged
with being drunk and in almost ev'
ery instance either forfeited s25 col
lateral, or paid $40 fine.
A tota. Of II ,6S4 gallons of whis'
kies, gin and other liquors, 1925
gallons Of mash, and Ss stills used
IN the manufacturing Of Illicit whis.
kev were seized in a series of almost
nightly raids by police and prohlpl-
tion enforcement agents.
Ninety five automobiles. two
wagons and two boats also were
confiscated by the Federal author
ities. after they were found to be
used for transportation OF whiskey
to the Districts booze ring
A crusade against drunken auto.
mobile drivers resulted In 439 ar
rests.
There also were 2F men and
women taken into custody for drink
ing in public.
The murder record shows that out
of thirty killings by shooting or
sIashing, twenty-eight Of the slayers
were arrested. Twenty-three auto
lists also were taken into custody on
charges of granddaughter, after per.
sons struck by their machines died
from injuries suffered. Most OF the
latter. however, were exonerated.
In. the crusade personally directed
nv District Commissioner James r.
oyster, in charge Of the police de-
nsrtment. against handbook oper.
stors. Detectives Messer and Mans.
field made ninety arrests. Pohce
admit, however, that the business
is still flourishing.
while denying the existence of any
gambling houses where faro, sweat
and roulette may be played, the po-
iice admit crap shooting and poker
A a nightly pastime In many places
An the city. During the year the
notice have arrested 260 men, who
ware convicted of operating gambling
tables in their establishments. Dur
ing the same period the police To-
Gated q lottery in operation here and
made four arrests. This, they say,
ended the lottery activities.
Joy.rider automobile thieves had a
had wear. One hundred and forty
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