Evening star., 1925-11-06
POLICE WILL PUSH DRY CRUSADE
DESPITE DEECAN CASE FLARE-UP
Recommendation of Coroner's Jury for Curb on Fly
ing Squadron Will Not Stop Rigorous Enforce
ment of Law in City.
Continued from First Page.)


The jury held Francis as well as the
two policemen. and then the jury
added n recommendation rejecting on
the discretion Of the members Of the
flying squad.
The case goes now into the hands Of
the United States attorneys office for
further procedure. The United States
attorneys office has the responsibility
Of presenting 1t to the grand jury. 1t
is held by those who have analyZed
the opinion that the proper author
tiles" referred TO by the coroner's jury
Is open to construction by the United
States attorneys Office. II IL Is con-
strued that the proper authorities"
are at the courthouse, II Is held that
the door Is opened for a general in
vestigation into prohibition enforce
ment in the District Of Columbia.
Public Interest Keen.
Evidence of the widespread public
interest being taken in the case was
had at the morgue last night, when
an overflow crowd three times as large
as the coroneSs courtroom could ac-
Commodate was turned away from the
doors. The room was packed through
out the night session. The crowd did
not dissolve after the jury retired for
consideration of the evidence. More
than 100 persons were present after
the jury had been closeted for more
than hour and a half and they waited
until the verdict was made public.
Whatever public sentiment regard
ing police enforcement of the dry law
here may be, the police are in a POSI-
ton, it is claimed by them, to en-
tirely justify their methods of enforce
ment.
Citing Capt. Burlingame's activities
alone, police point to statistics which
are available to show that during the
four months the flying squadron has
been operating more than $50 arrests
for violations of the Volstead act have
been made; more than 200 automobiles
have been seized; numerous chases
have been engaged in: more than
threescore stills have been confiiscated,
and during the whole of these trans
actions, it is claimed, the flying squad
ron has not been responsible for $50
property damage to automobiles and
not responsible for single persons
injury.
Denies Recklessness.
On the basis Of the record made by
the flying squad since operations
started. Commissioner Fenning said
today:
Il feel that the methods pursued
have been necessary to the enforce
ment Of the prohibition law. l find
no recklessness in their activities"
There is another feature TO consider
in connection with this work by the
flying squadron.
Capt. Burlingame. chief of the
squad. former detective, with wide
experience here, declares:
The average bootlegger is vicious
with no respect or regard for the lives
of policemen or civilians while en-
gagged in hauling liquor into Wash
ington. A liquor car does not hest
tate to ditch a police automobile and
jeopardize the lives Of the policemen
at favorable opportunity. The aver
age rum runner does not bubble
about the use Of his pistol. If he
thinks he can get away with the
shooting. These men are dangerous,
and the police charged with present
ing violations by such men are neces-
sarily taking their lives in their hands
virtually all the time
Furthermore, the point is made
that mere misdemeanor such as
| violation of the prohibition act in
transporting liquor is not sufficient to
policeman.
Cites Police Position.
But what about the situation" :"
Maj. Hesse asks, when the dividing
line between a nlisdemeanor and
felony Is transgressed? This happens
when a pistol is wilfully drawn and
fired at a pursuing officer. This hap
pens when an automobile wilfully is
driven at the pursuers. Then it be-
comes a matter Of more than a mere
misdemeanor. Police then have to
meet this vicious force and overcome
railways mindful, however, of the
responsibilities they shoulder concern.
ing innocent bystanders-and If they