Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-17
A Martyr for Reform.

q 4 s AZ
s An editorial crusader against crime
and municipal corruption has been
slain at Canton, Ohio. clear proof
that his efforts. continued for many
months, to expose and clean up evil
conditions have been fully justified.
This young man, fearlessly conducting
a campaign Of accusation ard ex.
posture, has wased his fisht In the face
Of threats against his life. They did
not deter him. Knowing the risk he
ran, he persisted, secured the convic-
ton of two men for narcotic traffic
who were later released from prison
through some mysterious influence
and the suspension from Office Of the
chief of police, who was later restored
to duty.
This case Is of countrywide irnpor.
lance. for the conditions against which
Don Mellett fought prevail in many
other communities in the United
states. Municipal graft and corrupt
connection with the underworld Of
crime and vice have become q national
disgrace. Mellett fought local condi.
tons, which are, sad TO say, 50 char
acteristic as to constitute general
evil in America.
That this crime was plotted to IT.
lence the editorial accuser and prose
cutor is plainly evident. A gang Of
men waylaid him as he was entering
the garage at his home. Iie was
riddled with bullets. The assassiTls, It
is indicated, came from q distance, but
they may have been local thugs who
went out Of town merely to appear
to come from elsewhere. They fed
without leaving. so far as now known,
q trace of their identity or present
whereabouts.
Police activity in this case cannot
command public confidence, in view Of
the fact that the slain man was the &C.
cuser of the police themselves. Con-
sequently it is felt that there IL little
likelihood Of a solution of the crime
as long as the research IL conducted
solely by the municipal organization.
Hence the iispatching TO the scene Of
representative of the State govern
ment for the purpose of probing and
acting is some assurance that the mat
ter will not he left to an indispensable
authcrity.
Municipal corruption, with connec-
tons between the police and the
crooks and criminals. has been fire.
quent cause Of scandal in this country.
Some years ago system Of police
protection" for the underworld of
vice and crime was uncovered in New
York. The late Richard Croker, ad.
uniting on the witness stand in an in.
CURRY that he worked for his own
pocket all the time" and refused to
state the source of his. income, was
believed to be the man higher up
who got the final rake-off from the
regular collections from gamblers,
prostitutes. hold-up men, drug ped.
dlers and swindlers, who had been al.
lowed to continue in business without
molestation. Later New York police
on1cer was convicted OF completely In
conspiracy for the killing of wit
ness in an important gambling ring
case, and was later executed. with
members of the gang through whom
crime was actually committed. NJ.
merous other cases have come 20
light, and there is reason to believe
that MANY ofhers have failed ~ reach
public attention through the difficulty
Of exposure and proof.
Don Meliett died martyr to cause
In which he was enlisted. He carried
on his fight against odds, and, so far
rs he was personally concerned, he
lost. But his death may be the means
Of effecting a cleanup of corrupt con-
ditions in Canton and perhaps In other
cities where there is good reason to
believe similar evils exist today.
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