Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-10-11

Proposals to curb organized crime
by war on the "fance," or receiver OF
stolen goods. are receiving widespread
support. The latest suggestion bear
ing on the subject comes from the
New York Crime Commission, which
favors admission by courts Of the un-
corroborated testimony of an accom-
plice in prosecuting a fence.
The New York Times points out
that the provision for admitting such
testimony was defeated when consid
cred with other Baumes laws, be
cause, it was argued, 1t would open
the door to blackmail.
wasn't the opposition unconscious
" too tender to a criminal profession
so hard for the law to get at and sc
essential to thieves?" asks the Times
"Juries are seldom accused of an ex
cessive desire to convict criminals.
Can't they be trusted, after due eau
ton by the judge, to take for what
they think 1t is worth the uncorrobo-
rated testimony of an accomplish? The
experiment is worth making. 1t Will
at least take away from the fence
one coign of vantage"
Describing the present rule of testi'
mony as lone of the loOpholes through
which receivers of stolen goods es-
Cape" the Baltimore Sun declares
that "many millions of dollars OF
property are annually lost through
organized robbery, and police authori-
ties have no doubt that receivers of
stolen goods are at the bottom of
much of this kind of crime. The
actual thief" continues the Sun,
'knows little about disposing of his
plumber. He must look to the fence
to get rid of his haul. Any change In
the law which would give justice fairer
chance to convict Is worth consider
ing"
at is estimated that annually mer-
chandise of various kinds worth $780,
600 900 is stolen in these thefts," says
the Salt Lake Deseret News, which
holds that IF only half of this can be
saved by the enactment of laws that
will eliminate the fence the move
ment will have been very much worth
while" The Bangor Daily CONNER
cial. calling receivers Of stolen goods
dealers in crime" adds: They are
not impelled by want to theft. nor are
they one-time offenders. Their course
is carefully studied, and they engage
in a regular business that is offensive
TO the law and which Is based upon
announcement in crime given TO
others. For them there should be no
public sympathy. Cold. calculating
criminals thrive upon the crimes OF
others and the misfortunes OF the VIC
tins of theft are outside the pale.
They belong behind the bars, where
they can no longer prey upon honest
people"
OF the meeting of a committee of
eminent men from various parts OF
the country to take up the question
this month the Atlanta Journal OBJ
serves: '"The combined laborS OF men
of large affairs and high authorities
on law, duly supported by public SEN
timent, should result in far-reaching
measures of protection against crimi-
nal traffic in stolen goods. The saw
ing of the $500 ZOO. 900 a year to hon.
est business and honest buyers will
abundantly warrant the EFFORT, and
in addition all interests of society,
moral as we'll as economic. will profit
by an effective stroke against organ.
lied crime.
"Only actual cash and limited
range of articles of high intrinsic
value offer much incentive to the
burglar or sneak thief who has no
established connection for disposing of
his loot" the Rochester Times-Union
explains. when such goods as silks,
furs and the like are stolen in guam.
tity. 1t is fairly certain that receivers
Of goods who have facilities for dis
posing of valuable merchandise are
working with the criminals. Most
police officials will agree with the con-.
clusion Of the Crime Commission re-
garding the part that the fence plays
in wholesale robberies by organized
bands, and its further conclusion that
the laws OF the different States are
generally inadequate to deal with re-
ceivers and sellers of stolen goods"
r. 4 y ~
1.-THE constitution OF the committee"
in the opinion OF the Louisville Cou-
rier.J Journal, commands confidence
that its work xiIl net g psgtunctory.