Evening star., 1927-04-12
Harry N. Douthitt Working
With Mai. HeSse on
"SpeakeaSy" Hunt.
OBTAINED INFORMATION
FOR ONE paddock CASE
Former Prohibition Unit Man Is
officer of Association Moving
to Clean Up City.

Determined to rid the city OF
speak easies, near-b beer and other
"joints" where liquor may be pur-
chased "over the bar" a large ele-
ment Of church people in Washington
is forming all organization TO CO.
operate with Mai. Edwin 3. Hesse
superintendent Of police. by turning
up evidence of law violations through
the efforts of former prohibition
agent.
Bearing the title. Church Service
Association of Washington, d. c.,
the organization is being sponsored by
the Organized Bible Class Associa'
ton to act as a medium between the
police and instances of law violations
that the officers themselves are un'
able to cope with. Members have been
and are being drawn from the vari-
Gus churches of the city and their
pledge is to take an active part in
the enforcement of all laws in the
District OF Columbia and especially
the laws enacted in pursuance Of the
eighteenth amendment to the Consti-
tuition"
Already the force and influence OF
the association has been demonstrated
through it's secretary, Harry n.
Douthitt, a former prohibition agent,
who while working with the officers
has turned up number of cases.
Told to go to It."
Several days ago Douthitt a man
appearing TO be near the half century
mark. neat in appearance and with
pleasing personality. walked into
Max Hesse's office and said he could
turn up $50 speakeasies.
/ Go TO it," Maj. Hesse told him.
I'm with you"
The first tangible accomplishment
of Douthitt was recorded when a tenn
porary paddock" injunction was ls-
sued by Justice Bailey of the Dis
trict Supreme Court against an al
legged speak easy on the petition for
an injunction signed by Douthitt and
Policeman DoWeil Mansfield. who
claimed they bought colored corn
whisky at near-beer saloon
The Church Service Association,
now Is being formed under the presi-
dency of Horace l.. Stevenson, son of
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson, pastor of
Bethany Baptist Church. The as
sociation has not completed the Sc
lection of it's board of directors and
other officers as yet, but the move
ment is spreading rapidly, according
to those interested.
Nucleus Formed at Banquet.
The nucleus Of the organization was
formed at the Washington birthday
banquet of the Vaughn Bible class. at
which Maj. Hesse spoke and urged the
cooperation OF such organizations. In
dividual members OF that class since
then have interested themselves in
'elcsining up the community" in this
respect, according to Rev. Homer j.
Councillor. teacher of the class.
Mr. Councillor, who is interested in
the DEVELOPMENT Of the association, ex-
planned today it would support several
men capable Of performing the class of
work that Douthitt is doing and to
whom the individual members would
go with their indication of the exist.
ence of places operating in violation of
the law. These men would act as
liaison agents between the association
and the police and would personally
endeavor to obtain the necessary evi-
dence. Members of the association.
Mr.. Councillor said, are unable to carry
out such duties themselves through
lack of experience and time. However,
1t is understood that one of the require
mcnts of membership in the Church
Service Association will be the willing.
ness to allot a period Of time each
week toward locating the objection
able places,
Douthitt has no standing as a
police officer authority, special or
otherwise, to make arrests. He is re.
ceiving no compensation for his eff.
forts from the Police Department
bother than reimbursement of funds
spent on purchasing evidence" it is
understood. His duty is to follow.
up" information given him by persons
having knowledge of the existence of
such Joints" and with the aid of the
police TO make his case.
1t was learned at the District Build
ing today that Douthittshad material
~ assisted in dozen cases now be
ing prepared where paddock" injunc'
tons will be asked of the court.
Wayne Z. Wheeler, general counsel
of the Anti-Saloon League of Amer.
lea. stated Douthitt had sought as
sistance in the form of tips" on
places where liquor is sold and that
from time to time the league had
given him information and advice on
procedure in carrying out his work
The league official added that he would
continue to assist Douthitt wherever
possible.