The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-09-20
BY JAMES p. KIRBY

NEW DIN, OCpIs 6V.- AuCHC AS
no question but that the majority OF
gang killings in Greater New York
have their origin in the fights be-
tween mobs over the liquor racket.
If there were to be modification Of
the Volstead act, l am convinced
gang murders and gang warfare
would practically cease"
Charles j. Dodd, district attorney
of Brooklyn, completing his second
term in office, and the man who is
devoting the energy Of his whole
staff to the solution of the killing Of
frankie Yale, racket chief, 50 be-
lieves.
Dodd made the declaration as,
with Detective Inspector James J.
Sullivan, he studied evidence by
which he expects to fasten the kill
ing Of Yale on the "Scarface AL"
Capone mob" in Chicago.
Fully 80 per cent Of the homi-
cides in Greater New York are
traceable directly to the liquor
traffic" Dodd said.
Gang outbreaks and shootinps.
while perhaps less frequent than
In Chicago, nevertheless are quite
as spectacular.
And, quite in the Chicago tradi-
ton, New York's $1,000 police are
as impotent at solving the murders
and at accomplishing arrests. much
less convictions.
Official figures covering the
gang murders are not available.
However, figures compiled by the
New York Telegram IA Scripps-
Howard newspaper), and covering
the period from January to June,
show 121 such murders.
OF the 121 such murders in the
six-month period, there were Al in
dictments returned. but Of these.
only 81 have resulted in the convic-
ton and Imprisonment Of the kill
ers.
Thus. in but Is per cent Of the
cases in which the killers were
apprehended and tried, was there
what might be termed the penalty
Of the law; and, more notable, but
two death penalties, neither Of which
has as yet been imposd.
Detective Inspector John D.
Coughlin, in charge Of the detec-
tive bureaus Of the city's five
burroughs, says the better known
gangsters and gunner have fled
from New York state because Of
the rigorous Baumes laws. These
provide severe penalties for second
and third convictions, and life Inn
prisonment for the fourth, regard.
less of the offense.
The principal occupation Of the
old-time gangsters, Inspector Cough
lin says, were in the intermittent 10.
Dor wars in which hired gunner
took first one side and then the
other; their sallies on the piers from
which millions Of dollars Of mcr-
chandise were stolen, etc.
The newer gangs, however, have
rackets which provide the basis for
their operations.
The relationship, however, be-
tween beer and liquor rings in other
cities, that Of Capone and frankie
Yale, and between Philadelphia and
New York, has been definitely o..
tablished.
Ex-Mayor John F. Hylan reiter-
ated to this writer his charge that
during his incumbency a. mayor he
was approached by Philadelphia in
terests with the suggestion that
there Was money to Be made by Z
policy Of official tolerance which
would permit the running Of whisky
and alcohol from Philadelphia"
Regardless Of New York's repu.
| tation, however, the fact remains
that New York today 10 relatively
clean d the more obvious displays
Of vice-certainly infinitely cleaner
than Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit
and st. Louis, ii which cities THU
writer, within recent weeks, hid o.,
eaoion % make some observation.
CINE UND)