The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-05-08
CRIME AND PUBLICITY.

British sleuths, and a certain degree those of Canada, have poktd not little fun at Americans on account of the publicity that IS given crime in this country. They contend that the American press, because of it's vigilance in searching out and presenting to the readers every scrap of evidence concerning atrocious mur- der, not only excites morbid curiosity but makes friends for the murderer and gives him notice of what is being done to effect his capture. The British method is to deny the press information, to keep the readers in the dark and enshroud everything in deep mystery.
 case in point, and it is typical of the diff ferent way of handling such matters, is the mur- der mystery at Prince Rupert Esther Kellas, woman of the underworld was murdered in the early morning hours of the 17th of April On the evening of that day, 16 Is hours after the hour officers of the law have fixed the time of the crime, a laundry driver discovered that things did not look right Burning lights throughout the house indicated that they had not been turned out from the night before. There splotches of blood the door, and blood discovered on the sidewalk. The boy, with out opening door, very properly, notified the police The officers, under the direction of the Coroner took possession and investigation began Newspaper reporters were excluded from the room. They given opportunity to take in the situation, except through the eyes of the police. and policemen were very conserya- tive in disclosing what they However, it leaked out that the woman, partly clothed, was lying on her bed. her throat cut from ear to ear Other cuts and abrasions indicated that there had been a struggle.
 May l, two weeks after the discovery of the crime, the public had heard nothing further. The police had said from time to time that it was running down clues. The newspapers were not given enough information which to base suspicion or clue from which to work. The public is required to take the word of the police that it is doing its duty in the premises that it is exercising scientific insight and attainments that are beyond the comprehension of laymen.
 It may be that the British way is better, but experience has disclosed that the American way, in cases of heinous crime, often results in quick ly experimenting the guilty. By publishing all the facts, for instance, in the Hickman case, all of the people of the Pacific Coast became con vinced of Hickman's guilt and joined in the hunt for the fleeing cuprit. His early capture followed. Publicity often results in gathering the scraps of information that perfect a clue into convincing evidence It the complete co-operation between District Attorney Smiser's office, Marshal Bishops office and the press that resulted in the capture and conviction of Krause. Many similar instances might be cited.
 District Attorneys and experts in detecting and running crime and criminals to earth in the United States have paid just tribute to the press for the efficient help it has rendered the officers Of the law. It the press that gathered the evidence against Boss Tweed and his gang of thieves, against Leopold and Loeb, and against hundreds of other arch-crimnals in : the country.