Evening star., 1928-03-08
.DOUTH|TT CLAIMS
.HESSE RADICAL ON
|. DRY ENFORCEMENT
Police Head Goes Further
Than General Policy,
Witness Says.
HOLDS OFFICIAL NEVER
HAD LIQUOR ON BREATH
Service Group Agent Defends Su-
perintendent at House Inquiry,
Charging Work Is Handicapped.

perintendent at house INQUIRY
Charging Work Is Handicapped.
That Mai. Edwin B. Hesse, superiu-
tendent Of the metropolitan police
force. "is q little radical" In regard 70
prohibition enforcement and goes
further" than the general policy Of
those interested In prohibition enforce.
ment. was testified today before ti1e
Gibson subcommittee OF the Houss
District committee, IN refutation o8
Representative Blanton's charges OF
lack Of enforcement, by Harry N. Douth-
lit, 202l Thirty-seventh street, for
merly with the prohibition unit and
now field agent for the Citizens Services
Association for Law and Order. It waa
emphasized by members Of the subcou1.
mittee that Mr. Douthitt Is In the best
possible position to speak with author.
ity ON this subject.
In reply to direct questions from
Representative Hammer, Mr.. Douthttt
testified that although he has been in
daily association with Maj. Hesse, he
has never seen him intoxicated and
never smelled liquor on his breath. @
had previously been stated by witness
before the subcommittee.
Says Hesse DiIigent.
Mr.. Douthitt revealed to the Gibson
subcommittee that for the past seven
or eight months enforcement Of ths
volstead act IN the District Of Column.
bia has been turned over entirely 70 thu
Metropolitan Police Department. whils
the prohibition unit has been busy
checking the source Of supply IN Mary.
land He said that Mai. HeSse has been
unusually diligent In enforcement of
the volstead act and emphasized thai
enforcement Is seriously handicapped b
the lack Of adequate automobile
service. *
he laid before the committee ths
copy Of q drastic bin prepared by thoee
interested in prohibition enforcement
which would strengthen the hand q
the police and with the provisions ci
which. he testified. Maj. Hesse ts b
Mr. pcathits explained that the cisi.
xens. Service Association for Law and
Order was organized to assist b en-
forcement Of the volstead act when q
was found that the prohibition unt
did not have agents enough 70 20 ozit
and buy whisky wh0 were not known
and the Intention was 20 70 respor<f.
bie citizens interested 70 do this work
but that it later developed that mn.
icrity Of these were reluctant TO 50 ina
court.
Estimates s.see Boetisggera
In reply 10 questions hy Cnafrunar
Gibson. Mr.. Douthitt said that theu
Is not as much whisky sold here - 3
great many persons think. He estt
mated that there are probably S.0o{
bootleggers In the District. He lai{
figures before the subcommittee show.
tag that l,o2S persons were arrested fca
eootleggtng during May. June. July and
August There has never been airvey
made 70 determine lust how many
Chairman Gibson interiected ths NJ
marx that he could give the names a
some who have been arrested 20 or 81
tines and are sttll doing business. Mr.
Doutnitt said there IS no question but
great deal OF liquor Is sold here.
Tnen Mr.. Gibson questioned: IN ~
prosecution Of your work as secrrtsr,
OF the Citizens Service Association Vol
came into intimate contact with Mai
aeSse-how often have you seen Nal
deSSe and come into contact with hin
q tro,n ,s,t The time you have been ensages
Mr.. Douthitt answered. on IN aver.
age or once day-Sometsn,es two a
three times day. was In comnunk
tcation with or saw him every day..
so you have been very active In shh
work" continued Mr.. Gibson. s.Ycl
nad an opportunity II any man had d
ooSerye MS dtspositicnf" Mr.. pcQthiu
answered. YES. sir,s
Says HeSse naaical
Continuing. Mr.. Gibson asked ~As i
the oringing about Of enfcrcemsntT
Answer: YES. sir
cuestion-whAe IN your opinicn fruu
the knowledge you have gainea fro9
intimate contact with the major, Is IS
desire to enforce the pruhieitson law
AnSwer-The major Is little raatcS
on u, would say, He goes farthel
snsn she average person in his position
would 80 In this respect
Mr. Hammer asked, sIs any one on
posed 90 following the law as an orA
cers" Mr. poashltt repiied; sYou car.
NOS enforce the volsteAa act and folioa
the law. Maj, HeSSe has taken she SIAM
that II the eootlegger il arrested esscslcl
times ana puts up bond ana pays a.
torneyS fees he win eventually 70 od
ol onSineSS--that Is trlss 7 agree witl
nm there's but YOU don't make = caS
waen Sea SET INTO court always" =
werk Is Handicapped.
Mt, pcashist explained that MAI
isessss N MS zeal tor pyphihittcn er.
~ lSSsV.sasns, ~ hAS put On Two squads eu
ne way OF transportation a. the Rsfcs
department. a. a whole has only thres
lnu9uated automobiles. which arv usS
eSS IN evertaking hizA-Speed ears uses
ny rum runners IL Was at this poinl
IhAt MI, poNthitt revealea thAt ~,
aFvhinltiNn unit has turned ever ~
zeal neld 10 the Metropolisan n,lies
sufceN Mr.. pcuthite AlSn posn,ea cal
MAt pFecinct police clsteer warkinS ~
tossteAd Aet enforcement must spenS
IN own money tor purchase az ncskN
= efusf 10 get ne evidence rs>Nirs{
.ssese : warrant b issued. and then n
nssss. =. Msis pesnAps three NaenthS u ri
~ meney hack he pointed out tNsl
= Per cert ef the haallexuh,s Il, Sns
s@tfsgt y dome IN WivNte hoN,eS ara
as Nsaeer M,lst actually make 4 hsss
'esnfv ne cen gSs the wArgAnA
NsWeSstNAed MS 10 what new lexiSlasicu
: necessary, Mr., neNkhils SNia fkS
lhfve months Ago MAI NeSSe Aske,a Mr.
1 4 would be pNssihle ln eNa : sos}
'MIefveMent law lie handed n rsSfn.
~ 81 shs committee 4 cOpW az 4 hik
Ahleh has been asAwA IN kAe MOI ~
ntspsiNsea A,neag the sNaisAi fsAlslfss
Y hiS prupeeeA lssixlAttoM aYN ihAK 4
'Nvefs TIE manufacture, sAiN tla1,s
aaftAtsAA importation and naESe>stnn o&
NNAEs thAt n mAkeA \ H1niHlnso m
Y &2lH and 10 1AN< fR&nK i<rnN(|nt ~
/ flfAA AfketksAs &1AA and ktX panzlA>kA ~