Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11
Shelby Shows a Murders in
First 3 Months Puts D. c.
25th on List of 81.
CAPITAL is FORTY-THIRD
IN BURGLARY RECORD
April Had 6 Murders, But Decrease
of 1853 in Number of Cases
Compared With March.

The percentage of crime per unit OF
population in Washington is far below
that of most American cities of COM
parable size, according to a report sub
mitted yesterday to Maj. Henry G,
Pratt, superintendent of police, by In
spector William S. Shelby, chief of de-
tectives. The report was based on an
analysis of crime conditions in IS of
the principal cities of the country for
the first three months of 1880.
With only four murders in January,
February and March, the report shows
that Washington stands twenty-fifth on
list of 81 cities having a population
of more than 100,000 which had four
or more such crimes. AS concerns the
crime of criminal assault, Washington,
with one case, ranked thirty-first among
SIS cities, whereas of these cities Is
showed greater number of reports of
robbery than Washington, whose total
for the quarter is l42. And in the same
list of cities Washington stands forty
third in the number of burglaries re-
ported.
Records Called APPALLING.
Referring to the crime of murder,
Inspector Shelby said "a truly appall-
ing condition is found to exist, total
of 446 murders being recorded for IS
cities having a population over 100, 600.
Chicago leads the list with 80 murders,
Detroit following with 80 murders.
Washington reports four murders for
the first quarter the same number as
reported by Dallas, Tex; Youngstown,
Columbus. Jersey City, Boston and
Knoxville, which places Washington and
the cities named twenty-fifth on the
list as to the number OF murders COM
mitted.
In addition to the analysis for the
FIRST quarter, Inspector Shelby'S report
also contained a record of the crimes
known to the Police Department for
April, which he prepared especially for
the committee on uniform crime records
of the International Association OF
Chiefs of Police. This tabulation showed
a decrease of SO cases as compared
with March. The principal reduction
was in the number of larcenies reported
where the value of the property stolen
was less than $50.
There were six murders in April, how
ever, two more than the total for the
first three months of the year. In
spector Shelby referred to this as a
most unusual condition" pointing out
that there was, not one murder case IN
March. In five of the six cases." he
said 1.-THE guilty persons were arrested
remaining case the murderer is known
to the police and will undoubtedly be
arrested. Incidentally, this compila-
ton does not include the murder OF
Mary E. Baker, jurisdiction in that case
not having been definitely established"
April Robberies Fewer.
SIT is, however" the report added,
Encouraging to note that Is less rob-
berries occurred in April than in March,
and that there was reduction of "a
in the number Of aggravated assault
cases reported"
Five of the six persons murdered in
April were colored. The other was Pro-
hibition Agent Lamar York. All six
Of the crimes were committed by colored
persons.
In the analysis for the first quarter
Inspector Shelby showed that Washing
ton, with a total of 2,703 offenseS re-
ported, stood seventh on the list of
IS cities. Los Angeles. led with a total
of 1873 cases, followed by Detroit, with
5,812 cases. st. Louis is third, with
1924 cases; San Francisco fourth, with
4,761 cases: Cleveland fifth, with 1890
cases, and Indianapolis sixth, with 2,808
cases.
The comparison of crimes in Wash
ington for March and April revealed
that the theft of automobiles continued
at about an even pace, 249 cars being
stolen in March and $50 in April.
There also was one more manslaughter
case in April than in March and one
more case of negligence, there being two
in March and three in April.
The reduction of 1853 In April as COM
pared with March was in cases of
aggravated assault, burglary, robbery
and larcenies where the value was
under $50.