New Britain herald., 1930-07-26
CONGRESS REFUSES
 AID ID CR|PPLES
Mill Do Nothing for Victims of
 i Prohibition Agents Bullets

Washington. July 26 - If a citi- zen engaged in lawful pursuits is killed by prohibition agents that's just his hard luck. He can't de- pend on Uncle Sam to do anything for his wife and children.
 Andrew W. Mellon, the multi millionaire secretary of the treas ury, has always backed up dry agents 10 the point of opposing such bills as would provide financial aid for the families Of their victims even when the innocence of the victims was matter of general belief among other officials and members of congress, At that time.- prohib- ton enforcement was under his de- partment, but has since been trans terred to the department of justice
 MT. Mellon's unwillingness to ad- mt that prohibition enforcers make mistakes was responsible for block Ing three such bills in the last con- gress. These arose from the shoot ing of Jacob D. Hanson of Niagara Falls, N. Y; Henry Wirkkula of Big Falls, Minn., and George C. Wal thers of Underwood, Wash, Hanson was killed by coast guard bullet, Wirkkula was killed by customs patrol and Walthers was made a helpless cripple by the gun of pro- hibition agent.
 Aid Sought for Three
 Each case attracted national at tention. Bills were introduced in irr- 900, to pay the Hanson heirs s25,- 900 and to pay Walthers s150 a month
 The house claims committee fav- orably reported the Wirkkula bill, cutting the amount to s5,000 but 1t wasn't put to a vote. MT. Mellon wrote the committee that to give Mrs, Wlrkkula the money would have a very unwholesome effect" and might tend to render the treas ury's earnest efforts less effective"
 The committee on claims. how ever, reported that Wirkkula lost his life through government agents negligence. A year ago last June. it found, Wirkkula was driving home with his wife and two children from shopping trip to Duluth. Gus toms 1nspecto~s Servine and White were out on the road looking for smugglers. They had a stop sign in the road. but Wir>Ilula couldn't make out what it was ami slowed up as he reached it. Four or five shots crashed into the car, which dove into a ditch when Wirkkula was mortally wounded.
 No Liquor in Car
 The committee said there was no evidence that the man was a snug Eler or bootlegser. that the car COZ tained no liquor, that Wirkkula had 8 perfect right 10 be on the road end probably didn't stop because he couldn't read the sign or feared be- ing held up and robbed White said he had only shot at the tires. but the committee said be should have taken more careful aim.
 Mellon said the accident was to be deplored, but that it was Wirk- kula's fault and that White had been acquitted at a federal court trial for murder.
 Hanson was a citizen of high standing and popularity. There 1 wasn't any liquor in his car either. | Coast Guardsmen Dow and Jen- l ninss, wearing dungarees, were out | Eunning for rum runners. That { night they already had shot up one automobile containing young people | who had no whisky, but were so frightened that they kept going on ! fat tires punctured by the bullets
 Both Dow and Jennings, stationed i 500 feet apart, stepped out and . waved their pistols at Hanson Dow | was the first man Hanson met and ! the committee decided he couldn't i have been distinguished as coast .