Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
Victim Says One of Assail-
ants Wore Gold Badge,
but Not a Detectives.
ASSAILED CONDITIONS
IN THE FIRST PRECINCT
Gen, Crosby Said to Have Found
Editors Charges Were
Baseless.

Harry N. Douthitt, self-appointed
vice investigator and police magazine
editor, who still is in a critical con-
dition from a mysterious beating adj
ministered Saturday night by two I'M
identified men who entered his apart
ment. is reported to have told de-
tectives today that one OF his asssil-
ants wore a gold badge, not OF the
police type.
Douthitt, it also was disclosed, re-
Gently charged the first precinct was
the center of vice In Washington.
precipitating q personal investigation
by Police Commissioner Crosby, who
found the charge "baseless."
Commissioner Crosby said today his
attention had been called several weeks
ago to charges by Douthitt that coll
fusion existed between police and gam
blers in the first precinct and that
he promptly made a personal inquiry
and found the charges unfounded.
Suspects Gamblers.
Douthitt, although dazed by a brain
conclusion inflicted by repeated blows
OF an iron pipe, welded in his room
at the Portner Apartments, Fifteenth
and u streets, told detectives and
newspaper men he believes the attack
was instigated by gambling interests.
He described one of this assailants ~
a wei! dressed man" who gave the name
of Harrison and the other as a man
dressed like q roughneck." They
gained admittance to the apartment by
pretending to seek Douthitt's aid In or
sanizing an insurance company. ne
said.
Commissioner Crosby said that when
Dcuthitt's charges regarding vice in the
FIRST precinct were brought to his at
tention, he notified Inspector Thaddeus
r. Bean. chief of the vice squad. He
said police are aware of the existence
OF certain gambling Establishments, but
have been unable to obtain adequate
evidence.
Police today were planning to reques-
ton Douthitt, who is in Casualty Hos
pital.
KeiIy'S Quiz Fails.
Capt. Edward Kelly of the homicide
squad attempted TO interrogate the in
jureG man yesterday, but said he was
toe dazed to talk at length.
I've done quite bit of talking about
the activities of gamblers in the down.
town section Of Washington" DOutFaitt
said, land think some of the gamblers,
fearing might be planning to publish
an expose OF their activities in the Blue
coat, decided to get me-" Douthitt In
eritor OF the Bluecoat, police pubiica.
ton.
Douthitt said he had no such inten-
ton, denying a rumor that the latest
issue of the Bluecoat, scheduled for re-
lease today. contains an article on gam
bling.
why. 1 wouldn't think of publish
tig such story. After all, it's the busi-
ness of the Police Department to look
atttr the gamblers. The Bluecoat
chronicles the activities of the depart
mert; but It doesn't go cunning for
c gamblers"
Describing the events preceding the
attack, Douthitt said:
man called me up about l o'clock
Friday morning and said he had
to make me- The PROPOSE
ton, as he outlined it TO me, was that
| represent New York insurance COM
pany here, selling policies on a savings
plan.
The scheme was to distribute dime
banks among prospective customers
They were to deposit 10 cents day
in the bank given them. and eventually
they would obtain $1,000 policy.
Planned Second Call.
Il told the man / wasn't interested
in the proposition. He called again later
in the day, however. and repeated the
/ told him / wasn't inter-
ested, but he asked if he could call
10 see me and talk about 1T more fully.
gave him permission to call Saturday
night"
The man, accompanied oy a COM
oanion, arrived at the Douthitt apart
nent at the appointed hour.
They hesitated a moment or two"
Oouthitt related. and I started TO sit
iown myself. AS turned my back and
started walking toward chair on the
other side Of the room something struck
me-"
1T was terrific blow and I went
down. Everything became black and
the next thing 1 knew, I was here In
the hospital"
Douthitt's groans were heard by AS
sistant Corporation Counsel Thomas r.
who was visiting the sijoin-
ing apartment, and aid was summoned.
Describes Two Men.
Partial descriptions of the men we're
given by Elliott Smith, colored elevator
operator at the apartment house. The
pair boarded his elevator, he said and
inquired as to the whereabouts OF
Douthitts apartment
Il took them to the fifth floor and
showed them the apartment" Smith
said. They went in and / didn't see
hem again until some time later, when
saw them walking down the steps, I
wondered why they hadn't taken the
elevator. but didn't think much
about it,"
Douthitt expressed the opinion the in
urance proposition was Just ruse'
o gain admittance to his apartment.
The men didn't say a word when
ct them in" Douthitt pointed out. THE
irst thing they did was to smack me.
When received the first phone call
hought 1t rather strange that the man
should be calling me up at l o'clock in
he morning to talk about insurance,
1Iff 7 wasn't Sf1snirinnS