Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-21
CRUSAD|NG EDITOR
AND FRIEND SLAIN
Politician, Shot on Eve of
Vice Expose, Dies Before
He Can Name Killer.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, May 21.-Assassina-
ton OF Herbert Spencer, magazine edi-
tor and crusader against organized
gambling, and his friend, Charles Craw-
ford, wealthy politician, started police
today on one OF the greatest manhunts
ever undertaken in Los Angeles.
On the eve OF projected expose Of
gambling by Spencer's magazine, the
editor was shot through the heart and
the politician was mortally wounded
late yesterday In the latters office by
an unidentified man whom Crawford
had received. Officers said the cir
cumstances indicated gangster revenge.
Crawford died, refusing TO name the
killer, although previously. he had in
dicated he might talk. The slayer
escaped in an automobile Apparently
confident that he would live, Craw-
ford told detectives before he I'M
derwent an emergency operation that
he would tell only "if I'm due to GO"
He died three hours after being
wounded
Wife Tells Of Threats.
Early today detectives spurred by a
statement from Spencer's widow that
"the overload of gambling here had
threatened to get Herb" searched
haunts of gamblers and gangsters for
"swarthy man about IS years old
Of heavy build"
An hour before the tragedy, Spencer,
formerly city editor of the Los Angeles
Evening Express. left his office, telling
an associate that he was going out to
get some more underworld stuff" for
the magazine, which had published a
number of articles on alleged gang and
vice activities here.
Ray ]. Radke, secretary to Crawford
reported to police that shortly after
Spencer entered Crawfords office a
man appeared and asked to see Craw-
ford
Crawford greeted the visitor at the
door of his private Office and asked him
to enter. Radke said the men talked
about an hour. Suddenly two shots
rang out. Radke heard a scream and
a yell from Spencer: Get that fellow. :"
The door burst open and the gunman
fled to the street. Radke rushed into
the Office and found Spencer dead
Crawford, sitting in his chair, arose
and collapsed.
Information Sought in Safety Box.
Recently Spencer had written of
threats on his life. AS though he
feared they might be carried out, he
added in these stories that there was
"in a certain bank" a box containing
the names and full information about
those who had been touched by the ex-
posures. Police began search for the
box.
Among those questioned was Guy
McAfee, who, detectives said, was
identified with alleged gambling ac-
tivities. McAfee established that he
was nowhere in the vicinity of the
crime at the time but admitted that he
was an enemy of Charlie Crawford"
Crawford was in the real estate bust
ness. He was indicted in the Julian
oil scandals, but never prosecuted. He
caused the arrest of Morris Lavine a
reporter, who was convicted of an
extortion of 100000 in the
Julian case.
Another Is Threatened.
Crawford, who for years welded a
strong influence in local politics, was
said to have furnished Spencer with
inside" information for publication.
Joe Butcha. until recently business
manager for the magazine, told officers
an unidentified man telephoned him
shortly after the shooting and said
Now that Crawford and Spencer
have got theirs, you'll be next"
In Crawfords Office was found a news
paper clipping declaring that attempts
had been made to tamper with pros
pective members of the new county
grand jury.
Crawford, one time saloon keeper,
was acquitted in 1927 in connection
with the alleged frame-up of Council
man Carl Jacobson on a morals charge.
More recently he joined the st.
Pauls Presbyterian Church and gave
1t $4,000.