Evening star., 1932-10-19
ST, MARYS CITIZENS
seek INQUIRY OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Probe Request Is Result of
"BIack Shirt" Gangs
Depredations.
BALTIMORE PHYSICIAN
ROBBED OF S1OO IN OFFICE
Determination of Reasons for
Sheriff's Refusal to Appoint
Deputies Is Asked.

Leading citizens Of st. Mary's County
met in the court house at Leonardtown
today and appointed committee to
ask Gov Richie for a general investi
CATION of law enforcement conditions
in the county as result Of the depre-
dations of the so-called >"black shirt"
gang.
While the citizens were holding their
meeting. two bandits, believed to have
been members of the gang, entered the
Office of DR.. John F. Hawkins, Balti-
more, and robbed him Of $l00.
The Citizens Committee, in addition
to seeking a general investigation, will
ask Gov Richie to determine why
Sheriff Richard T. Hammett has re-
fused to appoint deputies to aid in the
search for the bandits and why the
people of the county have been left
virtually unguarded while one highway
robbery after another has been COM
mitted.
Had Reasons to Refuse.
Sheriff Hammett, who was present
throughout the meeting, said he had
troopers or civilians as deputies, but
that he would not reveal them. The
county commissioners said they had no
authority to compel the sheriff to ap-
point deputies.
The following committee was ap-
pointed to present the petition to the
Governor when he returns from q
| speaking tour:
| Cornelius Bull chairman; Miss Dell
NJ. France, Richard H. Sears, R. N.
Pembroke. J. A. Cecil. Rev Joseph S
Knight and the Rev. Jesse NJ. B.
Woodrow.
Rev. Mr.. Woodrow told the meeting
that the bandits are young men living
in the county and that their identities
are generally known.
Robbery Reported.
Meanwhile. a post card was received
| by Baltimore police today with word
of robbery Saturday night in Indian
Head, Md, believed to have been staged
by four bandits wanted in Washington
in . shooting and series of hold-ups
| Friday night
The post card. mailed by a deputy
sheriff at Indian Head. said the rob-
bers were in car bearing District
/ tags They answered the general de-
! scription Of the highwaymen who re-
Gently stole several automobiles here
robbed their owners of money and
slightly wounded two girls with a pis-
tol shot during a hold-up on Defense
| Highway
| Two of the men were chased in Ana
costa early yesterday. but escaped
after abandoning their stolen automo-
| bile.
Tho deputy sheriff gave no details
of the robbery in Maryland beyond a
! description of the bandits.
| Nine Men to Remain.
In announcing the withdrawal Of an
extra detail Of State Police from the
! county Capt. Edward NICK johnson
said the usual force Of nine men would
be kept at the Waldorf substation to en-
force the motor vehicle laws State
troopers cannot perform other police
duties unless deputized by the county
authorities.
Lieut.. James A. Manning of Balti-
more. who investigated the crimes in
| St. Marys last week, expressed the
opinion that the black shirts" are lust
an ordinary gang of bandits"
The term black shirts" originated
"at the circus" he said. The circus to
which he referred was a carnival troupe
at Mechanicsville which was ambushed
by a gang Of men In dark clothing on
the final night of their performance.