Evening star., 1934-10-25
Legal Dignitaries Praise
Move to Investigate
Conditions Here.
GAMING HOUSES CLOSE
UNDER POLICE PRESSURE
Five Held in Ambush Murder Are
Freed-Intended Victim
Sheds No Light.

With the commendation Of Attorney
General Cummings and Scott NJ. Lof-
tin, president of the American Bar
Association, the District of Columbia
Bar Association today projected itself
squarely into the local war on crime
by calling a special mass meeting of
the aroused citizenry" for next Mon
Gay night at place yet to be desig-
mated.
George Maurice Morris, member Of
the District of Columbia Council Of
the American Bar Association, was
named chairman of a committee of
lawyers to investigate crime conditions
here and recommend remedial meas
ures.
The vigorous stand of the local Bar
Association was taken at the instlga-
ton of F. Regis Noel, president OF the
organization, in an address this after
noon before a distinguished gather
ing of lawyers and the judiciary at
a az IA4C GNAoy AAS"~A N@SNN@ 49,
honor of Mr.. Loftin.
Cummings Praises Plan.
Attorney General Cummings, who
also was a guest Of honor at the
luncheon, voiced his approval of the
spontaneous movement to stamp out
crime in the National Capital and
declared the Bar Association is in
position to take an important part in
the reforms.
Although I was totally unaware Of
your plans before l came to this
luncheon" Cummings said after Noel
had announced the bar program. they
obviously fall within the scope OF the
Bar Association.
1T is part of the duty of the men,
bers of the bar of the District to
take a larger share in the movement
for civic betterment, especially in
view of recent happenings in this
jurisdiction"
Cummings expressed the hope that
all members of the local bar will
support enthusiastically the anti
crime drive here. Throughout the
Nation, the Attorney General said,
there is an incipient demand that
the bar rise to its opportunity and
shoulder a larger share Of response
bility in the crusade for law and
order.
Cummings Calls for Crusade.
All these recurring problems Of
crime" Cummings declared, ARE not
to be met by occasional conferences
or the appointment of committees
who go about their work half
heartedly. but call for a persistent,
coherent policy in operation continu-
ously against the forces of lawleSS-
ness.
You know how I feel about the
crime problem. can't get anywhere
without the help. good will and
friendly assistance of the bar say,
moreover. that no successful program
against crime can be hoped for with
out support of all the people, in
Guiding the press and radio"
Loftin, who is here to take part in
the dedication of the new Department
of Justice Building this afternoon,
pledged the cooperation of the Amerl-
can Bar Association to the local
organization in its crusade.
Browns Men Active.
Police Chief Ernest w. Brown mean
while awaited confidential report
from commanders of downtown pre-
cincts on gambling activities in their
districts as an initial step in drive on
racketeering started by the mistaken
identity" gang ambush of a news
paper route carrier at Takoma Park,
Md, early Tuesday.
Picked men from the homicide and
vice squads have interviewed several
score of gamblers in an effort to learn
who set a trap for Mickey" McDon-
aid, described as numbers" opera
tor. and then killed the wrong man,
Allen B. Wilson, 81, of Silver Spring.
Under orders from Commissioner
Melvin C. Hazen to spare no effort to
solve the Staying, Maj. Brown said the
departments best men are working on
the case The superintendent of po-
lice is considering offering reward of
$500 for information leading to the
arrest of the slayers, although there
is some doubt if this would be legal in
view of the fact that the murder oc-
CURED in Maryland.
Gambling Houses Close.
Meanwhile, every big gambling place
in the city remained closed today as
police turned on the heat" About
the only gambling going on in Wash
ington now, according to Lieut.. George
M. Little. chief of the vice squad, is
the general play on the numbers.
Police yesterday picked up three
men and two women for questioning
Continued on Page 2, Column g.
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