Evening star., 1934-12-12
|UE..S. CRIME BOARD
URGED TOcUT VICE
Bar Association Head Says
Wickersham Benefits Are
Being Lost Rapidly.
Continued From First Page.)

be placed under control. There is
nothing cruel in providing permanent
custody for such a person. 1t is
not cruel to put an insane person
in a well-managed asylum. It may
be a great kindnes to the mentally
to the community.
1.-THE habitual criminal is as much
menace as the insane person, in
fact he may do more damage. His
harmful tendency requires restraint.
For his own good and the good of So
ciety, he should be segregated and
kept in custody, treated fairly, de-
Gently, humanely, but kept in custody
permanently"
Earl w. Evans, a former president
of the American Bar Association Of
Wichita, Kans., discussed the re-
sponsibility of the lawyer toward the
crime problem. In an abstract sense,
he said, lawyers are no more to blame
for laxity of law enforcement than
any one else, but viewing the ques-
ton in more practical way they
are. always have been and should be
held to a higher degree of account
ability" He pointed out that lawyers,
more than any other class, influence
the form and formation of Govern
ment.
State Laboratories Suggested.
DIR. Wilmer Souder, chief of the
identification laboratory of the Bu-
reau of Standards. recommended es-
tablishment by State and cities of sci
entiflc laboratories equipped for crime
investigations. The increasing i'm
portance of scientific crime detection
in the eradication of lawlessness was
stressed by the Government hand
writing and balistics expert. He said
the scie1tiflc detective should pursue
his laboratory labors without publicity.
Judge Joseph c. Hutcheson of Cir
cult Court of Appeals, Houston, Tex,
criticized what he described as deplor-
able conditions in many of the Ma
tion's local jails. He spoke from per-
sonal knowledge, he said, Of hard,
cruel and almost unalterable condi-
tions" that existed in some Southwest
institutions. He made an appeal for
| relief for the vast, changing, pitiful
Jail population in need of help" He
said he did not include in his plea
| for mercy "gangsters and racketeers,
| extortioners and others of the delib-
erately cruel, nor for desperate GRIM
inal outlaws who are in arms against
the State
Pictures Program Offered.
Carl E. Milliken. secretary Of the
| Motion Picture Producers and Distrib-
utors of America, brought to the con-
ference yesterday an offer Of the movies
to cooperate in a national war on
crime and suggested five lines of attack
| along which the film industry could
help.
| Protesting that sociologists did not
agree on what factors contribute to the
development of criminals, Milliken rec
commended the formation Of national
crime research institute under the
supervision Of the Attorney General
The institute, he suggested. could cor
relate information now available, en-
courage and prosecute further studies
and, as studies are completed, present
new information to the public concern
ing the causes and deterrents of crime
He pledged full cooperation Of the mo-
tion picture industry to the proposed
institute.
Removal of constitutional protection
against self determination in criminal
trials was urged upon the conference
last night by Ferdinand Pecora. former
New York City prosecutor and now q
member of the Securities Commission
New Question Procedure Asked.
Pecora also proposed new method
of grand jury interrogation OF suspects
of crime.
Constitutional protection against
self-incrimination, in every case where
it is claimed in good faith Pecora said
lis a refuge for a wrongdoer and not
for an innocent man."
AS a substitute, Pecora proposed that
the accusation itself be made under
oath, so the accused would be subject
to perjury. The accused person then
would be brought before a magistrate
and examined publicly Npon issues di-
rectly involved, with his testimony to
be available for use against him at any
subsequent trial.
Ruling out Of alleged confessions
obtained through other means also was
suggested to eliminate the third de-
gree"
Pecora also would change the
unanimous jury law to allow a de-
cision by 10 of the IL jurors to decide
the case.
"It would then be necessary" he
added. ito corrupt at least three men,
bers of jury in order to defeat justice
by venal means"
"Big Shot" Names Sought.
Yesterdays intensely serious session
was enlivened by the challenge of Ed
ward R. Cass, representing the Amer