Evening star., 1934-10-28
BROWN WILL TELL
D.C.POL|CE RECORD
At CRIME SESSION
Mass Meeting on Law En-
forcement to Be Held
Tomorrow.
PUBLIC IS INVITED
TO MAYFLOWER PARLEY
Drive Against Gamblers Held Up
to Allow Concentration on
Wilson Murder.

Police Chief Ernest w. Brown is
expected to lay the law enforcement
record of his department before the
mass meeting against crime condi-
tions in Washington called for tomor-
row night by the District Bar ASSo-
citation.
F. Regis Noel, president of the asso-
citation, said Maj. Brown had accepted
an invitation to address the meeting
and reveal figures on the crime in
vestigation activities of the vice squad,
the homicide squad and other police
agencies.
Maj Brown is expected to be ac-
companied by Lieut. George M. Little,
who as chief of the vice squad is
actively in charge of enforcing the
gaming laws.
The general public has been in
vited to the meeting, which will be
held at 8 o'clock in the main ball
room of the Mayfiower Hotel, Special
invitations have been accepted by
civic and church leaders and a large
number of public officials.
Outgrowth of Ambush.
The meeting is an outgrowth of
the mistaken Identity ambush of
Allen B. Wilson, 80, newspaper route
carrier. by gunmen who lay in wait
early Tuesday at the Takoma Park
home of Mickey Mcdonald, de-
scribed by police as numbers op-
orator The gunmen mistook Wilson
for Mcdonald, police believe
Speakers at the meeting, in addition
to Maj Brown, included Noel, Corpor-
alton Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman,
United States Attorney Leslie c. Gar
nett and Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen, who has supervision of the
Police Department. Attorney Robert
Netherland Miller will act as chair
man Of the meeting.
Leaders of the enforcement drive
bslieve many of the 80 murders in
Washington during the last IL months
are the result of quarrels among gam
blers over the rich take" of num-
bers" operators. bookmakers and back
ers Of dice games.
Many gambling houses are still in
operation here. Police admitted as
much, while asserting these places are
catering to'a much smaller clientele
with about one-tenth the business
they did before the investigation
started.
Drive Held Up.
1t was learned at the District Build
ing yesterday that the drive of con-
slant harassment' against the gam
blers ordered by the Commissioners
will be held up to allow police to con-
centrate on the Wilson murder. Police
are under orders to invoke building
regulations against landlords whose
tenants have made illegal alterations
to protect gambling operations.
The existing parole system is OBJ
structing law enforcement in Wash
ington, according to Garnett, who
cited specific instances where seasoned
criminals out on parole had been guilty
of robberies, shooting and lesser Of
sfenses.
Noel said last night the Bar Com
mittee in charge of the mass meeting
had received large response from
officials personally urged to be pres
ent Among those who signified their
intention of attending are Wilbur La
Roe, jr., chairman of the Civic At
fairs Committee, Washington Fedora
ton of Churches; Mrs. Harvey w
Wiley, president of the District FEEDER
alton of Women's Clubs: James G
Yaden, president of the Federation OF
Citizens Associations; representatives
from the Catholic Charities, the As
sociated Charities, the Y. M. c. A.,
the Y. w. C. A. the Salvation Army,
the Parent-Teacher Association and
many other organizations