Evening star., 1934-10-30
1900 Civic Leaders Indorse
Bars Plan for "Committee
on Criminal Justice."
MAI. BROWN REVIEWS
3.YEAR CRIME HISTORY
Garnett Advocates Change in Pa.
role System-Group to Confer
With Authorities.

Rallying to a law-and- -order mass
meeting last night, ZOO leading
citizens declared war on Washington's
major rackets and applauded the Dis
trict Bar Associations plans for es-
tablishment Of permanent commit
tee on criminal justice" to insure
swift punishment for the gambler.
the gunman and other violators.
The public meeting, held in the
main ball room at the May1ower Ho-
tel, roundly applauded heads of the
Police Department and the District
attorneys Office. and the suggestions
Of both for tightening the Districts
parole law and probation system.
The Bar Associations Emergency
Committee of Forty, which called civic
and church leaders and the general
public to the meeting, agreed to set
up an organizing group looking toward
the establishment of a permanent
committee for following, improving
and criticizing the enforcement Of
the criminal law in the District"
Maj. Brown Cheered.
Maj. Ernest W. Brown, superin-
tendent of police, received an enthusi-
astic reception when he arose to
speak.
Maj. Brown, after giving a three
year picture Of crime and enforce
ir, he ioA u.
direct reference of the evening to
the gang murder Of an innocent vic
tim, a crime which prompted the Bar
Association to call the meeting.
Maj. Brown explained that while
the murder occurred in Maryland,
outside the jurisdiction of his de-
partment, every effort was being
made to apprehend the slayers Of
Allen B. Wilson, 80, a newspaper
route carrier shot down by gunman.
week ago as they lay in wait for
Mickey" Mcdonald at the latter's
Takoma Park home. He added that
20 of his best Investigators are CO.
operating with Maryland authorities,
who say Mcdonald is a Washington
numbers" operator and that the
crime was perperated by Washington
gangsters.
Demands Parole Change.
District Attorney Leslie C. Garnett
evoked a round Of applause when he
demanded that the parole law be
amended by Congress and the pro-
baton system changed. He declared
that a criminal in the District can
steal million dollars and have every
hope Of getting of within two years
under the present parole law.
Maj. Brown indorsed these senti-
ments, as did Wilbur LaRoe, jr,
chairman of the Civic Affairs Com
mittee, Washington Federation Of
Churches. and a member of the Dis
trict Parole Board.
At session called prior to the mass
meeting, the bars Emergency Com
mittee named the following to its
organization group for establishment
of permanent agency:
F. Regis Noel, president Of the local
bar association; James C. Yaden,
president of the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations; Attorney Robert
Netherland Miller, chairman of last
nights mass meeting; Frank S. Bright
and Arthur Clarendon Smith, presi-
dent of the Federation Of Business
Mems Associations.
Conference Is Planned.
The committee was directed to con-
fer at once among themselves, with
members Of the bar, with those citi-
zens who may express an interest,
with the law enforcement officers Of
the District, with the judges Of the
court, to the end that a permanent
committee on criminal justice may be
established" The group was re-
quested to report promptly to the
committee Of 40 for action.
In his address, Maj Brown said
I'VE regret the brutal murder of Mr..
Wilson at Takoma Park, Md, and are
doing every thing possible to bring the
guilty parties to justice.
MY department is cooperating with
Maryland authorities to the fullest,
although the crime lies outside our
Jurisdiction.
I'VE are convinced, however, the
shooting has Washington angle.
II welcome this meeting as further
opportunity to get acquainted with
the public my department serves. You
are the most representative group
ever had the opportunity of address,
ing To develop cooperation and
understanding between the police and
Iropfir,,ad an po0a Coi,,y,,p 0l