Evening star., 1934-11-05

V|G|LANTE PLANS
IN WAR ON CRIME
Federal Men Also Join Dis
trict Crusade to Wipe
Out Vice.
UNDERWORLD LEADERS
FACE INCOME PROBES
Bar Association Committee of
Forty to Act-Police Press
Staying Investigation.

Organization Of citizen vigilantes
and permanent Committee on Grim
inal Justice" went forward today while
Internal Revenue Bureau investiga-
tors lent their support to the Districts
war on the gambling racket.
Meetings of at least eight citizens
associations tonight were expected to
follow the recommendation of the
Federation of Citizens Associations for
naming vigilante groups to help police
enforce the vice laws.
At the same time, the District Bar
Associations emergency committee Of
40 was to convene to hear recommen-
dations for the set-up of a permanent
law enforcement group
Gamblers Income Probed.
1t was disclosed Saturday that in
ternal revenue ace investigators, VINO
jailed some of the countrys biggest
racketeerS for evading income tax pay
ments were investigating the incomes
OF big shot" Washington gamblers
with view to possible Federal indict-
ments.
The move toward organizing vigil
anteS was taken Saturday night by
the federation in adopting the report
/ OF It's Committee on Law and Legisla-
ton. headed by Attorney George E.
Sullivan.
The first duty of the vigilante would
he art q
ary between citizens and the public
authorities in obtaining and trans
mltting information for law enforce
ment. The second would be TO keep
citizens associations posted as to law
enforcement.
Cooperation of Citizens Urged.
mo respectable citizen" the COM
mitteeS report said, can be satisfied
with the location of a gambling re-
sort, oaWdy house, or other illegal or
obJectional establishment. adjacent
to his home or place of business.
Likewise" the report continued.
no laW-abiding private citizen can
justify indifference on his part to
crime conditions created by others
! and which happen to come to his
notice, or about which he has the
! ready means of knowledge"
The organization of these commit
tees, one for each of the 81 member
organizations of the federation, repre-
senting membership of more than
10000, is especially important in
view of the known antipathy of many
citizens to become involved even as
witness in any criminal case"
Mr.. Sullivan suggested that vigilance
committees of member associations
consist OF three members to be on
the alert for law violations"
Whether the names of the vigilantes
would be made public is a matter for
the individual associations to decide,
Mr. Sullivan said.
The role of vigilante is without
precendent here. Mr.. Sullivan said
it was his idea the citizen vigilante
would not be detective or snoop,"
nor would he be expected to testify
in the prosecution should he report
gambling or other law violations to
authorities.
D I'VE couldn't get many citizens to
serve if that were the case" Mr.. Sui
livan said. LAS I understand it, the
vigilante would serve as an interme=
diary between persons who have first
hand information of law violation and
the police authorities.
Takoma Citizens to Meet.
Should violations be reported and
no action taken, the vigilante would
be expected to enlist his association
behind move to learn whether the
delay was due to negligence"
The whole question will be taken up
tonight by the Citizens Association of
Takoma, D. c., at its meeting in the
Takoma Park Library. Mr.. Sullivan
is delegate for this association to
the federation
Meanwhile, Police Chief Ernest w.
Brown said this morning he was very
much encouraged" over the progress
of the gang investigation into the
gang Staying of Allen B. Wilson. mis-
taken identity" victim of a trap set
in Takoma Park October % for
Mickey Mcdonald. described as a
Washington numbers" operator.
Fowler Reports to Brown.
Lieut.. John Fowler, police ballistics
expert, who heads a special squad as
signed to the case, made a detailed
report to Maj. Brown this morning.
The superintendent of police said
Fowler was encouraged. particularly
over new information uncovered yes
terday." He declined to reveal the
nature of the information.
The Bar Association group was ex-
pected to set up the permanent
criminal justice committee tonight.
Several preliminary meetings have
been called BY an organizing commit
tee of lawyers and laymen, and about
10 men were tentatively selected for
the permanent committee.
James G. Yaden, president of the
Federation of Citizens Association is
expected to appoint a federation
vigilante committee soon to cooperate
with similar groups to be named by
y1nnv1har occOniofiAx1e