The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-18
RACKET DRIVE
IN CLEVELAND
J0LTS POLICE
Wrecker Of Capone's Reign
Uses Same Tactics in /,
Ohio Town

Bv II. D. oUlGG, Ir.
United Press Staff Correspondent

CLEVELAND, Dec. l8. (UP),
A 32-year-old former Oman, who
was the spcarhead Of the drive
that smashed the AL Capone reign
in Chicago. is giving the police
department in this city of a mil
lion one Of the most thorough
purgoS it ever has known.
Elliot Ness became Cleveland
safety director one year ago
Since that time, using methods
employed by the federal bureau
of investigation. he has waged q
dramatic campaign against police
graft. His most important single
investigation eliminated in the
charging of 20 policemen. several
of them high department officials,
with protecting bootleggers dur
ing the prohibition era.
Young. energetic, forceful. he
has made himself popular figure
in Cleveland through his personal
cleanup of the city's rackets.
Raids that have eliminated sew
eral gambling joints and vice
hangouts invariably have been
headed by the safety director him.
self.
MERIT SYSTEM USED
Besides setting out to rid the
city of it's rackets, Ness has made
a number of reforms in the po-
lice department. Patrolmen are
appointed on their merit. They
receive physical examinations, in
tclligencc tests. and oral exams by
the safety director or one of his
assistants. And they are told to
disregard any hint of politics or
statement that they must pay
some official to obtain appoint
mcnt.
The safety directors methods
Of investigation include a long
and careful study of the situa-
ton, making use of several indi-
vidual investigators, followed by
the presentation of documented
mass of evidence to the prosecut-
Ing attorney.
The activities of Police Captain
Michael J. Harwood were the CEN
ter of the most startling investi-
CATION. The captain had submit
ted his resignation with the re-
quest that he receive a lifetime
pension of $l40 a month. Ness
refused to accept the resignation.
HEADS RAlDING PARTY -.
Then followed a raid, headed
by the safety director, of hand
book in Harwood's precinct: The
raid led to Harwood's suspension.
A few weeks after HARDWOOD was
relieved, Ness charged the entire
personnel Of a precinct OF pro-
tecting and accepting brides from
bootleggers. Nine Of these men
have been indicted by a federal
grand jury.
Ncss's investigation also alleg-
edly involved Captain Louis j.
Cadek, who was convicted of ac-
cepting brides from bootleggers.
Cadek, sentenced from two to 20
years in the Ohio penitentiary, is
appealing.
The resignation of Capt. Adolph
Lenchan Of another precinct also
was the result Of the Ness inves-
tigation system. A squad of rookie
ps trolmen. unknown to the rest
of the department, was trained
in Oman tactics and assigned to
investigate the precinct where the
safety director had received re-
ports that a handbook was being
operated.
TRAP IS LAID =
Ness tells the story himself:
"Thc rockies entered the place,
mingled with the crowds, picked
out the operators and then made
telephone reports of what they
found to Capt. Lenehan.
"No action was taken.
"Next, | had woman call the
precinct to complain that her son
was losing all hist money in the
place. Still no action" &c,
Then a raid was staged, head
ed by the safety director. When
the lights were turned on the
rockies held nine operators, the
raiders confiscated 500 in cash.
Failure of Capt. Lenehan to close
the place was called "mere negli-
gence," but he was permitted to
resign. s.. g..