Evening star., 1936-12-02
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
MARGARET GERMOND.

the sales value of name figuring promi-
nently in the outstanding news Of the
day, sometimes overstep the bounds Of
good judgment when they seek to en-
phaSiZe the sensational character Of q
story of important public concern "as
told by one on the inside" Most of the
stories in this category, told from the
inside, fall short for the reason that
their authors are highly specialized in
their chosen fields and are not primarily
writer's. But if they were left alone their
edited material would be far more nat
ural than story made to order. Prac-
tically every one who has achieved ex-
traordinary success in a specific under
taking has q worthwhile story to tell.
And an admiring public can always be
counted upon to appreciate the inside
story Of triumph over adversities, OBJ
stacles and, too often, lack of public
confidence. But in offering to the public
these true personal stories of happen
ings which are of vital importance to
all conscientious citizens, publishers
should be careful to render more free
dom to the specialists and exert less
pressure upon the writers-a method
which would insure less burdened and
q more exact account.
of knowledge In America today is an
intelligent understanding Of the work.
ings of the Federal Bureau of Investi-
CATION of the Department of Justice.
Mr.. Melvin Purvis, whose outstanding
record In it's service has won the respect
and the gratitude of millions of people,
is eminently qualified to give the history
of the bureau. to explain the far
reaching effects of it's ramifications, 10
set forth the facts concerning the vast
amount of work it has accomplished, TO
present the inside of the sensational
story of the roundup Of kidnapers and
gangsters and to expound upon the bu-
reau's ultimate ideal of a society ade-
quately safeguarded against terrorism
and criminal lawlessness.
Mr.. PurviS has indeed an intensely in
teresting and very important tale to
tell. And he tells 1t in a most engaS-
ing style for the most part. AS whole.
however, it bears unmistakable evidence
of being the story that the publishers
wanted him to write rather than the
story he would have written of his own
accord, . story written as they wanted
1t written and not as he would have
preferred to write 1t. This does not
mean tnaJ the book is any less interest
ing in q major sense, but there is some
thing intangible in the manner OF its
construction which gives rise to the
feeling that he could have done better
without advice of counsel.
There Is an amazing and thrilling
reality behind the sensational cases
which every so often break into the
news as q result of the climax of months
of labor conducted in secrecy and in
mystery by agents of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation 1t is into and behind
these scenes that Mr. Purvis takes his
reading audience as we'll as into the
thick Of the intensive man-hunt. He
gives a brief chapter upon his early
career and the sheer accident of getting
a job as a special agent in that branch
Of service in the Department of Justice
which has developed in the past few
years to a phenomenal degree of EN-
cheney and to an enviable position in the
worlds criminal investigation organiza-
tions.
No book of this character would be
complete without the details of the
famous man-hunts which won for the
bureau and for its present chief the
warm hearted confidence and respect of
the American people. Essential to an
understanding of these cases. however, is
a knowledge of the history of the bureau
and of the rapid growth of organized
crime which led to legislative action
giving sufficient power to the bureau to
enable it to cope with a situation that
had grown beyond the control of local
! and State law enforcement agencies. Mr..
Purvis has included a splendid chapter
on the history of the bureau another ON
the growth of crime as profession, one
on the underlying causes of crime and
| two chapters on the subject of kidnapers
and murderers.
These fundamental chapters do not
precede those dealing with specific cases,
but are placed more or less In their rela-
| ton to the expansion of the bureau to
meet increasing demands for its services
| as one gang after another struck terror
| to the hearts of law-abiding citizens.
Specific cases given in detail include
chapters on THE Kansas City Massacre, &"
| 1.-The Terrible Touhys, Mrs. Clara Czech,
| Basil Banghart, Icewagon Connors and
| Other Celebrities" 1.-The Affair at Little
Bohemia" The Capture Of Volney
Davis" THE Robinson Case" pretty
Boy Floyd" and several chapters Clarity
ing the whole history of the career, the
long hunt and the final capture of John
| Dillinger. The names and cases of many
other famous criminals will also be found
in the gallery of desperadoes, and
through all of it runs the story Of the
| patient, plodding, routine job Of the
heroes of the Federal Bureau of Investi-
CATION who lost their lives in the per-
formance of duty and of those who today
carry on with the same unf1agging spirit
and dauntless courage for which the
bureaus splendid corps of workers is
noted.
| X X \
An interesting sidelight on the re-
action of the American people to the
extraordinary capacity and achievement
! of the bureau is reflected in the occa-
sional bits of information which come to
light in general conversation to the
effect that certain organizations and
groups of people have asked for speakers
from the bureau to tell them about the
work of the bureau and to ask what
they can do as individuals and as groups
to help in the war against crime. 1t is
| possible that the bureau is over
burdened with such requests and that
to comply with all of them would be an
impossible task. But it is healthy sign
that the people of the country are
deeply interested and that they are eager
| to cooperate. Mr.. Purvis' book will help
to q considerable degree in giving in
formation and in stimulating thoughtful