Evening star., 1938-07-26

an irate and aroused community, the
worthless person who had confessed
to the deed.
Hostage Practice Attacked.
Not only has death blow been
dealt to kidnapers for ransom, but
likewise to criminals who, to avoid
arrest, take hostages or abduct officers
and transport them from one State
to another.
Thus, in october, 1884, when Arthur
Gooch and Ambrose Nix overpowered
two officers to avoid arrest and fed
from Texas to Oklahoma, the Federal
Government acted under the kidnap-
ing statute.
Gooch walked into a trap set by
the local authorities and was appre-
hended After being convicted Of
kidnapping in the Federal Court, he
was sentenced to death and executed.
For years local authorities had been
greatly handicapped in properly coping
with confidence schemes, jewel rob-
berries and large bond thefts, since
almost invariably the perpetrators
would flee from State to State. That
situation, however, no longer exists
for with the passage Of the National
Stolen Property Act In 1894 the Fed
eral Government could step in and
take action.
In one case alone involving the
theft OF securities valued over $2,OOO.-
900. after nearly three years of ardu-
GUS and painstaking investigation,
which led from New York City to Cali
fornia and back across the continent
to Boston, down the Atlantic Coast to
Florida. thence to Nassau and across
the sea to London and Paris, the
arrest of 20 criminals was brought
about by the Federal Bureau Of In
vestigation. Thirteen Of these indi-
viduals have already been prosecuted
in our Federal courts. to say nothing
Of the recovery Of the stolen securi-
ties amounting to approximately ST..
soo, 1000.
Illinois Calls for Assistance.
From 1882 to 1885 a wholesale Sc
ries Of murders, bombing of residences,
riots and the dynamiting Of railroads
and bridges occurred in Southern nli-
nois. The attorney general of Illinois
called upon me. admitting his inabil-
ity to cope with the terrorism and
violence. The local communities were
terrorized, but the local officials were
powerless. The assistance of the Fed
eral Government was requested by the
Governor Of the State. Fortunately,
the Federal Government could prose-
cute for violation Of the Federal anti
racketeering act. The Omen were
ordered into action. The evidence
which they developed was presented
to a grand jury by prosecuting ON
cials Of the Department OF Justice.
Indictments were returned and 36 de-
PENDANTS were tried In the Federal
Court at Springfield, III. Each Of
them was found guilty and sentenced
to prison terms with fines totaling
$4,000.
With the passage Of the Federal
Bank Robbery Act. the Department Of
Justice was able to attack bank rob-
berries, which had reached their peak
IN 1882. BY the end Of 1887 bank
robberies declined 10 per cent. This
fact becomes even more significant
when one considers the fact that over
1900 banks are protected by this
Federal Bank Robbery Act. In 1896
the cost of bank robbery insurance
had decreased 20 per cent in IS States,
and a further reduction in insurance
rates OF 10 per cent became effective
last January In Al States.
Here it seems is irrefutable proof
OF the soundness Of the Attorney Gen.
erals program. Not alone from the
all-important standpoint of respect
and observance Of law and protection
Of the individuals from violence, but
from a dollars and cents viewpoint,
law enforcement gets out Of the red
and definitely into the black ink.
Exploits Filled With Danger.
The exploits of the G-men fire.
quently read like story books, not be-
cause they make them so, but because
in this case truth is indeed stranger