The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-03-28
HOOdlurns
(Continued from Page One)


six other beatings in recent
months (not officially cleared
up) were administered to citi-
zens by young men.
GRIM ASPECT
The homicide which has add
ed a grim sidelight to the zoot-
suit nuisance is the death Of ia
cob j. Germany" Schmidt, of
l8494 Rowe, Detroit, an East
Detroit war plant worker and
former Van Dyke resident who
often visited with friends in that
district
Schmidt was found lying on
the sidewalk adjoining Clem's
Bar, Van Dyke and Continental,
at ll:35 p. m, Feb. IS. He was
partly conscious, according to
Sergt. Fred Maletta, of the War
rem Township police, and had
been beaten. His face showed
only slight evidence of blows,
but the mans stomach had been
repeatedly kicked. He died at
Saratoga Hospital March % at
1870 p. m. from a ruptured
spleen. Wayne County coron-
ers conducted an autopsy and
cited the death a homicide.
Sergt. Maletta said prelimi-
nary investigation first produc-
ed a denial from tavern patrons
Of any trouble in the bar, but
later disclosed that Schmidt had
disputed with one or two young
men and had stepped outside"
TO finish the argument, Maletta
said he has made some Roadway
in tentatively identifying the
mans assailants.
Schmidt was an employee of
the Simplex Tool Company,
East Detroit, and is survived by
his widow, Georgiana, and four
sons, Lewis, Carl, David and
John, besides his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Frank Schmidt, 22037
Brentwood, East Detroit. The
funeral took place Monday from
the parents home, with services
at $50 a. m, at st. Judes Cath
Ollie Church, Detroit. Burial was
in Mount Olivet Cemetery, un-
der direction of the William d.
Clyne funeral home.
SCRUTINIZE MODS
Undersheriff Harley Ensign
and Deputy Sheriff Hubert Rice
have undertaken investigation
of Schmidt's death. and also
seek 10 eliminate the disturb
ances caused by youthful gangs
in the Van Dyke area,
The trouble was touched off |
more than a week ago, accord
ing TO investigators, when Van
Dyke district pool-room operat-
ors gave warning to youths from
Detroit that the minimum age
for pool playing, ID years,
would be observed. Prior TO this
time, youths barred from De-
troit pool rooms had joined with
older groups in Van Dyke pool
rooms and enjoyed games. This |
ban is described as the only ap-
parent underlying cause for the
disturbances.
For several nights as many
as 100 youths-many of them
long haired, peg-top trousers
variety-gathered at Eight Mile
and Van Dyke to enjoy them
selves. They stoned one street
ing car windows and brazenly
car, smashed pool room and din
walked in front Of cars until
traffic was damned for blocks.
Other large groups patrolled the
streets in cars.
State Police and local officers,
including riot squad rushed |
from the Mount Clemens sher-
ifs office, were reluctant TO use
clubs despite the insults and |
taunts of the trouble-seeking
youths.
Repeatedly the boys were or
dered across the county line,
and on one occasion the whole
assembly swarmed on an empty
street car and headed into De-
troit.
Fist fights and smuggling were
numerous. The trouble assumed
more serious proportions Sunday
when the following incidents &C.
Cured:
Gangs blocked the aisles in
the Motor City Theatre until
police arrested some 20 youths,
and subsequently marched them
TO the county line and banned
them from the area.