Evening star., 1949-04-26
Fay Under Fire
From Criminal
Justice Group
Doto on Presenting
Aggravated Assault
Cases TO Jury Asked


plain a wide discrepancy" in the
number Of arrests for aggravated
assault last year and the number
Of cases presented to the grand
jury, it was learned today.
A reliable source said the re-
quest was made by the Executive
Committee of the Washington
Criminal Justice Association and
asked that Mr.. Fay give a de-
tailed accounting by letter.
Vincent Saccardi. association
president. revealed that the crime
fighting group was SO interested
in this phase Of its recent report
on Washington crime that it was
preparing a supplemental report
covering aggravated assaults alone.
Details Promised Later.
I'VE are going to find out why
there is a wide discrepancy be-
tween the 3,008 arrests reported by
Metropolitan police last year and
the number of cases given to the
grand jury and the number of con-
victions." Mr.. Saccardi said.
He would not disclose the num-
ber of aggravated assault cases the
association learned was offered the
grand jury. but said this would be
set out in detail in the special
report.
In its annual report, the associ-
alton cited figures showing 4.047
cases of aggravated assault re-
ported last year. 3.008 of which
were cleared by arrest" 39l by
"other means" and 648 remain
open. The report said 81 per cent
of the cases had been closed.
In the forthcoming supplemental
report, which may be released next
week, the association will break
down the aggravated assaults un-
der each type of weapon used. and
what number of those cases were
presented to the grand jury. it was
learned.
Property Recovery Record Hit.
Mr.. Saccardi said the associa-
ton also is vitality concerned about
the comparatively small amount
of stolen property reported re-
covered by police last year. A
special report on this activity will
be prepared later this year, he said.
The annual report for 1948 listed
the amount of property stolen as
s2,525,579. of which $l,275,9 1854 was
recovered.
This loss represents a serious
situation to the citizens of the
District of Columbia" the report
said. "One of the reasonable ep-s
proaches would seem to be suppdrt
of rea aueSls f1iAd6by tiie police Id
ministration for increased per-
sonnel.'%\
Police 9Supt. Robert J. Barrett
agreed there was a need for more
personnel. but thought that the de-
partment's record for recovering
stolen property was good none
theless.
"A lot of the property not
listed as recovered is money. which
is almost impossible to Identify y
he said.
The association reported that of
$406.785 in currency reported
stolen last year. only s3l,057 was
recovered.
Maj. Barrett also pointed to
the "a per cent of closed cases in
the aggravated assaults classical
ton as proof that the police are
doing their part in stemming this
type of crime.
Defending the police record in
general, Mai. Barrett said
great deal of 36.6 per cent increase
in crime reported by the Criminal
Justice Association could be at
tributed to more thorough
methods of crime reporting now
in use.
"But we still have 1872 vacancies
on the force" he said. IF those
vacancies were filled. and each
man prevented crime day, you
can see what tremendous differ
ence 1t would make in cutting
dou,y, crime