Evening star., 1950-01-14
Crime Investigators
Get First-Hand View
In HoIdup-Beating

In HoIdup-Beating
Two Representatives investigat
ing crime here got a flrst-hant
view of its violence last nigh
In the holdup and slugging of +.
market operator.
Louis Lipsky, the victim, wa
held up and slugged by thre,
colored men who stole about 500
last night from the Randolph
Market, 1720 First street NV.
Within five minutes of the
broadcast alarm the police ar.
rived. And so did Representative
Davis. Democrat, of Georgis
chairman of House District SUBJ
committee investigating crime anc
Its punishment in Washington, anc
Representative Wadsworth, Re.
publican, Of New York, membe,
of the five-man group.
"Just Another Robbery"
While it may have been just
another robbery" to most of those
who arrived, including Police
Chief Robert j. Barrett and news
men, it was an actual interpreta-
ton of crime statistics to the
legislators. It was for the very
purpose of seeing what happens
in crime and how it happens, and
the way police attack the prob
lens that Representatives Davis
and Wadsworth were touring the
city in Robbery Squad cruiser No
81. They had never been on such
tour before.
The car containing the Repre-
sentatives was at Fourth street
and Pennsylvania avenue NV
shortly before 9 pm, when the
holdup call came over the radio
The car also contained Capt
Robert v. Murray, assistant chief
of detectives, and Detective 1t. E
E. Scott of the Robbery Squad.
AS the cruiser sped to the mar
ket, Maj. Barrett's car got under
way at First and K streets NV,
with 1t. Jacob Wolf at the wheel
Another cruiser. No. IL, contain
ing John Woog, assistant chief
counsel for the subcommittee De-
tective 1t. Otto P. Fuss and De-
tective Sergt. Herman Xander OF
the Robbery Squad also sped to
the scene from about a mile away
Evening Was Dull.
Practically all the cruisers ar
rived about the same time. I'm
mediately Chief Barrett secured
the neighborhood in his car for
the robbers. Altogether only a
few minutes had elapsed before
the police officers were question
ing Mr.. Lipsky.
The legislators asked few
questions, too, and they listened
to everything that was said.
Mr.. Woog pointed out that a
green-painted area on the store
windows, reaching up the glass for
several feet from the bottom of
the window sill, was an ideal
blind" for robbers, since it con-
cealed their workings from people
on the street.
The holdup was the only case
the Representatives were on, for
the evening was dull, from a police
standpoint. The only other event
Of violence occurred when a man
was "yoked" and the car contain
ing the legislators did not stop at
this scene.
The reporters learned that the
route they travelled through most
of the city's precincts was the same
as that covered by Representatives
Davis and Wadsworth in their car.
This route led through dark alleys
and courts, many of which are
known to the police as places
where there is a heavy incidence
of crime.
When the evening was over after
a three-hour tour, the Representa-
tives said they had no decisive
comment to make, but they were
generous in their praise of the
police who were helping them to
study weak spots in crime enforce
ment.
Insight in Problems.
I'VE are getting an insight into
police problems" Representative
Wadsworth said. II was very
much impressed with how the po-
lice radio works. It is an i'm
portant force in fighting crime. :"
Other members of the subcom-
mitttee are Representatives Smith
Democrat, of Virginia; league,
Democrat. of Texas, and Simpson
Republican, of Illinois. H. L
Fischbach is general counsel.
The subcommittee will hold an
other executive session next week
at which Representatives Davis
and Wadsworth are expected to
tell OF their experiences touring
the city.
The general investigation of the
committee is covering police, cor
oner. prosecuting offices, courts
probation department, penal in
stitutions and the parole system
Representative Davis said last
week, There is nothing to point
to yet. in the way of criticizing
We haven't gone that far"
He said ample material has been
assembled already to justify public
hearings, but the subcommittee is
not prepared to fix a date for the
hearings.
Dr.. Wexbere to Speak
DR.. Leopold E. Wexberg, direc.
tor OF the Health Department Blu.
reau Of Mental Hygiene, will speak
to a group of parents of the Ha-
dassah at the home of Mrs. Albert
Mesirow, 1914 Appleton street