Evening star., 1950-02-14

Mayors to Seek Federal Aid in Fishtino
intef-stote Crime. Pose 3D..
statement when asked to COM
ment on a report that only eight
policemen are officially assigned
to ride herd on Washington's
multimillion dollar gambling
racket.
Mr.. Davis pointed out that the
subcommittee has decided not to
make a special gambling investi-
cation. He said the size of the
gambling squad would be con-
sidered along with the sizes of
other squads.
The subcommittee already has
been told that only three police
men are assigned specifically to
combat dope-peddling.
Blick Tells of Assignments.
1t. Roy E. Blick, chief of the
vice squad, told the subcommittee
yesterday his squad has eight men
assigned to gambling, eight to
commercialized vice and four
undercover men.
The vice squad is not part of the
Detective Bureau, but comes di-
rectly under the supervision of
Police Chief Robert j. Barrett.
The Detective Bureau itself has
1873 men assigned to the detection
and prevention of crime.
More police witnesses are ex-
pected to testify at the next session
of the subcommittee, tentatively
scheduled for Thursday.
Other Matters on Schedule.
In addition to the size of police
squads, some of the other unfin-
ished business growing out Of
yesterdays session of the sub
committee included:
/. A statement from Special
Counsel Hyman I. Fischbach that
he will offer proof to support his
contention that some judges have
sentenced defendants without the
pre-sentence investigation re-
quired by law.
2. A charge by retired police
lieutenant that an assistant United
States attorney refused to prose-
cute woman involved in a stolen
car chase that brought death to
a policeman.
8. Testimony from 1t. Blick
that he has been trying for II
months to get advice from the
United States attorneys office on
how to proceed against after
hours clubs.
Grand Jury Action Studied.
All these matters are due for
more attention, along with fur
ther delving into the number Of
cases ignored by District grand
juries.
The questioning of COMMITTEES
members has already made clear
the emphasis they are putting on
vigorous prosecution and heavy
penalties as crime deterrents.
The action of grand juries was
injected into the hearing yester-
day when Mr.. Fischbach read the
committee figures from a recent
year showing that of 1864 cases
submitted to grand juries here,
1913 indictments were returned,
281 cases were ignored and 10
other ignored cases were referred
to Municipal Court for prosecu-
tion. Ignored cases are those in .
which investigation leads to no
further action.
Maher Releases Figures.
The returns made by grand
juries in gambling cases from
June 80, 1947, through January 81.
1850, were reported by Special
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Daniel B. Maher. These figures
showed that:
From June. 1947, through
1948, 121 cases went to the
grand jury 50 cases (44 per cent?
resulted in indictments, 68 cases
(56 per cent, were ignored and
So OF the ignored cases were re-
ferred to Municipal Court.
From April, 1948, through Febru-
ary, 1949, total of 237 cases went
to the grand jury; 199 cases GA
per cent? resulted in indictments,
50 cases (16 per cent? were ignored
and none of the ignored cases were
sent to Municipal Court.
From March, 1949, through Oc-
'ober, 1949, total OF 162 cases
we're presented to the grand Jury:
l46 cases go per cent? resulted
in indictments, 16 cases 90 per
'ent) were ignored, none were
(see CRIME PROBE, Page A-4.)
Japanese Diet Members