Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-19
D. c. Crime

On March IL in little store on East
Capitol street, murder was commit
ted. Without provocation, a defense
less man was shot down. and his money
till rif1ed.
Many years ago this man, with his
family, came here from abroad. They
became upright American citizens, and
soon were doing their part to earn their
own living, and serve the surrounding
neighborhood. They had a long, hard
struggle to make their way, but were
successfully carrying on their grocery
business.
Should this letter. by any chance,
come to the attention of the cruel muir
derer, or should it be read by some one
planning a similar crime. consider the
grief and sorrow which have come to
a fine, outstanding family. Let such a
terrible crime never be repeated!
AS for Mr.. Honikman himself, he
was honest, he was gentle, he was
kindly-and he was our friend. We
mourn his loss.
Mary w. MacNair.
I read with considerable interest the
letter of Representative Lester Holtz-
man, concerning robberies in the Dis
trict of Columbia. believe that 1t will
take good deal more action on COM
batting these recent robberies than just
passing bill in the House to prohibit
members of the armed forces from
bringing into this country souvenir
weapons"
Despite the merits of the proposed
%IoA
of the general public and particularly
the home owner to lend constructive
assistance to the constant battle
against crime and mayhem.
Isn't there some method by which
the police could make the average c1t1-
zen more aware of the necessity OF
taking precautions for his person and
property? And would it not be an added
safeguard against crime if more OF
our taxes were appropriated to permit
the maximum establishment Of law
enforcement personnel?
A decent, law-abiding citizen has
been murdered and other decent people
feel ashamed and frustrated because
they know that this crime could have
been prevented.
The blame does not lie solely on the
killer. Congress shares the blame with
him. Congress, which has done nothing
in 20 years to improve our police de-
partment. Congress has stood first
on one foot and then on another while
the papers have been filled with stories
of robbery, rape, murder. Congress-
men have not and will not accept the
responsibility of properly administer
ing our city. And still they will not
give us the right to govern ourselves.
In any other city the Mayor and police
chief and judges and district attorney.
would have been run out of Office. and
probably out of town for permitting,
and in some cases, promoting, crime,
as they have done here.
Mr.. Congressman, have you con-
science? We see your picture in the
papers. attending church. Do you be-
lieve what you read and hear at church?
Has your church been ransacked by
vandals and hoodlums? Ours have.
Have the schools which your children
attend been broken into and damaged
by juveniles? Ours have. Have your
wives and children been inSulted and
molested by juveniles up to the age of
81 on the streets Of Washington? Ours
have. Have your friends been robbed
or murdered? Ours have. Does your
conscience permit you to turn the other
way while all this is going on? You
are known to real Washingtonians as
men who have stolen our taxable land
You would not even listen to one of
your own members and pay just and
legal water bill which was rendered to
you by the District.
Stan