davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-07-05
Small Timers on Most-Wonted list Are Tribute to FBI

gangs, to get organized. And
in the public mind, they have
not had the build-up that the
legendary characters of the
prohibition and later eras got.
Yet 1852 was the biggest year
the FBI had for crime. There
was a terrific increase" in vi
olations. officials reported. It
could be that improved crime
reporting methods are a factor
in the growth. But the Nation
itself has grown to around 100
million-and this means a
corresponding growth in Grim
inalS.
One authority placed train
ing as the most important fac
tor in improved law enforce
ment. Police across the Ma
ton have learned better CO.
ordination. This is due in no
small measure to the 81 ses-
Sions of the National Academy
of the FBI, which holds it's
classes and graduations here
in Washington.
Academy graduates-sheriffs,
chiefs of police, local and State
police from every State in the
Union and even from foreign
landS-attend these classes.
Then they go back to their
home communities and become
the professors.
Since 1885, when the acad-
emy was established, thousands
of these training schools, scat
tered over the land, have
been conducted. The academy
stresses police administration
knowledge and scientific crime
detection.
Another important factor in
the improved situation was the
passage by Congress of the
Fugitive Felon Act in 1884,
amended in 1948. This en-
abled the FBI to locate per-
sons who have fed to avoid
prosecution for major crimes
and to return them to the To-
Gale of their crime for prose-
cution by local authorities. In
Federal violations the FBI
could always cross State lines.
Uniform Crime Reporting
One more reason the Ten
Most Wanted aren't the bad
men they used to be dates back
to 1880, when the FBI spon-
sored an improved crime-re-
porting program. Local, State
and Federal officials partici-
pated. Now all use uniform
definitions in reporting crime.
And the FBI complies the sta
tistics on a Nation wide basis.
This information is vital to
the local community in giving
guidance on the need for more
police.
The FBI pays tribute to the
wonderful cooperation" it
has received from newspapers,
radio, magazines, television
and other public media of in
formation. Pictures of a Grim
inal, seen on a TV screen or
in local newspaper, often call
the citizens attention to clues
or even criminals-right
under their noses.
Director j. Edgar Hoover
Evening star., 1953-07-05
Reciprocal Trade

Extension of the reciprocal
trade agreements program for
another year seemed assured
after Senate passage of an
extension bill last week by
voice vote. Two significant
changes were made in the
House-approved measure:
The Senate voted to keep
the Federal Trade Commission
bipartisan. The House had
acted to augment the six-man
commission with one (Repub-
lican) member.
The Senate also amended
the bill to give the President
more freedom to take emer-
gency action to restrict import
of farm commodities.
House and Senate members
will now get together to COM
promise the differences. Bets
were that a middle ground
could be found to keep the 49,
year-old program alive.
Evening star., 1953-07-05
By WiIIiom A. MilIen

Tinhorn, two-bit punks, in
stead of the big league gang
sters of yesteryear. now fill the
Federal Bureau Of Investiga-
tion's 10 Most Wanted Men
list. Time was when the Dill
fingers, the Babyface Mel
sons. the Frank Nashes. the
Barker-KarpiS gangs and the
Prettyboy Floyds ranged ram
pant. Today, the man in the
street would be hard put to
name the Nations official most
dangerous criminals.
Why? The moSt-wanted
men don't stay wanted so long.
Federal Bureau of Investi-
CATION officials explain it this
way: More highly qualified
FBI men, better-organized law
enforcement, better trained
police at all levels of Govern
ment and more help from the
scientists.
No CO. 70 Convictions
In the old days, when Dill
linger was a name to reckon
with, smashing one criminal
gang often would result in 60
or 10 convictions. Among those
convicted, of course, would be
Evening star., 1953-07-05

the hangers-on, the money
changers, the harborers. who
aided the big fellow. Today,
officials say. there is not the
succession of depredations
committed about 20 years ago
by the highly organized gangs.
Although the present = day
10 Most Wanted Men lack the
stature of the Dillingers. they
are still highly dangerous to
Evening star., 1953-07-05

tion was taken without great
pressure from organized lob
bieS. More than so Represen-
tativeS testified for increased
funds before the Appropria-
tions Committee or spoke for
it on the House floor.
Representatives Reasons
Most Congressman gave
these reasons for their sup
port of the added funds:
. Trained workers are essen
tial for the defense of the
Nation, as was demonstrated
during World War II.
. A high peacetime stand
ard of living. as pointed out
by the British investigating
teams, requires masses of skill
ed workers.
. The American tradition of
free education should by rights
include free education for a
job.
. Vocational education is new
and does not receive the
consistent support in all COM
munities that academic edu-
cation receives.
Opposition to the funds in
crease did not come from
Congressman opposed to vo-
cational education in the pub
lie schools-no one spoke up
in favor of less training.
Foes wanted the State and
local governments to handle
all the costs. The Bureau of
the Budget, which speaks for
the President, indicated that
Federal money would be elimi-
mated completely in future
years.
But the majority supported
the view that the relatively
small Federal contribution
spelled the differences between
a vocational program and no
program at all in small COM
munities and rural areas. And
since the labor force in Amer
lea is a mobile one. the Nation
as whole has a stake in the
education of youngsters in
every community. Further
more, the Federal aid advo-
Gates argued Federal special
lists help local school systems
raise their standards and get
more for their money.
The House-paSsed Federal
aid proposal was approved last
week by the Senate Appropri-
ations Committee. The full
Senate will get its chance this
week to weigh economy against
Federal support for a broader
Amekican school system.
Evening star., 1953-07-05
By John w. Thompson, Jr.

~ SVuu W. 1HOunPSVhI SIs
in favor of a paid full-time
professional who can be held
accountable. AS it now stands,
smart welfare. director, if he
wants. can play off the board,
for whom he carries out the
details of welfare administra-
ton, against the Commission
ers. who handle the board f.
T1anceS.
Without going into the his
tory Of relief fraud investiga-
tions and the separation of
the penal institution control
from the welfare board,
single instance will point up
the absurdity of the present
situation:
In the selection of a well
fare director, the law gives
the Commissioners the power
to appoint, upon nomination
of the welfare board. Back
in 1941 the post became va
cant. The board nominated
the late Ray Huff, who was
then superintendent of penal
institutions. The Commission
erS wanted Paul Edwards who
had been WPA administrator
for the District. A long i'm
passe developed when the
board refused to nominate
Edwards and the Commits
Sioners would not appoint
Huff. In the end a compro-
mise candidate - Conrad Van
Hyning-got the job.
The Commissioners also ap-
point the board members. In
at least one instance they ap-
pointed a member principally
to keep them informed of what
the board was thinking and
dong. And he did.
For a long time the board
was criticized for acting in
secret, in contrast to the open
meetings of the Board of Edu-
cation. This practice continues
to an extent, although recent
boards have improved the Sit
uatlon.
Elimination of the adminiS-
tratiVe duties of the board
would in no way reflect on the
present board members, who
are uniformly conscientious
and able. 1t is just a split
jurisdiction case that cries out
for correction in the interest
of efficiency.
In the case of the Health De-
partment, it is lnconceivable
that the Commissioners would
want to add another admin
iStratiVe board to the frame
work. Health Officer Daniel
Secklnger opposes it along with
the reorganiZerS.
The move for the board ap-
parently springs from touchy
relations the department has
had recently with doctors in
the private hospitals which
deal with the department on
INDECENT patients.
The Solution
The solution is to have
health and welfare each under
a director, with citizen ad-
visory boards attached. This
would maintain citizen partici-
patton on a watch dog" basis
both in the interests of the di-
rectors and the Commission
ers. 1t would assure adequate
support before Congress at
budget hearing time or on
other legislative matters af-
fecting the departments. The
advisory groups would, of
course. be free to praise and
criticize.
Any failure to carry through
complete, efficient reorganiza-
ton because of contrary pres
Evening star., 1953-07-05

under law for a specific pur-
pose--to tell foreigners about
American life. Communist
books, he said, would not fit
that order. In answer to a
question, he said that re-
moval of the Thin Man" de-
tective stories by Dashiell
Hammett, who has been
charged with membership in
Communist-front organiza-
tionS, was a mistake made by
some one who became fright
ened.
Another clarifying message,
the sixth. would be sent to the
overseas librarians, the Presi-
dent said.
Meanwhile Senator McCar-
thy was questioning some of
the authors of books which
were, in his opinion, fit for
removal from State Depart
ment libraries. Artist Rock
well Kent told Mccarthy it
was none of his business what
organizations he had joined.
He refused to say if he was
Communist. DoXey A. Wilker-
son, former Howard University
teacher, also refused to say if
he was a Communist. The
Senator said they could burn
all of Mr.. Wilkerson's books
for all he cared.
But the Wisconsin legislator
was concerned about one book
by an acknowledged former
Red which was burned" He
learned that Whitaker Cham
bers' book, Witness" had
been prescribed in one library.
Mccarthy wanted to know
who had banned it-and why.
Evening star., 1953-07-05
Books

Again "clarif1cations" were
in order on State Department
"book-burning" or, to be
precise, removal of contro-
versial books from State De-
partment information centers
overseas.
This time the President took
his second shot at the task.
He said in his news conference
that the Libraries were set up
Evening star., 1953-07-05

and his top assistants decide
on the names that will go on
the Most Wanted list. When
one is caught, another name
is added.
Photographs of the wanted
ones, posters and Identification
orders are distributed nation
ally to the police. posted in
Government buildings, particu-
larly post Offices, and given to
cab companies and trucking
concerns. Sometimes an area
in which one of these men has
been operating is plastered
with descriptive material, Civ
ing identification of the fugi-
tive.
To come under FBI jurisdic-
ton, a fugitive must have
been convicted of a crime. He
must have broken out of Jail.
or must have had a State
charge against him for a ma
jor crime. Such charges in
clude murder, kidnapping. bur-
glary, robbery, mayhem. rape.
armed assault. extortion or
attempts at these crimes.
Minor crimes do not come un-
der FBI Jurisdiction.
One Old-Timer
Since the Most Wanted list
was begun in March 1850, 46
men named among the top
10 have been apprehended. OF
the entire SIS who have made
this doubtful grade, only one
has remained on the list from
the beginning. He is Henry
Randolph Mitchell, 57-year-
old ex-convict, wanted for the
$4,000 robbery of a Williston.
Fla, bank January 81, 1948.
The FBI has sought him since
June 16, 1948. Officials said
he has a criminal record dat
ing back to 1924. He was con-
victed in Kentucky, Georgia,
New York and Florida. His
crimes range from grand lar
ceny and narcotics law viola
ton to forgery and breaking
and entering. He was released
from the Florida State Peni-
tentiary at Raiford a month
before the bank holdup. He
had just served a 10-year sem
tence for breaking and enter
ing and for grand larceny.
Born in Lexington. KY. Sep
tember q, 1895, Mitchell is
known as Little Mitch" His
right little finger is crooked
and stiff. He has a mole on
the right cheek, is said to be
armed, is considered danger
Gus and is known to be quite
a gambler.
Most of the cases are cleared
up much faster than Mitch
ellis. Take Gordon Lee Cooper.
for contrast. He made the
Most Wanted list last May IL
on an armed robbery charge.
One month later to the day he
was captured In st. Louis. He
had a sawed-off shotgun under
the front seat of the stolen
car he was driving.
Evening star., 1953-07-05
Metropolitan Scene
Fizzed District Reorganization Leaves Unanswered
The Big Question: Sound Administration or Not2

The June 80 deadline passed
with the Commissioners still
ducking the key decisions in
municipal reorganization.
At the last minute they ven-
tured the uncontroversial
transfer of Frank Marks and
his dog pound to the Police
Department. But they post
poned, until after public hear
ings, any action involving the
embattled proposals on public
welfare, public health and the
department of professions and
occupations.
The real purpose of reorgan-
tzation was to produce more
municipal efficiency and pos
sibly economy through cutting
down the number of depart
ments; eliminating overlapping
between departments and with
In departments; Strengthening
the lines of administrative
control from the Commission
ers on down, and streamlining
the galaxy of little independent
satellite boards that function
almost unsupervised in the
orbit Of city government.
Reoreonizers' Proposals
Some internal improvements
have been made. And, in fur
therance of the basic objective,
the reorganizers came in with
these proposals:
Q To abolish the Board of
Public Welfare as an admin
istrative body and leave the
welfare director responsible
directly to the Commissioners,
with an advisory committee to
help him.
Q Consolidate the little satel-
lite boards into a department
of professions and occupa-
tions.
In the case of the Health
Department, the reorganizers
proposed keeping the present
setup with a few minor
changes. A group of doctors,
however, have proposed in
stead creation of still another
administrative board-a Board
of Public Health, to run the
Health Department as the
Welfare Board has been run
ming welfare.
The welfare board and
spokesmen for the little satel-
liteS have whipped up a storm
of protest over any tamper-
ing with their empires. So far
any serious opposition to re-
organization plans from de-
partment heads or the public
has resulted in the Commits
sioners' junking or modifying
the plans. Witness the propo-
sails to eliminate the Traffic
Department and to transfer
some health inspections to a
department of licensing.
Whether this pattern is fol-
lowed after the scheduled pub
lie hearings on the three re-
manning controversial plans re-
mains to be seen. Certainly
Public Welfare Board members
will be able to drum up support
from private welfare groups in
Guiding United Community
Services. The nine member
board is we'll larded with UCS
members, including Mrs. Theo-
dore Wedel and Preston Kava-
naugh. Mr.. Kavanaugh was the
UCS candidate for the board
when he was appointed.
The Issue
What's at stake here is a
principle of sound administra-
tion-removal of part-time
amateurs - however faithful
and willing-from direct ad-
ministration of a multi-mil-
lion dollar municipal activity
Evening star., 1953-07-05

society. of course. Many boast
they will never be taken alive.
They are no less a menace
than their more notorious
prototypes. '
They have never attained the
name and fame of those CORY
gangSters of old because they
have been knocked down too
fast. They have not been given
the opportunity to rise in
Evening star., 1953-07-05

Sures from those affected can
not but work to the advantage
of home rule supporters
who have received renewed
hope and vigor from the recent
Supreme Court decision. The
court held. in the Thompson
Restaurant case, that Congress
constitutionally could grant
home rule here if it wished.
Placing Poundmaster Marks
under the Police Department
probably is as logical as plac-
Ing it under any other depart
ment. Neither he nor police
brass are too unhappy about it.
After all. the poundsmen wear
blue uniforms, deal with the
police precincts on running
down Strays, and may even
pick up a police dog.
Strike Rumors
The Commissioners have
dived right in to try to prevent
a strike of Capital Transit bus
and streetcar drivers over pen
sions.
Rumors are that a strike
II there Is one-Was held of
purpoSely until this week
after the Fourth of July, on
which they got double time
pay.
Flight to Foirfox
Planning to move out of the
District? According to Homer
Hoyt, economic analyst, the
chances are you'll move to
Fairfax County. That's the
nearby county which will have
the greatest population devel-
opment during the next 27
years from folk fleeing the
capital city, he predicts.
X *HH
Route 240 HossIe
Hottest fight in the area in
recent years is developing over
the proposal to bring route 240
from the north into Rock
Creek Park.
The battle was started by
residents of the Connecticut
avenue, Chevy Chase, Md,
area, many of whose homes
would be affected by the pro-
posed pike. The Maryland
State Roads Commission so
far has held firm in it's plan
to swing a leg across from
Wisconsin to Connecticut ave-
nue. just below Kensington,
and thence to East-West high
way and Rock Greek Park.
Former Senator Gerald Nye
has headed up much of the
opposition. He has lined up
Representative De Witt Hyde
and some other congressional
support. Efforts have been
made through Senator Butler
and Gov. McKeldin to block
the plan. The National Capt.
tai Planning Commission has
turned thumbs down. But the
Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commits
sion favored the roads COM
mission plan In a split vote in
which the Montgomery County
delegates voted no.
In the District, people are
beginning to shout against
desecration of Rock Creek
Park in pushing a road out to
meet the Maryland leg.
At the moment the issue
seems headed for the courts
in a test between the State
roads commission and the
planning group. Meanwhile
the merits of the case are
getting buried in the swell of
tempers and the power play
of politics.
Evening star., 1953-05-23
New Standards Used
On Security Risks
In State Department

r. w. Scott Mcleod has put
new security standards of the
Eisenhower administration into
practical effect in the State De-
partment since he became Sc
curity boss March 3, he disclosed
yesterday.
The new security rules are
scheduled to go into force for all
Federal employees May q.
Mr.. Mcleod has not applied
them formally at the State De-
partment, but has used the new
standards in judging what en-
ployes should be separated as
security risks. He said several
dozen presented with such
charges have resigned rather
than face them.
He said he had considered it
undesirable to initiate any new
proceedings under the Truman
administrations loyalty security
program when it seemed certain
there would not be time to COM
plete the cases before the new
program went into effect.
Mr.. Mcleod also made clear
there is a double standard for
judging people already on the
department payroll and job ap-
plicants and possible security
risks. He has ordered a COM
pletely ruthless judgment on ap-
plicants, with a more temperate
attitude on old employees.
Evening star., 1953-05-23
She'll Mishap Injuries
Five al Fort Benninq
By the Associufed Press

FORT BENNING, Ga, May
23.-Five Fort Benning soldiers
working on an infantry tactical
problem were injured-one crit
ically-when an artillery shell
struck tree near them and
exploded.
The wounded, identified by
the Benning public information
Office, included:
Second 1t. Donald D. Byell
Detroit, Mich, critically wound
ed by q shell fragment which
struck him in the chest ano
shoulder
First 1t. Richard w. STEM
quist. 25. Fort Benning. in sat
isfactory condition after his left
arm was amputated.
Capt. Herbert v. Dow, Lincoln
Neb., minor head injuries.
Benning officials said over
head artillery fire was being
used in the exercise Thursday
and one round fell short.
First 1t. Arnold Galiffa, ALI
American quarterback on Army's
1949 football team. narrowly
escaped injury, according to 8
witness. Shell fragments knocked
down 1t. Stenquist, who was
standing beside him. the wit.
ness said 1t. Galiffa Immediately
put a turniquet on his injured
companion, who later lost hi!
| left arm.
Evening star., 1953-05-23
By the Associated Press

BALTIMORE, May 23.-Judge
James K. Cullen ruled yesterday
that circumstantial evidence
against 48-year-old Earl Henson
was sufficient to convict him Of
first degree murder of a 14-year-
old boy.
Judge Cullen, in finding Hen
son guilty. said he wanted the
case ruled on by the Supreme
bench. He directed HenSon's
lawyer, Michael F. Friedman. to
file for a new trial and said the
cost of the record would be
borne by the State if the defend
ant hasn't the money to pay.
Prosecutors said the circum-
stantial evidence pointed to
Henson, who is colored and
works at maintenance plant
and handles arsenic in his job.
| Arsenic was the poison used in
the youths death. Jealousy of
the boys mother was called the
motive.
The State contended that
Henson put the arsenic in some
flour and pancake mix intended
for Mrs. Lucille Alexander, who
allegedly Tilted him for another
suitor.
Her son Frank died of poi
soning April 5. about SO hours
after eating pancakes made with
the mix, testimony showed.
Mrs. Alexander testified that
Evening star., 1953-05-23
Baltimore Man Found Guilty
In Arsenic KiIIinq of Boy, Ia

Henson, father of eight chill
dren, had threatened her and
said he would rather see her
dead than going with another
man.
: Henson admitted he had access
to arsenic where he worked and
that he had occasionally given
some to friends to help them get
rid of rodents. However, he de-
MED he had put any in Mrs.
Alexander's flour or pancake
mix.
Judge Cullen heard the case
without a jury.
Evening star., 1953-05-23
Rlack-Headed Grosbeaks.

The black-headed grosbeakS
have returned to their summer
home in Yosemite. All winter
they have enjoyed the tropical
climate where insects are abun-
dant and cold weather rare.
The males are the first to ar
rive. They put on a song festival
worth going miles to hear. When
the females put in their appear
ance there is much chasing, no
fights and much singing, all in
good fun.
Shortly after the female has
accepted her colorful Suitor, the
pair settles down to hunt a
building site. Usually a dense
shrub or tree is selected. A
skinny foundation is laid from
6 to IL feet from the ground
and In some places you can walk
Evening star., 1953-05-23
Natures Children

under the flimsy structure and
see straight through the nest.
The construction work falls TO
the female, the male frequently
trotting along beside her as she
carefully selects each stick for
the walls.
He stands by until his mate
assures him she has laid the full
number of eggS-three to four.
At this moment. he goes to the
bassinet settles on the eggs and
never leaves them unprotected
until the sQuawklng young ar
rive. He even sings! His bright
colors make him conspicuous
enough, but he calls attention
to himself and precious family
by shouting at the top Of his
lungs. Not to be outdone by her
lord and master. his mate breaks
into song.
Evening star., 1953-05-23
By LiIlion Cox Athey

After IL days Of hopeful brood
ing, the parents change their
daily routine. the mother doing
the longer stint. Her mate
brings food for his young. though
mother has to go out marketing
for her meals.
The parents have acquired a
great fondness for campers fare
and watch the tables in the park.
The black headed groSbeak is
eager to remove butter or mar
.garine from bits Of bread and
for this reason is known as a
"butterbird" by campers. Few
campers realize what a grand
husband this grosbeak turns out
to be. He supports his family by
bringing home the best Of food,
he sings at all tasks and he helps
with education Of his offspring.