Evening star., 1953-08-29
Breakdown Set
On Disorder|Y
DC. Juveniles
Police Under Orders
To Stop Night Foroys
And Other Offenses

To Stop Night Foroys
And Other Offenses
Metropolitan police today were
under orders to break up juvenile
groups whose night time forays
have led to a growing number
of complaints.
An order issued yesterday by
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
Spotlighted complaints of dis
orderly groups of youths rowing
about the streets and small parks
usually during the night
hours and as late as l or 2 am"
The order noted that the age
OF juvenile delinquents is CON
stantly lowering" with a large
proportion of crime being COM
mitted by 15-year-olds and
younger.
Boys Roam Streets.
complaints indicate that
many Of these boys carry sticks
and apparently roam the streets
just looking for trouble, are loud,
boisterouS and in some cases dis
orderly the order stated.
The decree citOd more Strin-
gent penalties in the new crime
act applying to disorderly con-
duct and allied offenses.
1t called attention to a change
IN the D. c. code pertaining to
unlawful assembly and profane
and indecent language which
now calls for a $3.50 fine or i'm
prisonment for not more than
80 days, or both in place of the
old penalty of a $25 fine.
Offending Acts Listed.
Acts which now call for a fine
OF not more than $3.50 or impris-
onment for not more than 80
days. or both as listed in the
order, include:
l. Those which annoy, disturb,
interfere with, obstruct or are
offensive to others.
2. Congregating in a public
street with offenders refusing to
move on when ordered by police.
3. Shouting or making a noise
outside or inside a building dur
ing the nighttime to the annoy
ance or disturbance of any con-
siderable number of persons.
4. Acts which interfere with
any person in any place by
joStling or unnecessarily crowd
ing him or by placing a hand
in the proximity of the persons
pocketbook or handbag.
5. Acts which cause a disturb
ance in any streetcar, railroad
car. bus, or any other public con-
veyance such as running through
it, climbing through windows or
upon the seats or otherwise an
noying passengers or employees.
Police Action Needed.
Chief Murray's order stressed
that while the department is
anxious to work with juveniles
in the prevention of crime, the
personal rights and property
rights of laW-abiding citizens
must be protected, and proper
police action must be taken to
curb the conduct of some juve-
niles. which range from dis
orderly conduct and vandalism
to more serious crimes"
Shortly after the order was
issued two juveniles suspected of
having stolen car were arrested
after a 20-block, 70-mile- -an-hour
chase in Northeast Washington.
Two other juveniles who had
been in the car escaped.
During the chase the purSuers,
Detective Sergt. John G. Will
liams and Precinct Detective
William j. Sartain fired several
shots at the speeding car.
The officers chased the youths
car from Eighth and G streets
NE. to Second and M streets
NE, where the suspects, all
colored. fled afoot.
One, II years old, was cap
tured at North Capitol and Pierce
streets. A second, Is years old,
was found hiding under truck
at Swift's garage, First and L
streets NE.
The auto, a 1852 coupe, had
been reported stolen from the
2300 block of I street NV. It
is owned by Thomas j. David of
that address.
Vendors Complaint.
Another complaint involving
juveniles came from an ice cream
vendor Albert M. T. Finch, 80,
of 3001 Twenty-Fourth street NE.
He told police he'd had
trouble" with a group of colored
youths at the Park Side Housing
Development near Foote street
and Foote place NE.
Yesterday, a 15-year old vic
tim of Russian roulette" died in
Emergency Hospital after shoot
ing himself in the head during
the game"
The pistol had been taken
from a cab by a group of young
sters, all of whom police said
had juvenile records.