Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-30
To the Editor Of The Stor:

70 tHe GottOt ot tue Stot.
Ofiicials responsible for
law and order in Washing
ton surely must have felt
shame and humiliation in
reading the Sunday Star ar
ticle II Was Mugged." where
in Willie Snow Ethridge de-
scribed how she and her hus-
band and sister-in-law were
brutally assaulted and
robbed by two young hood
lums on Woodley road NV.
Crimes OF this character
have become commonplace In
our fair city. Too often the
criminals get away.
II Is not true, as some Of
fetal apologists say. that "the
same situation exists every
where" have lived a great
deal abroad and have felt
safer in the streets Of foreign
cities than ! do now in WASH
ington.
1t Is time that a commits
sion comprised OF private
citizens and Government Of
ficials be set Up to investi-
gate the present deplorahle
state Of affairs and deter
mine what measures are
necessary TO maintain law
and order.
In view Of the constant In
fiux Of unSkilled labor and
the growing number Of
homeless. penniless people un-
able to find jobs in Wash
ington. II would seem that
there is no time 10 lose. 9TH
erwise the city may become a
muggers' paradise.
Senator Wiley says. zone
basic cause Of the. constant
increase in mugging and
other forms of violence is
public indifference TO condi-
tons that breed such crimes"
This probably is at least
partly true. However. l feel
that the public naturally
looks for leadership in such
matters to the elected public
administrators who certainly
are equally to blame.
The Washington police are
a fine body Of men and Chief
Murray is doing an excellent
job. However, since street at
tacks continue and are even
increasing. 1t is evident that
the present police force is
numerically inadequate to
cope with the situation.
Pro Bono Publico.
In connection with the
turmoil over violence on our
city streets, I suggest fiogging
as q cure or remedy. As q
somewhat mischievouS lad. I
know what I dreaded most
was the lash. True, 1t made
me wrathful and even venee-
full. but I never did again
those things which milder
forms OF punishment failed
to discourage.
I know there is a provision
in our fundamental law
against cruel punishmentA
and the decency in our
natures revolts against de-
scending to the level OF the
criminal. But there are times
when fire must be fought
with fire. recognizing that
the witness and craftiness
Of the criminal Is not TO be
overcome except by resort to
his own methods.
Herman Felter.
HHE
How can Senator Wiley
even suggest that the public
is Indifferent 10 the crime
situation? What about the
seeming indifference Of the
Senator? What about judges
trying criminals here and
freeing them 10 again harm
the public? What Is the
reason the law seems 10 bend
over backward to protect the
criminal instead Of the VIC
Tins? Who makes these laws
and appoints these judges TO
the Dencnf
Does the public have to
wait until one OF the defend
ers Of these criminals gets
robbed and beaten UP TO get
action?
Area Resident.
$50
I am q direct descendant OF
one Of Montana's vigilantes,
In the SOS. / wonder how
those brave men would
deal with the petted crlmi-
mails Of today's Washington.
ID. G.
/ was held up in a West
Coast city, and when ! went
next day 10 look over the
''mugg books" ! asked Eper-