Evening star., 1961-05-20
Mallory Rule
Revision Bill
Waits Action
By JOHN McKELWAY
Star Staff Writer

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blocks in the path of crime pre-
vention is certain to be pushed
by members of the House Dis
trict Committee.
The group wound up hear
ingS on the Districts crime
wave yesterday.
Representative Smith, Demo-
crat of Virginia, a member of
the full committee, said the bill
before the committee dealing
with the Mallory decision might
pass the House. But he gave
it little chance in the Senate.
He also indicated the COM
mittee will attempt to write
legislation clarifying court de-
cisions on insanity.
In three days of hearings.
witnesses generally followed the
position of the police depart
ment that court decisions have
hampered efforts to control
crime.
Davis Bill Readied
The Mallory decision holds
that voluntary confessions are
inadmissible if there was un-
necessary delay between arrest
and arraignment. Representa-
tive Davis. Democrat Of Georgia
and chairman of the crime sub
committee, has authored a bill
which provides that delay alone
would not invalidate an other
wise admissible confession.
The investigation ended yes
terday with members critical
of those seeking to protect the
rights of individuals accused
Of crimes.
Representative Williams S,
Democrat of Mississippi, said
at one point that the editorial
policy of the Washington Post
advocates roadblocks in the
path of police" He asked one
Witness-but failed to receive
a specific answer - whether
Post policy contributes to the
incidence of crime by inform
ing criminals what their de-
tense should be?"
And Mr.. Smith asked one
witness, Mrs. Sally Orrison,
representing the Washington
Crime Commission, for help in
stopping the newspapers wi
.ciouS attacks on the police de-
.partment and this committee.
Cites Police Risks
If the people took an inter-
est in eliminating this vicious
propaganda" he went on, "it
would be most helpful to u.s."
Leonard Schilder, another
witness, also of the Crime
Commission - formerly the
Washington Criminal Justice
Association - said the risks
taken by policemen in the line
of duty should be supported
by the courts"
Morris V. Rosenbloom, repre-
Senting the National Capital
Area Council of Boy Scouts,
said the community's problems
in the field of juvenile delin-
quency could be met if Boy
Scout programs we're intensi-
fled.
More Policewomen
Joseph Lapiana, jr., preSi-
dent of the North Washington
Council of Citizens Associations,
appeared to ask for more wom-
en- in the police department to
free more officers for crime de-
lection. He also suggested that
the departments telephone
number be changed to a simpler
series of digits-FEderal 1888.
Mrs. PhilliS J. Groverman,
representing the Altrusa Club,
said Washington women are
afraid to go out at night as
well as apprehenSive about
staying home. She said she
felt court decisions have "con-
tributed significantly to the
rising crime wave"
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard of
the Federation of Women's
Clubs, asked for an investiga-
ton of the entire judicial SyS-
tenn and asked for tougher
treatment of juveniles. .,
John eager, who said he was
a veteran and now engaged in
patent law work. was the one
witness who criticized police
methods.
He claimed policemen were
knocking on his door at night.
but when he answered they had
disappeared.
Earlier, Police Chief Robert
v. Murray told the subcommit-
tee Washington is becoming a
haven for criminals because
the Police Department is oper-
ating under incredible restric-
tionS.
Making his second appear
ance at the hearing, Chief
Murray said some people have
apparently forgotten the rights
of law-abiding citizens. All
they are interested in is the
rights of the accused"
Responding, Representative
Williams described those con-
cerned with a criminals rights
as bleeding hearts"
Experience Held Needed
Representative Harsha, Re
publican of Ohio, put in that if
civil rights groups had to
undergo the same treatment
as some of these citizens have
undergone, they would change
their tune"
The hearings were called fol-
lowing the recent upsurge of
crime in the District. Under
study are three bills, two of
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