CRIME UNDER PROHIBITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 15091, 13 December 1919, Page 3

CRIME UNDER PROHIBITION.

LATEST REPORTS FROM UNITED STATES AND CANADA. 2000 EXTRA POLICE FOR "DRY" t: CHICAGO. (By J. W. T. Mason, Daily Express Correspondent.) NEW YORK, Wed., Sept. 17. The Chicago Chief of Police has requested the. city authorities to permit the addition of 2000 constables to Chicago's police force, because of the great increase m crime since prohibition' became effective. Last month's crime records were 50 per cent, higher than those of any winter month this year, and 53 per cent, higher than m August of hist year. Prohibition became effective on July 1 of this year, since when there has been a constant upward trend of criminal activities. The same conditions exist m New York, where there has never been such a series of daring and reckless crimes perpetrated as during the past two months. / j Burglary insurance companies, report' a 50 per cent, increase m business over that of last year because of the widespread alarm caused by the prevailing lawlessness of New York. . . The reason is said to be that the criminal classes arc satisfying , their craving for intoxicants by taking far : more ch-ugs than ever before, and while under the influence of the drugs they become practically irresponsible and. engage m criminal activities, which they would nover have contemplated under \ the old conditions. ' , j