WAR ON CRIME

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1935, Page 7

WAR ON CRIME

NEW YORK CITY DRIVE

POLICE WITNESSES SHOT

MURDER BEFORE INQUIRY

MAN KILLED BY MISTAKE

RACKETEERING GROWING

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 9.30 p.m. New York, March 2. On the eve of the grand jury investigation into vice, gambling and racketeering at New York city gangsters murdered three men to-day and each case, the police believe, was an effort by underworld leaders to suppress evidence regarding their activities. Two of the slain men were shot down in streets from passing motor-cars. They were identified as “salesmen” for the “police racket,” an illegal, lottery which was said to enjoy an income which was almost 500,090.000 dollars annually. The third victim was a taxi chauffeur. He was without a criminal record and the police believe the intended victim was a woman passenger connected with white slave operations. The present anti-crime drive, started with charges by clergymen and others interested in the suppression of vice and gambling that the police were protecting racketeers and, with political leaders, were receiving huge graft from these sources. The police claim that they have made over 300 arrests for policy operations in the past two months but admit that this type of gambling is still flourishing.