AMERICA TO-DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19566, 3 May 1935, Page 8

AMERICA TO-DAY.

WEAKNESS OF JUSTICE.

MR AV. J. PA'LL'OT’3 IMPRESSIONS. CONFIDENCE MEN FOILED. To have been almost, but not quite, a victim to the operations of confidence tricksters at Seattle was Hie somewhat discouraging reception to the United States of America accorded (Mr W. J. Pallet of Napier, who returned recently to Napier after a fourmon'tlis’ stay In that country. Mr Pallot stated that H was not safe for a stranger—or, in fact, any other person—lo stand on a street corner In any of the big cities by himself. If •he did so It was quite as likely as not that a car would be drawn up alongside him, and before be knew where tic was he would be forced lo enter the car, with a revolver pressed to the middle of his back. Relating his own experience, which occurred shortly after leaving 'the boat from New Zealand, Mr .Pallet said that Hie friends whom he later told of the incident said that lie had been most fortunate in escaping without at least being robbed of all Unit he possessed. "It was while f was wailing at Seattle to continue lo San Francisco that a man came up to me, spoke my name, and said that lie also was going on to San Francisco,” said Mr Pallot. "I had never seen him before, but he knew that I was off the Aorangi, and lie also knew a great deal about New Zealand.”

A Third Man, ■Mr Pallot slated I hat they dialled for a while, ami tin; slrunger 11 1 mi suggested that as lliey had an hour In wait for the train they should go for a walk through the city. Mr Pallot slated llial tic agreed lo Ihe proposal, hul lii!i suspicions were aroused slightly when lliey were joined by a lliird man, who commenced a conversation wiili Mr Pallot's companion. .After a while, said Mr I’alloi. ihe two men commenced lo loss for dollars. Mr Pallot was invited In join in Ihe game, but de-clilie-.1. II was llicn suggested Ilia! lli e lliree of lliem should have a game of pool.

Narrow Escape. By .this time, said Mr tPallot, the three of them had walked a considerable distance away, and were getting a good way away from the station. “I refused immediately, and, turning on my heel, made back to the station,” said Mr Pallot, who added that it was not .uncommon for strangers lo he lured to a certain spot under. Ihe pretext of having a .walk and then dealt with as desired by the bandits. The oonlldenee men would slop at nothing to gain .their ends, said Air Pallot, and life was held very cheaply. The general weakness of .Ihe justice system in America was deplored by Air Pallot, who stated that crime was rife and there appeared lo be little confidence in Hie methods adopted for its suppression. The position was improving slowly, however, and Hie vast, majority of the people, who were charming to meet and most hospitable, ■fully realised Hie 'weaknesses and were endeavouring lo right Hie position.

Murders Numerous. "Murders arc so numerous in the Stales that in many cases lliey arc not even mentioned," said Mr Pallot, who instanced several eases where girls who had become separated from their companions in (lie large parks attached lo Iho cities had been found killed and robbed, in some cases only a very short while after, they had been missed by llieir companions. It was certainly not safe for anyone lo enter a park alone, and wiser, when walking through these reserves, lo remain in the centre of Hie road. The love of sensation inherent in Americans was another feature which greatly impressed Mr Pallot. This was illustrated io a remarkable degree during the trial of Hauptmann on I lie charge of murdering Ihe Lindbergh baby, lie said; and Hie 'manner in which publicity was given lo the trial would, if adopted in New Zealand, I'csull in all Ihe lawyers, pressmen, and oilier publicity agenls assod'aled willi such a trial being arrested for contempt of court.

Hauptmann Trial. The trial of Hauptmann was broadeasi. lilrncd and published, detail by detail, said Mr Pallot. Not a single Ihing was missed, and the whole of 'Hie nation was enabled to see Ihe H'ial ami hear Hie evidence by means of the papers, the wireless ami I tie cinemas. 'Beyond this, however, it was Ihu practice of Ihe lawyers for (Continued In next column, i

the prosecution and the defence to give outlines of what they proposed to bring before Ihe court during the course of talks over the wireless, and the manner in which the accused man was referred to by the prosecuting counsel was most remarkable. “The prosecution will not rest until this icold-hlooded fish is in the electric chair," was one remark which Mr Pallot heard over the wireless from the prosecuting counsel. “The defending counsel freely accused the nursemaid, Betty Gow, and the butler, of being responsible for the crime," said Mr Pallot, “notwithstanding the fact that lie could not produce one tittle of evidence to isupport such a charge."

Lack of Dignity

“Such conduct drew forth no protest 'from the judge or the authorities,” said 'Mr Pallot. To even consider the possibility of such procedure being adopted in New Zealand was unthinkable. There was no such thing as dignity in the sense in which we knew it, the outlook of the Americans in this respect being totally different from that of the British race.