Lawlessness in New York City
The "New York Times" of June 20 and June 21 draws some pretty hard pictures of New York City. It is a revelation of how lawlessness is increasing in our large cities. For instance, it tells of a gang of nine rowdies who assaulted a car-conductor, and when a policeman came to his rescue, beat the policeman. Finally six policemen came, and the gang fought the entire six; but were finally forced to succumb. It is a manifestation of out and out lawlessness. In fact, it would seem that some districts in New York City were controlled by thugs and outlaws — what the Times calls "open warfare against the police." "Rarely, if ever, in the past," says that paper, "have even the worst of them ventured upon as much as defensive warfare upon the police in a body; and that this week two of the gangs, on a single evening, should have gone so far as to have taken the offensive against the hastily summoned reserves, is something new, sinister, and if not exactly alarming, at least enough to give the municipal authorities a subject for very serious consideration." In one case the gang used a motor-car, put eight of their best fighters in that car, and attempted to rescue a prisoner from the police, which they would have done if the police squad had not been reinforced.