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6854446
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Letter from George W. Dexter to the Honorable George W. Wickersham Describing the Adverse Effects of the Press on the Legal System
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6854446
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document
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Letter from George W. Dexter to the Honorable George W. Wickersham Describing the Adverse Effects of the Press on the Legal System
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Records of the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement
Letters from the Public
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6854446
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10
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1929-06-10
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6
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1929
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TELEPHONE HOMEWOOD 10000
GEORGE W. DEXTER
ATTORNEY AT LAW
MARYLAND CASUALTY BUILDING
BALTTIMORE
1
June 10, 1929
Hon. Geo. W. Wickersham
Chairman Law Enforcement Committee
Department of Justice
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
I trust that you will pardon this unsolicited observation,
but I believe I voice the sentiments of good citizens everywhere in
saying that there is more interest perhaps than you are aware in the
result of the deliberations of the splendid committee of which you are
the chairman.
First, it seems that justice is defeated in some instances
by virtue of information given out for publication by police officers
and prosecuting attorneys in advance of the capture of those charged
with crime and prior to the time that they are actually tried. Doubt-
less the desire to appear in the public press is the cause in both in-
stances, but the result is the same as the criminals can follow the
daily developments through the newspapers and make their escape if not
yet captured, or prepare their defense if not yet tried.
Second, the newspapers seem to be making law enforcement
more difficult by giving crime great value as "news" and assigning head-
lines accordingly. It is also treating the capture and conviction of
many accused of crime as something of a sporting event. The press is
not urging law enforcement as it might do. On the contrary, by editor-
ials and by cartoons, it sometimes actually ridicules acts of public
officials engaged in capture and prosecution of those charged with crime
and holds public officials and others interested up to ridicule. There
are few men who can withstand ridicule. It is the most subtle of in-
struments thus employed, and particularly when used as cartoons. In-
deed it seems, to some at least, that the misguided value of crime as
news and the misdirected attitude of the newspapers at the present
time would constitute the greatest single deterrent to law enforcement.
I am sure that your committee will consider this feature
along with all the others, but you will pardon me in saying that possi-
bly a changed attitude on the part of newspapers would go further than
any other agency in bringing about the end your committee so much de-
sires.
Very respectfully,
GWD : AER
Golordster