"MUSCLING-IN" RACKET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 54, 26 November 1937, Page 5

"MUSCLING-IN" RACKET

— m m New Gangster Activity Disclosed at Hollywood EXTORTION FROM EXTRAS (Eeceived 26, 8.45 a.m.) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 22. The existence of a racketeer group to which the cinema industry's 12,000 extras are compelled to pay tribute is indicatod by investigations of Uic police in con,nection with gangster activities. The District Atfcorney, Mr Buron Fittes, ordered the detention of an assistant-casting director employed at a major studio who allegedly used hL position to coerce extras to contribute to the racketeers a perce'ntage of their daily wage. The police believe hundreds of extras, . owing to tb v fear 'of loss of work, physical injury or da'mage to clothes which are essential equipment, joined "clubs" organised for the purpose of collecting tribute. Recent messages from Hollywood reveal that an epidemic of violent crimes has roused the, fear that Los Angeles is becoming a gangstex: stronghold. It is believed Mr. Thomas E. Dewey's vigorous campaign as Bpecial prosecutor at New York has eause a wholesale influx of desperadoes from New York. The authorities are most alarmed and are planning to establish a special rackets bureau similar to Mr. Dewrey's. Emissaries of the district attorney were sent to New York to recruit detectives experienced in gangster methods. Recent crimes have caused great fear among cinema people. Officials clairu to have uncovered a plot to bomb the homes of certain Jewish film notables. The wildest rumdurs are being circulated coneerning unrevealed cases of blackmail and extortion. It was even reported that several film etudios enlisted the aid of the uuderworld to pro? vide strike-breakers recently, after which tlie im-ported gunmen decided to r4xnain, owing to the lush pickings in the studios.