Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-15
POLICEMEN At POKER
Caught Enjoying a Quiet
Little & Game.
WAS ONLY PENNY ANTE
INTRODUCED "J6sr 70 MAKE IT
1NrEREsT1Ntne."
Major Sylvester Has Recommended the
Dismissal Of Offenders From
the Force.
VAS ONLY PENNY ANTE

A breezy item OF ponce news over in the
usually staid precincts Of Georgetown has
been the cause Of a good deal of gossip of
late and has finally got before the District
Commissioners, where 1t awaits action. Two
policemen of the Georgetown precinct,
known as No. z, were recently discovered
as the participants in "Sociable'' game of
poker, with penny ante Just to make it
interesting" The game came off in Baer S
Hall, 31st and NJ streets, the morning of
July g. and lust to make it interesting"
Sergeant Conlon Of the police department
happened on the scene between and 4
am
The officers who inclined to the festive
game were Privates T. H. Walsh and G. Il.
Burlingame Major Richard Sylvester, the
superintendent of police, has recommended
their dismissal from the force. but at the
same time commends them to the mercy Of
the Commissioners on account of their past
good records
A number Of prominent citizens Of George
town have called upon the Commissioners
to intercede In behalf of the poker police
men, and the matter has been taken under
advisement. Commissioner Ross, who has
supervision Of the police department., is Ill
and no action will be taken on the cases
until he is able to give them his personal
attention.
0CISCoAt SOAAAoA 4SCPOAt.
Sergeant Conlon reported his discovery Of
the quiet little game to Lieut. John A. Swim
dells, the commanding officer of the George
town precinct, the same day it was made
He said:
About 40 this morning / saw a light in
the front room on the third floor of Baer's
Hail. 1 asked Private D. Connor, who was
on duty and standing opposite the hail. the
cause of the light burning there at that
time, it was unusual. He said ne was
waiting for me to see about it.
In company with Private Conner I went
to investigate and on the third floor, front
room, L found Privates Burlingame and
Walsh, who were off duty. and two citizens
sitting around table. Private Walsh had
a deck of cards in his hands and in front of
both Burlingame and Walsh some
money. l asked them what was this, when
Burlingame made answer and said it was
friendly game, with no draw down. ! did
not see any dealing of the cards nor any
thing more than ! have stated
When the two policemen were summoned
to headquarters and examined they admit
ted they were playing poker at a penny
ante rate They declared they were invited
In by the man who lived in the building,
and did not think they were doing any
wrong. The windows and doors were all
open and unlocked, and there was no Sc
crecy about the matter. no
They declared the iackpots never amount
ed to more than or 10 cents, and the tiny
bit of money in the game"was introduced
just to add a little interesteto four persons
who were anxious to pass through a very
hot night. Il "
Major Sylvester's Recommendation.
Maj. Sylvester, in forwarding the papers
to the Commissioners, had this to say on
the subject of police officers indulging in
poker: .. TN NJ
These two privates were discovered
about the hour of $40 o'clock in the morn
ing in Baer's Hall. in Georgetown, where
they had gone at the invitation of the jan
itor who resides therein. The entrance
door to the hall was open, and the light be-
Ing observed at this unusual hour prompted
the sergeant and the officer to enter where
they discovered the privates charged herein
playing cards Their acknowledgment
thereof is made in their answers to me.
1T goes without saying that If officers CT
the metropolitan police force are permit ed
to play cards for wager, no matter how
large, In place SO public that the police
can walk In upon them. they lose their ef-
fciency as officers when It comes to the en-
forcement of such law against other vio-
lators.
Private Walsh has been on the force
but short time, but his record and char
acter as an officer, aside from this charge
has been exceptionally good Private Bur
Hngame was appointed March 81, 1896, and
MS commanding officer and others give him
a most excellent reputation.
These two officers, no doubt, felt secure
IN the enjoyment of the game of cards in
which they were engaged, as they had been
invited therein by the man who has charge
OF the building, which is used only FOR
lodge and party purposes and when discoy-
ereu rallied to appreciate the enormity CT
their oHense until cited at these headquar-
ters.
Il recommend that they be removed from
the metropolitan police force, but in view
OF their unusually good records otherwise
commend them to the mercy of the Com
miSSiOnerS