Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10
CHESAPEAKE JUNCTION
THREE RESORTS WERE IN FULL
BLAST YESTERDAY.
Maj. Sylvester Had Officers at the Plat
form, but Offenses Were Com
mitted in Maryland.

Three resorts at Chesapeake Junction
were in full blast yesterday. but so far as
is known there was no county officer about
there who made a raid. 1t is not an unu-
sual thing for these resorts to do business
on Sunday, nor is 1t an unusual thing for
the county officers to fail to make arrests.
Attention has been called to the lawbreak-
ing at this place q number Of times but the
Sunday business goes on just the same. At
one resort the proprietors have not been
doing a Sunday business and their doors
were closed yesterday as usual. At the
three places referred to the proprietors not
only did big business in the liquor line,
but gambling was a side attraction. Crap,
sweat and the so-called "pinch-wheef'
game were in operation. and the patrons
were numerous. At one place the conditions
were particularly disgusting because of the
conduct of certain women congregated
there All day long these places were visit
ed by hundreds of people and many persons
under the influence of liquor were seen COM
Ing from them.
There was one case which attracted con-
siderable attention. The man had been
visiting some of the places where liquor
was sold. His last cent was gone and he
was willing to dispose of his coat, vest and
other articles of wearing apparel for the
price Of drink. Not only was he willing
to part with his clothing but he profferei
to give up the last car ticket he had and
walk home If he could only get drink
Crowds Increased After Dark.
This condition Of affairs continued
throughout the day, and the crowds In
creased after dark when the lights were
turned on. At one place there was piano
music, and those who were not too much
under the influence of liquor made an effort
at dancing. Lieut. Daley had placed sew
eral policemen on the railroad platform.
but their authority extended only to the
District line, which cuts Off most OF the
platform from the District.
Under their authority they were power
less to begin prosecutions or make ar
rests. as the Offenses were being commit
ted in Maryland, where the county sheriff,
his deputies and the several constables are
authorized to make arrests. There was
little or nothing done to conceal the fact
that the law was being violated, and the
matter of a raid by the Prince Georges
county authorities, it is stated, would have
been easy.
In addition to the games mentioned there
were slot machines to be played. and the
court at Upper Marlboro has already held
that this constitutes a violation of the
gambling law. These machines are In
operation in some of the saloons on all oc-
casions, but prosecutions for them have
not been Instituted since the crusade
against some of the resorts there two
years ago. .
The election time is drawing near and it
offend the keepers of the places where the
law is violated, as a few votes might be lost
thereby.
While the Maryland places are flourish
ing 1t is reported that there was lull In
similar business across the river at some OF
the resorts yesterday. Warrants have been
procured for the proprietors Of some of the
places, 1t was reported, and yesterday their
doors were closed to the general public.
This, it is stated, Is probably the result OF
the inability of the different proprietors OF
gambling places to work tremendously.
Law and Order Society.
1t is said that all the places on the vir-
ginia side of the river were not closed, and
that Washingtonians who wanted to gamble
were accommodated. 1t is said that the
members of law and order society in this
city are interested in the general matter of
gambling in and about Washington. Gam
Bling decisions rendered by the courts both
here and in the neighboring states are be-
ing compiled, and it is intimated that some
action will be taken in the near future. In
doing this the question of betting on the
races is also to be considered. and it is
limited that the attention of the local au-
thorities is to be called to bookmaking at
Benning soon as the flyers start here in
the fall
There is no question of the attitude Of the
local police toward gambling resorts. but
Maj Sylvester has no control over officers
in neighboring Jurisdictions.