Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-26
Detectives Make Denials.

The announcement in yesterdays Star
OF the intention on the part Of Commits
sioner West to make a shift of detectives
brought forth den:als from many of the
members of the detective corps.
Commissioner West was out of the city
today, and no action in the proposed trans
fer was taken. The Commissioner is at the
Blue Ridge club. near Harpers Ferry. and
will probably not return until Monday. 1t
stated today that probably not more
than five members of the detective corps
are To be transferred to precincts.
1t is certain that a number of the hand
book men have been driven out of business.
the few who are still willing to accept bets
taking only a few of them from persons in
whom they have implicit confidence. Many
of those who were known To have made
books on the races are to be seen i0ltering
about saloons cigar stores, where they
formerly did business finding it a difficult
matter to keep away from their old haunts
and seek respectable employment.
THE handbook men are -Certainly fright
ened remarked one of their patrons to
Star reporter this morning Several of us
made pool of 81 900 to play this week. and
we had trouble finding one man who was
willing to take 500 of the amount. We
called at several of the well-knOwn head
quarters of the handbook men. but the same
responses came from each of them Final
ly found man who accepted 800. but
II was hard work to induce him to take
the money.
Ola q Big BUSINESS.
A list of the players would include the
names of many government employees. bust
ness men and others. it is stated. and the
prosecuting officials may determine that
these people shall not be brought into court.
Reliable Information is in the hands of the
authorities to show that thousands of dol
lars a day were played in this city. one
statement having it that much as from
Sl.On to $1,000 came from one of the big
departments each day.
Harmful to Wage Farmers.
1.-The Star is TO be congratulated upon the
stand it has taken in the matter OF the
handbook pest" said Sam DeNedrey. sec
rrtarv of the Central Labor Union. today.
Il know from my own observations that
many of the wage-earning class have been
liberal patrons of the handbook to the
detriment of the baker and butcher and the
families of the worker 1t is the meanest
form of gambling. and | am heartily glad
that The Star has stirred the officials up
TO point where they will do their whole
duty-not much to send people to Jail
for past offenses. but to detect and punish
future offenses."
Charge of Promoting Policy.
On charge of promoting policy in the Dis
trict William Barnes. an aged colored
man. was today held by Judge Mills in the
Police Court to await the action of the
grand jury. and in default of 500 bonds
Barnes committed to Jail
That Barnes was taking money for policy
from residents of Mount Pleasant became
known TO Detective Greene of the tenth
precinct few days ago and he has had
Barnes under close scrutiny since that time.
The officer sent some friends yesterday to
place marked money with Barnes. and after
they returned Detectives Greene and Wat
son and Sergt. Bean of the seventh pre-
CinCt kept the lookout. and as Barnes
was about to cross the AqueduCt bridge
into Virginia they apprehended him. When
Barnes was searched. it is declared by the
police they found policy slips between his
fingers and pinned inside his trousers.
When the case was called today witnesses
told Of placing the money with Barnes,
and Detective Greene testified to having
found marked money and slips on the
prisoner.