Evening star., 1907-08-03
| GRAND JURY WATTS
| FOR EVIDENCE IN
HANDBOOK CASES
Will Meet Monday and Hear
Number of Witnesses.
DETECTIVES HARD AT WORK
Publicity Campaign Makes Task Most
Difficult.
GAMBLERS STILL IN HIDING
Absence of Commissioner West and
Maj. Sylvester Causes Delay in
Expected Shift of Detectives.
Publicity Campaign Makes Task Most
Difficult.
HANDLERS STILL IN HIDING

The result of the campaign OF pub
licity against the handbookS and the
activity of the district attorneys Of
flee is becoming more apparent ev-
cry day. The detectives assigned to
duty under the direction of District
Attorney Baker are finding it hard
work TO secure evidence against
men who, in their opinion, have
lcen making books on the races, but
who have gone under cover or quit
the game entirely since the keynote
OF the campaign-"The Handbooks
Must Convent forth. Men who
lor years have been steady patrons
| oil the bookmakers or their runners
find no takers for their money, and
there is a noticeable falling off in
the crowds which frequented certain
saloons i'll the afternoons and eager
ly awaited the posting Of bulletins
announcing the winners OF races on
tracks in other cities. Subpoena
servers are still busy. and when the
grand Jury meets Monday the corri-
dors of the courthouse will echo 70
the footsteps of witnesses who will
be called to tell what they know
about the handbook business
When the grand jury meets Monday it
is expected the result Of The strenuous work
| of the process servers who have been diK-
J tributing Invitations to visit the distries
attorney for the purpose of furnishing that
| official with Information about handbook
| making in the District will be evidenced by
| the presence at the city hall of NUM-
| Der of witnesses who have made plays on
! the races.
| The private hearings before the district
| attorney and his assistants. which occu-
pied the last Two three days is expected
| to bear fruit in the shape OF some tangible
information to be presented to the grand
Jury. From the large number of persona
questioned by these officials, several VIII
be selected to appear before the grand
jurors and inform them of the names OF
several handbook makers who are known
| to have piled their business openly before
The Stars crusade began. -
Charges Will Be Serious.
Whenever these witnesses can furnish tie
grand jurors with evidence to show that
handbook man had a specified place ct
| which bets could be left for him. or where
he would in person receive them, an indtet-
ment charging tie penitentary offense OF
setting up a gaming table will be returned.
When the testimony secured by the 'dis
trct attorney does not establish this neces-
sary fact on which to base an indictment,
Mr. Baker will cause his assistant at the
Police Court 20 file an information charg
ing a violation of section $50 OF the code
which forbids handbook making and pro-
| vdes maximum penalty of $500 fine AND
| three months jail imprisonment.
The detectives detailed to assist tnieI
States Attorney Baker in his investigation
of the betting evil in Washington are work-
ing strenuously and reporting daily Ia NJ.
Baker Acting under Instructions they de-
cline TO talk OF their operations and refer
all inquiries to Assistant United States A.
torney Harvey Given.
Detective Shift Held Up.
The question of changes in the personnel
of the local detective force is still in ahey-
ance. Commissioner West is at Jam .stoWa
and will not return until Monday, and
Maj. Sylvester. chief of police, is spending
the week end at Harpers Ferry. Before
leaving the city these officials were in con-
ference for several hours during which
cided upon definite course to follow IN
! connection with the detective force ana
their endavor TO defeat handbook gam
bling in Washington.> 1t is also stated that
they will make known their decisions Mon
day morning
Before leaving the city Commissioners
West had carefully gone over the reports
made by Maj. Sylvester in the case OF every
| member of the detective force in relation
to his alleged friendliness 10 handbook
men, and he officially Informed the chief OF
police that with but one exception the re-
ports We're satisfactory and the sworn dc
malls of the. detectives would be accepted
by him unless between then ana Monday
some specific charge is made against any
of the detectives.
Pleases MI West.
Commissioner West experienced much
pleasure at the reports of the detectives.
and said he was particularly Pleased that
the members of the force say they are nor
patrons of handbooks and are men OF ss1h
exemplary habits. lie said he was glad
that the men had such a good opportunity
to clear themselves of the various ugly
rumors that have been passing about dur
ing this recent handbook crusade.
In spite of Mr.. Vests strong belief IN
the innocence OF the detectives and NE
confidence he places in their denials, lie
says few men will be transferred To pre-
cincts Although he declined To give his
reason for contemplating this action, no
made II evident that a report he Is OK
pecting from District Attorney Baker upon
the alleged hesitancy on the part of Pultc'
Court officials in sending warrants for
handbook men to police headquarters may
nave something to do with 1t.