Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-01
Inebriate Asylum Wanted.

Mai Sylvester renewed his recon-
mendation for the establishment of an
inebriate asylum, realizing that the de-
partment should have a place for the
detention and treatment of intoxicated
persons instead of having to put them
in police cells A number of questionable
resorts were closed during the year. max
ing total OF ffty-nine such places smut
up during the past three years Special
agents of the immigration bureau in
veStigated and reported the city Tree
from white slave traffic.
Although there was a decrease in the
number of homicides and other of the
more serious crimes during the year, the
police found plenty OF work to do. The
question of putting stop to the viola
tons of the gambling law gave the police
some concern. Early in the year they
continued the crusade against the max
ing of handbooks on the races a num-
Der of arrests We're made during the cru
Sade, woman being defendant in one
Of them. The determined efforts made
by the police and the severe sentences
imposed by the Police Court judges made
things rather uncomfortable for those
engaged in the business
An exciting gambling raid was made in
Chinatown by the police and post office
inspectors, much para phernalia being
taken and number of Cinnamon being
arrested. 1t is charged that the China
men conducted lottery. great many
alleged lottery tickets were recovered
from a house in this city and turned
over to the Baltimore police to be used
as evidence in cases in the courts there.
Arrests were made in several cases in
which poker players were Interested ana
one in which two men made a bet. Col
lateral was forfeited in most Of them.
Crapshooters Caught.
Many crap games were raided by the
he Off a
matter of local interest, which came up
In Hagerstown. was case against mem
bers of the Hagerstown Fair Association
for permitting gaming. and the court
held that the selling of certain privi-
leges was done in violation of the gam
bling law. In New York the courts held
oral betting on races was legal. In the
matter of putting stop to gambling,
the police are taking an interest in
bill introduced in Congress to prevent
betting by telegraph.
During the year many persons were
reported missing, and the police spent
much time looking for them. Some
elsewhere and still others were found to
have committed suicide. Several persons
from various parts of the country called
to see the President. were arrested and
adjudged insane, and committed to the
Government Hospital for the Insane.
An effort was made by the police to
detect fraud in spiritualistic seances. One
member of the police department, Seth
w. Van Dever, was arrested for bur-
glary. He furnished bond and failed to
apear for trial. Policeman Lester shot
and killed Philip Parker, q troublesome
prisoner, and was exonerated.
Several instances of ladies being robbed
on the streets and roads claimed the at
tention of the police during the year.
In the majority of such cases the thefts
resulted from the unnecessary display Of
pocketbooks or handbags Offering an
opportunity which the dishonest ones
could not resist.
Reporting upon the fatal accident on
the Georgetown Field. when Archer
Christian, member Of the University of
Virginia foot ball team. was killed, Maj.
Sylvester decided unfavorably upon the
conduct Of two members Of the force be-
cause of their actions during the time
efforts were being made to care for the
injured man.