Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-13
UNION LABOR MEETS LAW AGAINST CRAPS
MaryandDstrct of Columbia Need of More Stringent Regu
Federation in Session. ation Is Urged
SAM De NEDREY IN CHAIR JUDGE NULL OWNYs VIEWS
Gomp Declares for Franchise for Difficulty the Way Of Conviction
Washington Under Charges
WAY BARRED BY CONGRESS MAY APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Sessions Be-
! gin Tomorrow
JUDGE MULLOWNY'S VIEWS
Difficulty in the Way Of Conviction
Under Charges.
MAY APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Matter Referred to District Com
missioners With Request for Ac-
tion-Sylvester's Comment.

A broader gambling law, which will
enable the police and the Police Court to
break up crap shooting in the streets and
alleys and vacant lots of the District, is
recommended by Judge Mullowny of the
Police Court. Superintendent of Police
Sylvester has placed the matter before
the District Commissioners. and 1t is
likely that a recommendation will be
made to Congress at the coming session
for the enactment of the required law.
Under the present anti-gambling law, it
is declared, it is difficult to bring to JUS
tice crap shooters who play their games
in the open streets, alleys and vacant
lots A number of men who have been
guilty OF this form of gambling have es-
capped punishment. There are two sec
tions of the anti-gambling act, one which
hits at permitting gambling on premises
and in houses. and the other prohibits
setting up a gaming table.
Police Court Jurisdiction.
Under the first section the Police Court
has jurisdiction to try cases. for the
penalty is not more than a years i'm
prisonment. And under this first section
the Police Court is able to handle all the
minor gambling cases which come to 1t
when the gamblers have been taken in
the house or on the premises of the party
against whom the charge is made.
But setting up a gaming table" is
penitentfary offense. and the Police Court
can merely hold the prisoners for the
grand jury and the case must be tried
before the Supreme Court of the District
1t is obvious that crap shooting in the
street cannot be tried under the section Of
the law which says that gambling in
.l,alI h.
mitted. Therefore, under the anti-gam-
bling act as it stands at present 1t Is
only possible to charge these crap shoot
ers with setting up gambling table. Not
only is it technically difficult to estab-
lish the fact that any one of four crap
shooters Is guilty Of setting up a gam
bling table, but IL the cases are held for
the grand jury the very pettiness of the
cases may cause the grand jury to hold
them over. In the meanwhile, ii Is claim
ed the Jail would soon be overcrowded
with prisoners held In these cases.
Technical Charge Preferred.
1t has been the custom of the Police
Court. therefore. to charge men caught
shooting craps in the streets with ''ob-
structing the sidewalk" Judge Null
lowry pointed out today that this is
merely a means to punish the men for
shooting craps. and that il is very hard
to establish the fact that, two men
shooting craps were actually obstruct-
ing the sidewalk 1t is likewise re-
garded as impossible to bring such
charge against men who are caught
shooting craps in vacant lots. Some
times. however. IL is possible to charge
the crap shooters on vacant lots with
disorderly conduct, provided the police
men hear them swearing and making
disturbance.
OF course, IL fragrant cases of gambling
In the streets or vacant spaces are
found the charge of setting up a gambling
table is made Immediately against such
offenders and they are held for the grand
jury. But il is to handle the petty cases
that Judge Mullowny has recommended
the change.
Capt. Byrnes Makes Report.
Capt Michael Byrnes of the sixth pre-
cinct recently talked the matter over
with Judge Mullowny. He later wrote
to Maj. Sylvester:
Il have the honor to invite your at
tention to the marked increase In gam
bling in open spaces in this precinct.
Several persons who were caught in the
act recently with money, cards or dice
in plain view were dismissed in the Police
Court.
Il called on Judge Mullowny at the
Police Court few days ago ana TAXED
fully realized the necessity for a broader.
law against TINS street gambling. l also
invited his attention TO the indecent ex
posture law He said that a similar act
TO prohibit games of chance in any open
space in the District of Columbia where
the same could be seen from any public
space or highway would be desirable.
Maj. Sylvester's Comment.
Maj Sylvester turned the matter over
to Commissioner Rudolph with this COM
ment:
IF there is no law which will apply in
this case a bill should be prepared at
once for early presentation to Congress
at the coming session