The Washington times., 1912-09-10
GAMBLING ALLEGED
AT BENN|NG TRACK,
WARRANTS ISSUED
Six Men Charged With
Operating Open Games
on Labor Day.

Warrants are out for the arrest of six
alleged gamblers who are accused of
running open games at the Labor Day
celebration at the Benning race track
While the warrants were issued last
Wednesday, none of the six has been
arrested. The accused are Michael Hill,
Harry Davis, Cotton" Nelson, william
Mann, and Isadore Ruderman, of WASH
ington, and Boots" Given, of Balti-
more.
The warrants were sworn out By Gen.
trail Office Detectives Mullen and War
rem at the instance of Major. Sylvester.
The detectives assert that five of the
men were operating wheels of fortune"
on which money was openly changing
hands, while Hill was running a simi-
lar game. except he had monkey that
picked number out of a box. All of
the games paid ten to one to the win.
ner, 1t Is said.
The issuance of the warrants on in
formation sworn to by Central Office
men came as something of a surprise,
as In almost every gambling case the
work is handled exclusively by the pre-
cinct men. Even in handbook cases the
Central Office men seldom lend assist
ance.
Denies Daley Derelict.
Major Sylvester, superintendent Of po-
lice, denied this morning that Capt
John Daley, commanding the Ninth
precinct had been derelict in not ar
resting the alleged gamblers while the
games were running. He also denied
that the detectives, in getting the war;
rants, had virtually gone over the
heads of Captain Daley and Inspector
Frank r. Cross, who was at the track
for a time.
II do not deem this matter worthy Of
hnfn tN.fh ffrx,t G<I
jor. The detectives were working un-
der my instructions, and they got the
warrants on my orders"
The detectives decline to discuss the
should be given out by their superior
officers. 1t Is a fact, however, that the
two central office men did not make
arrests at the track because they be-
lieved precedence put the situation up
to the precinct, and that it was not in
their jurisdiction to act.
When they learned that no arrests
had been made, they, put the situation
up to Inspector Boardman, chief of de-
tectives, who in turn reported 1t to
Major Sylvester. The detectives then
consulted with the District Attorneys
Office. and a day later the warrants
were issued.
Did Not See Gambling.
Captain Daley, who was at the track
all of Labor Day, said to Times re-
porter that he did not see any gam
bling going on. He said he gave special
instructions to the sergeants and pri-
Yates detailed at the track to keep a
close watch. for gambling and arrest
any one violating the law.
On the other hand. the detectives say
the games were running wide open,
that there was a large crowd around
each one, and that the money was in
plain sight on the tables. No questions
were asked Of any one who wanted to
play, they asserted.
Captain Daley went on to explain
that he did see several games of
chance, but that prizes such as candy.
toy dogs, etc, were being given to
the winners. He said 1t had been Gus
tomary to allow games of that charac-
ter to be played at Benning on Labor
Day These are the kind of games
that are usually run at church and
fraternal fairs, and while there Is said
to be a probable technical violation
of the gaming laws, no action is ever
taken by the police
Captain Daley also said that II the
detectives had seen any violation of
law they should have made arrests at
the track.