Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
Establishment on BIadens-
burg Road Is Doomed.
SHERIFF EXPECTED TO ACT
States Attorney Of Prince Georges
County Takes Initiative.
BUSINESS SAID TO BE BRISK
Identification Necessary for Admit
lance and Patrons Must Write
Own Betting Cards.

That steps would promptly be taken to
close a poolroom which is reported to be
operating on the Bladensburg road, in
Prince Georges county. Nd, was declared
by Clarence NJ. Roberts, states attorney
for the county, last night.
If the poolroom is really in existence"
he said, lit will certainly have to close"
Il first learned of it," he added,
through the columns Of The Evening
Star, and later a resident of Brentwood
called my attention to it,
will You take the initiative in an effort
to wind up the poolroom?" the states at
torney was asked
Il shall certainly report the affair to
Sheriff Suit" was his response.
"When?'
piled.
The Maryland law against gambling
provides that:
1T shall not be lawful for any person
or persons, or association of persons, or
for any corporation within the state of
Maryland, to bet, wage or gamble in any
manner or by any means Or to make or
sell a book or pool on the result Of any
horses or other beasts.
Heavy Penalty Provided.
A maximum penalty of $1,000 fine and
one year Imprisonment is provided. An
exception is made by the law in the case
Of county fairs.
The states attorney said court will be
in session Tuesday morning at the county
seat. and he will then report to the
sheriff the information which has come
to him.
'It would be useless for me to go to
the poolroom,' he added. "for certainly I
would not be admitted If the law is being
violated. If the law is being violated the
place will have to close. I have not had
poolroom prosecution since my election
to office. and the prosecution OF such a
case will be something new to me-
Asked If he thought such an establish
ment could be run in the county without
violating the law. States Attorney Rob-
erts said he was certain it could not. He
had read of a claim that the business is
being conducted without violating the law,
he said, but he is certain it cannot be
done.
1T is up to the sheriff to make the in
vestigation." the states attorney stated.
Sheriff Suit. it is believed, has not yet
learned of what has been going on in
the upper end Of the county in which he
is the leading police official. His home
is q number of miles from the poolroom,
and he may not learn of it until he at
constables within radius of three miles
of the poolroom. however, and they may
take action tomorrow.
Patrons Increase Rapidly.
So quietly was the poolroom opened
and so little attention did it attract in
the neighborhood that few persons in
that part Of the county" really knew of
it's existence until they read the exclu-
sive story printed in The Star Friday.
Each succeeding day since the pool
room was opened, it Is stated. the num-
Der of patrons increased until consider
ably more than hundred were on hand
to do "piking," but not many heavy
Receipts Of the Washington, Spa Spring
and Gretta railway are said to have
shown SO great an increase that better
ment of the car service is promised, but
the closing of the alleged gambling place
may result in the continuance of the one
car service.
Persons who claim to have patronized
the poolroom say the county officers may
experience some difficulty in making a
case because the player does not see who
takes his bets. It may be that detectives
will be required to gain the information
necessary to make case in court.
The law, however, is SO framed that
the owner Of the premises may be pros
to be used for gambling purposes, but
such q prosecution. it is said. could only
follow a conviction Of the occupants OF
The property.
No Other Games Permitted.
Persons who claim to have visited the
poolroom and witnessed the method OF
laying "bets on the ponies" say no other
gambling games are permitted on the
premises. Usually poolrooms attract an
undesirable class of persons. especially
hangers-on, who play craps and partici-
pate in other games of chance.
The man on duty at the door is an i'm
portant person. He demands that all who
want to enter shall establish their ident-
ity, but only the identity that suits can
gain admission.
Persons suspected Of wanting to learn
what is going on in the poolroom are
not admitted. Never before, sports say.
has betting on the races been conducted
as secretively as in the establishment
on the Bladensburg road. and never be-
fore have patrons of such establish
ments been required to do their own
card writing. They have to do it there.
1t Is claimed, If they want to lay bet
with the. management. and when the
Sl1pS arc passed through an opening
they do not see the individual who takes
them.
States Attorney Roberts thinks the
poolroom will not last long.
"How can it," he asks. eff the law
is being violated the sheriff Is sure to
make arrests and see that the promoters
are taken into court. and 1 cannot imagine
any defense which will convince the court
that bets may be accepted without vio-
lating the law"
Other Poolrooms Failed.
During recent years many efforts have
been made to conduct poolrooms in this
For a while 1t was done openly
in this city, and later such rooms were
opened in Prince Georges county. Md.
One was at Kenilworth and the other at
Wildwood, and in each instance raids
conducted by the sheriff put the places
out of business.
Residents Of Kenilworth were wrought
up over the opening Of a poolroom there.
Meetings of the citizens were held. the
authorities appealed to. and, after some
little delay the place was closed. A sec