Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-04
DATE OF TRIAL Wink AT GAMBLING
Senate to Open Archibald Police System Said to Exist
Hearing December 3. in Washington.
AGREEMENT ENDS FIGHT INQUIRY is BEING MADE
Commissioner Rudolph,
Early Verdict clared, Is Investigating
DEFENSE NOT PREPARED JEALOUS OFFICERS PUNISHED
Members
to Court After
Making
INQUIRY is BEING MADE
Commissioner Rudolph. 1t Is De-
clared, Is Investigating.
JEALOUS OFFICERS PUNISHED
Members of Force Are Reported to
Have Lost Positions After
Making Raids.

Disclosures yesterday afternoon may
prove that in Washington gambling is
practically unrestrained by the police
Commissioner Rudolph IS understood 10
Ne conducting a quiet Investigation. He
would not deny last night that the mat
ter had been brought to his attention.
Il will neither affirm nor deny" was
the way the Commissioner worded his an
swer when interrogated on tho subject.
IF people who want such matters az
the one referred Ia Investigated insist on
telling things to the newspapers before
there Is time for investigation the
Commissioner remarked then IL just
puts those who may be guilty on guard
and no good results are accomplished.
Commissioner Rudolph was informed
that those who are formulating the
charges plan to take the matter to Presi-
dent Taft if they fail TO get from the
District Commissioners the action that
they desire. He replied in the best OF
humor, Let them do it,
The Commissioner was at home Ill dur
ing the conversation. He intlmated that
he was displeased at the fact that the
gambling matter had come 10 light.
Maj. Sylvester. superintendent OF police.
is away from the city.
Working on Complaints.
Agents of the Department of Justice
have been working on comp aints fur
nished them, ii is declared. and stand
in a position to come a ross with
evidence that will show that system"
| exists here i'm which one more menu
bers of the police department are fac
tors. Who is getting the graft, IL any.
i'm return for inactivity on the part Of
the police. is said to be one of the prob
lens for solution.
What is said to be especially startling
about the situation is the power shown
on several occasions by the alleged "sys-
tem." members of the force. il is declar-
ed. having been removed from their
positions after having participated in
gambling raids which have not been
sanctioned by those higher up"
Some policemen who have been partic-
ularly persistent i'm their efforts TO stop
gambling In certain sections of the city
where there is Influence" IL is claimed.
have been called down" in a quiet way.
At least one policeman. IL is claimed. has
been removed from the force during the
last year because too much zeal was
shown by l.im in going after gamblers"
Those who are behind the charges say
called system 1t Is simply a question
of ''off with his head If he stands in
line and does what he is told. ii is alleged.
he is in line for the good jobs. the pro-
motions, and somebody is getting the
graft
Instance of Violation.
Those prominent in bringing the matter
of alleged police laxity to a head declare
that sumptuously fitted up gambling
places are being conducted in violation OF
law. For instance, In one fashionable
apartment house. according TO the story.
men gather and hundreds OF dollars
change hands nightly. This place is
looked upon AS private residence. with
host who is always entertaining, of even
ings a crowd of good fellows" but IL
the blotters used on freshly written
checks each evening could tell tales, other
than show the signatures OF prominent
men, the complainants say. the real char
acter OF the place could be readily proven
to the most incredulous.
The police. ar. said to know of this spe-
cial place, but from the word which has
been passed down the line one could not
get a patrolman on that or any neigh
boring beat To make an inquiry as 10
what might be going on, while men SIT
about tables and in fun view from tha
windows of the opposite side of tho
street. If a copper did decide on sucn
"A course and show himself, ii is de-
clared his job would have some oth"'
man in blue adorninS il very SHORTY
thereafter.
In these places the powers that be whila
away the evenings. as Wei as some
morning hours. and into these sanl
places il is declared. agents OF the De
partment OF Justice have sat about tho
tables and listened To the stories told
amid the shufiiins OF the cards wEi'e
they gathered the evidence To he placed
before the Attorney General for his con-
sideration