Evening star., 1922-01-29
Commissioner Oyster Would
Enforce District Code
Against Gambling Devices.
1856 "BOoKIES" ARRESTED
SINCE APRIL 20, 1920
Police Hampered by Failure to Get
Convictions-Will Press
Law to Limit.


doors of the District court officials
last night by Commissioner Oyster,
who has immediate supervision over
the police department.; Inspector Sui
livan, acting superintendent of police,
and Inspector Grant, chief of de-
tectives.
These officials asserted the traffic in
race horse betting could be stopped
it the federal prosecutor would pro-
ceed against such offenders under
section S65 of the District code. This
section provides a fiNe-year penalty
for setting up a gaming table or
gambling device adapted, devised and
designed for the purpose Of playing
any game of chance or for inducing,
enticing or permitting any person to
play at or upon such gaming or
gambling device.
Freed ON Two Counts.
Two bookmakers were put on trial
in Criminal Court before Justice
Siddons in February, 1919, it being
charged that their alleged gaming
device or contrivance was called
bookmaking. Counsel for the two de-
PENDANTS filed various motions in an
effort to clear their clients, and the
jury freed them on two counts, but
could not agree on the third count.
Trial of that case, it is declared,
brought from the presiding justice a
r,rlf fo oh
not immune from trial under the Sec
tion providing the five-year penalty
Should persons awaiting trial. and
those arrested in the future be
charged under this particular Sec
ton. it is stated, there need be no
delay because of legal points raised
in a recent application for a writ
Of prohibition to prevent a hand
book trial in Police Court.
Supreme Court DecisiOn Awaited.
In the case at issue counsel raised
the objection to a Police Court trial
on constitutional grounds. 1t was
contended that the penalty provided
under the handbook section Of the
code-ninety days Imprisonment
may carry with it provision for
hard labor, making the offense an
infamous one. The Question already
having been taken to the Supreme
Hitz, 1t is stated. suggested it would
be we'll to wait for that decision be-
fore putting on trial any other cases
under the section which specifically
refers to hapdbooks. .-
Commissioner Oyster told Star re-
porter the police had been active in
efforts to suppress both the hand
book business and traffic in liquor
and thought they were entitled to
credit for their work. He realized
that failure to get speedy trials OF
tts cases proved discouraging to
those who worked SO hard to make
them.
1SR .Bookies" Arrested.
Yesterday afternoon Commissioner
OYSTER received from Inspector Sulli-
van figures showing the result of po-
lice activity against the "bookies"
since April 20. 1920. which, he said.
makes a creditable showing.
1.-The police have been. and still are,
active" Commissioner oyster de-
clared, land with the appointment of
new captains they will be more active
in the future. All the captains have
been told what is to be expected of
them"
Inspector Sullivan's report covers |.
period from April 20. 1920. to Decem-
Der 81, 1921. The arrests from April
20, 1920, to August 10, 1921, totaling
ninety, while from August l. 1921. to
December 81, 1921, the arrests totaled
sixty-six, making a total of 156 for
the period embraced in the report
During the five months Of last year,
when the arrested numbered sixty
six, Detectives Messers. Sweeney and
Fowler, representing Commissioner
Oysters so-called flying squadron"
were at work. Most of the period
was spent in handbook and Volstead
law violation investigations.
See Results in Star Exposure.
Commissioner Oyster and Inspec-
tors Sullivan and Grant feel reason
ably certain that something will be
accomplished by The Stars publicity
campaign that was started Thursday
last. They feel that more speedy
trials will be given and that court
officials will do everything in their
power to assist in stamping out this
form Of gambling that has brought
misery and suffering to many wives
and mothers.
Nothing short of prison sentences
will cure the evil, the officials asserted
last night.
Soon after Commissioner Oyster as
sumed the duties of his office. he was
besieged, by mothers and wives to
break up the handbook gambling, and
so distressing were their appeals, he
told a Star reporter, that he made up
his mind to help them.
THE wealth behind the gamblers
did not interest me-" Commissioner
Oyster told a Star reporter. 1T was
not a question of what would become
of them, but one of what would be
done to protect these poor people who
were suffering.
'I'm the poor mans friend" he
added.
Appeals Bring Action.
It was because of these distressing
appeals that he summoned the three
detectives and formed them into a
flying squadron" to conduct investi-
cations and make arrests. The de-
tectives were given to understand
that action was wanted, and Commits
sioner Oyster was pleased with re-
suits.