The Washington herald., 1922-07-31
Five Big Houses Draw
Wealthy Residents
Of District.
RUNNERS, ACTIVE
EVEN IN CAPITOL
Three Establishments in
Maryland and Two
In Virginia.

Five gambling dens are running iuii
blast within fifteen minutes ride oy
automobile from the United STATES
Capitol. Thousands of dollars are
won and lost nightly at these places
The gambling houses. three In
Maryland and two in Virginia. draw
practically their entire clientele from
Washington Among the players at
two of the larger dens are prominent
business and professional men OF TINS
city. Every night from ten to tnirty
automobiles. privately owned. are
parked in the yards of the gamonng
houses. The license numbers Indicate
that the visitors are not all OF the
professional or tin horn" gambler
class
Dice, stud-poker and roulette are
PLAYED at night In the afternoon
one of the largest clubs" makes
book on the races and maintains
complete racing chart.
Runners In Capital.
Runners for the gambling houses
are located at strategic points in
downtown Washington. at the Capitol
and House and Senate Office build
ings. Runners also are scattered
through the government depart
ments.
An automobile service is main
tanned by the larger gambling
houses, machines being provided for
taking prospective players out and
bringing them back. The machines
run at stated intervals and have
regular stops to pick up customers.
At each point a starter" is kept to
take care of players and check up
on the drivers schedules.
The scale upon which the gam
bling is conducted is indicated by the
fact that one club has no limit. an
other places the limit at $500, while
the others range from $50 down.
ward.
Masquerade n "Clubs,'
Most of the dens are run as
CLUBS" There is no membership
Zee, cards being given to weis-
vouched-for persons The larger
maintain a house service comparable
to that at respectable country clubs.
All the clubs are well-guarded.
Men armed with revolvers are sta
toned in the yards and others at
the doorways of the buildings. In
the gaming rooms. house men. con-
stantly saunter about. guns strapped
under each armpit or dangling from
holsters at their hips.
The clubs are operated by men
from other cities. One is operated
by a Marylander, one by St Louis
men and the others by gamblers
whose home is where the police will
let the mstay longest
Probably the most pretentious of
the dens is on Suitland road. just
beyond Cedar Hill Cemetery in
Prince Georges County.
Millions Pass Over Tables.
More than a million dollars, 1t
has been estimated. has passed over
the big green-topped gaming tables
within this club since 1t was
started. Men have been known to
win and lose thousands of dollars
there in a night.
Those who lose, however, never
whine. Not that they are afraid to,
but because they feel that they
have been given a good run" for
their money. They will tell you
that the men who run the club are
the finest collection of gamblers
they have ever encountered
They frankly admit that the
house always comes out on top;
that the proprietors are 'sure
thing" gamblers. The club resem-
bles a business mans country home.
That 1t is not exactly a country
home. however. must be evident by
this time To those who live nearby
and to the authorities.
Must Have Cards.
Members of the club are allowed
TO bring their friends. The latter,
when properly vouched for, may
also become members. They are
admitted to membership simply by
being given a card.
Three separate doors must be
passed through before the gaming
rooms are reached. Before a per-
son is allowed to go through any
one of them he is carefully scru-
tinized. More armed men stroll
lbout the gaming tables.
Dice games predominate at the
:lub. The cubes are rolled on tables
zig enough to permit several per-
sons to gather around. Money is
handled exclusively by men en-
oloyed by the club for that pur-
pose. The club" has a $500 limit
% the bets that may be made Many
big killings" have been made by
fortunate visitors.
Employees Are "Experts.,,
The employees of the club are all
Experts in their line. At least two
VI the men who handle money at the
ables pay on without stopping to
.ount the money, All money paid
but by the house Is in silver. The