Evening star., 1925-06-22
BOOSTERS EXPOSE
EDGAMBL|NG
Finding of Loaded Dice Bares
!. Plan of Gang to MuIct
Business Men.


professional gamblers, habitues and
employees of the famous, or rather in
famous, places across the Maryland
line to mulct gatherings of men by
unfair gambling practices was made
yesterday in the course of the
booster" cruise of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association aboard
the steamer Southland.
The news of the discovery of the
gambling rapidly spread through the
ship, and came like a bombShell out
of an otherwise serene and joyful
atmosphere. 1t was distinct shock
TO those in charge of the cruise, the
guests and scores of others. But it
had the effect of putting complete
damper on the enjoyment, as the
plans for the itinerary were upset
and the entertainment wiped out.
master Mind" Bored.
From the time of the first inkling
Of the practice until its open exposure
and on through the investigation con-
Quoted at sea as the Southland failed
to make her scheduled ports of call,
the ramifications began TO reach out
like the tentaCles of a giant octopus.
They reached and pointed to most un-
suspected places. and disclosed the
system of the working of a master
mind"
The professionals came for trouble,
for after they had been closeted with
queStionerS for d time and hearing the
murmuringS of the men on the out
side, one of them is said TO have asked
an interrogation if the men rushed in
TO start trouble would it be legal for
him to shoot. An immediate search OF
the room itself disclosed a new .3S
caliber automatic pistol, with a full
magazine, carefully concealed within
reach of the men. II was confiSCated.
The trouble started shortly after the
vessel left Norfolk yesterday morning
when loaded" dice were discovered.
From then on the boat was in an
uproar, with officials trying to hold
angry persons in check. 1t broke up
the program for the remainder of the
trip. The ship cruised around in the
bay, went outside the capes, where
the Presidents yacht Mayflower was
anchored. to check her gyroscopic
compass. and copies of The Sunday
Star which had been sent to Old Point
Comfort were transferred TO the presi-
dental yacht in one of that vessels
small boats. Then the vessel headed
for Yorktown. and when entering the
river her orders were changed and she
headed for the bay, when some one
remembered that Gov. Trinkle of Nir-
ginia was scheduled to leave there at
$3.50 o'clock She again was headed
up the York River, and a stop made
at Yorktown only long enough for the
Governor to step ashore. They We're
scheduled to remain there for three
hours to permit the party to go in
bathing. Out to sea again and back
to Old Point Comfort TO dock When
directly off Old Point Comfort the
orders We're changed to put about and
head up the bay, and loaf along the
trip. There was a big entertainment
and meeting scheduled for last night,
at which Commissioner Rudolph and
Representative Zihlman were to speak
Gamblers Are Frisked.
But the crowd was in no mood to
listen to entertainment or anything
else at this time. Their problem was
to get full information from the
quartet of gamblers and recover the
money. 1t was found in places least
thought of by the ordinary investiga-
tors, but expert 'friskers'' found il in
sealed packages of cigarettes, in coat
Innings. about the person, behind beds
in shoes, under sheets. Up to the
gun the gamblers frisking was be-
gun the gamblers had almost held
their ground.
The master mind" of the gangsters
was believed to be aboard He was
discovered trying to make himself
popular, and get in the good graces of
the business men and quite succeeded.
One man told the mind" that he
owed him $50, although the gambler
had not been in a game with him.
The gambler tried to pal him out of
1t by a pat on the back. But the
business man wouldn't be palled See
Ing he could not be pacifled, the
gambler paid.
Two of the men. the believed
master mind and his roommate. had
almost talked suspicion away from
themselves in the afternoon, but some
one had an idea and his room was
rushed. There more loaded dice were
found and carefully concealed behind
the bed was a considerable some of
money. The crowd then was in an
ugly mood. The roommate of the
master mind had no ticket His
presence aboard could not be ex-
planned. For safety he was confined
in the hold
One Confesses.
AS for the three young men. one
of them frankly admitted he was an
employe of a proprietor of a well
known gambling house in MARYLAND
He shipped as a potato peeler at 81
a. day. He didn't intend to perform
lldL uuly When ne came aboard. he
admitted. He was under instructions
to make the voyage and he did That
he didn't work for the dollar was
evident.
The other two suspects said they
heard there was a bunch of good fell
lows came aboard such cruises and
they came to have a good time The
steward identified one of the two
others as one he had also EMPLOYED
Ito watch the ice cream He
watched the cream and got lot of
it. judging from the amount found on
him.
The third of this group was un.
known to any one, although he said
he was employed. He came aboard
the forward part of the vessel Just
before she left.
A considerable sum in cash and
checks was uncovered during the
hours Of investigation yesterday after
noon and last night, and the officers
OF the vessel were kept on constant
watch to prevent any trouble. The
men were taken before the groups and
stripped. 1t was then that most of
the money was found concealed about
their bodies.
Fifth Is Found.
After the first three were caught.
with another under suspicion, the fifth
could not be found. Then every man
on the ship was sent to his room for