Evening star., 1925-06-12
POLICE START WAR
ON BASE BALL POOL
Operators Reap $4,000
Weekly Harvest in Washing
| ton, Authorities Declare.


A vigorous campaign has been
Launched by the police Of the first
precinct and the detective bureau to
round up the promoters of the organ
ized base ball pools that are draining
at least $50, 900 a week from gullible
Washingtonians, 1t was announced to-
day by Acting Chief Of Police Charles
Evans.
Inspector Evans held a conference to-
day with Capt. Ernest w. Brown OF the
first precinct and mapped out plans
for making a concerted drive against
the pool operators. He also sent a
clipping of the story exposing the
pretentious lottery scheme which ap-
peared in The Evening Star yesterday
to Inspector Clifford L. Grant, chief
of detectives, with the recommends
tion that the detective bureau aid in
the movement.
Promoters Elusive.
Attention of the police was called
to the widespread popularity of the
base bail pools several days ago and
an investigation was started then, In
spector Evans pointed out, but suf-
flcient evidence for an arrest was not
collected. 1t is evident that the police
have not been able to locate the head
quarters of the various pool pro-
moters. A Star reporter found one
located on the fourth floor of an
apartment in a downtown building
which houses bank on the first floor.
Another was said to be located in a
small hotel in the business district
Assistant District Attorney Ralph
Given pledged his cooperation with
the Police Department in breaking up
the lottery. About two weeks ago,
Mr.. Given said, he was informed of the
operation of the organized base ball
pools and had a quiet investigation in
itiated by several police officers. Thus
Tar, however, the evidence produced
has not justified the issuing of war
rants. Several agents, 1t was said are
known to these officers, but they have
not been able to trace the promoters.
Violate Four Laws.
Operators of the pools, as well as
their agents, Mr.. Given explained,
may be prosecuted under four differ
ent sections of the District Code. which
provide heavy penalties ranging from
one to five years in the penitentiary
or fines of $500, or both.
All four Of these sections-863, 864,
865 and 866-relate to lotteries, and
We're put on the statute books origi-
naily to combat policy lotteries. Mr.
Given believes they are applicable to
the base ball pools, which he classes
as lotteries
Section S63 provides a penalty for
a person who conducts a lottery of a
hne OF $500, or three years in the
penitentiary, or both Section S64 calls
for fine of $500, or one year in the
penitentiary, or both, while S65 pro-
V1des straight penitentiary sentence
or five years. Section $50 provides a
$500 fine, or a penitentiary sentence
OF one year, or both.
Numerous agents of the pool pro-
moters also are subject to arrest under
the lottery provisions of the District
code, according to Mr.. Given. These
agents form the necessary liaison with
the public, while the promoters keep
themselves in the closest seclusion
Their reward is 10 cents on every lot:
terry ticket sold, the promoter pocket
ing 80 cents.
Both Inspector Evans and Mr.. Given
expressed surprise at the gullibility of
the persons who are lured into PLAYING
the base ball pools with such unfa-
vorable odds as S,00S to 1 stacked
against them for winning the tempt
ing grand $500 prize, or any one Of
the other numerous prizes.
Some of the police officers are in
clined to believe that the pools are
operated by a syndicate In each of the
principal cities of the country. Word
came from Baltimore today that the
pools were in operation on an elabo-
rate scale there