Evening star., 1928-12-02
JUDGE DEPLORES
PARRAN ATTITUDE
Prince Georges Prosecutor
Advises Washington Officials
to "Mind Own Business"

"Its a pity that the States attorney
takes the attitude he does about Maj.
Hesses problems" declared Judge j..
C. Mattingly of the Prince Georges
County Court yesterday, when informed
that the proposed conference between
the Washington superintendent of po-
lice and States Attorney Parren Of
Prince Georges County in an effort to
break up gambling houses just across
the District line apparently had failed
to materialiZe.
Parran characterized the request of
Maj. Hesse as IAN attempt to divert
the attention of Washington from his
own gambling problems to Prince
Georges County"
ATTEND to Own .BuSiness"-Parran.
"You people in Washington had bet
ter attend to your own business. Well
attend to ours out here" Parran told
a reporter.
Declaring he had been informed OF
the operation of an alleged Prince
Georges gambling place known as "The
Hard Way" patronized by Washington
residents, and that. the recent agita-
ton by Washington police against
gamblers in the District has forced
three or four proprietors of gaming
houses to move to cooler quarters in
his county, Parran said, I'VE are look
ing after that situation"
Judge Mattingly declared that he
concurred in Maj. HeSSe'S opinion that
the gambling situation in the county has
been a public scandal for a long time
and stated that he repeatedly haC
brought the matter before the grand
jury of the county with little resultant
action.
"All the county authorities will have
to do" said Judge Mattingly, lis to get
the evidence to convict them and We'll
take care of the rest of the situation. "
He added that his instructions to
every grand jury in the county in the
last few years have included mention
of the gambling scandal
Maj. HeSse said yesterday he re-
uuested a conference with Mr. Parran
October %. At that time he instructed
Inspector Pratt to call the Maryland
prosecutor and arrange for the meet
ing. Mr.. Parran asked the reason for
the conference, Mai. HeSSe said. When
it was stated, Mr.. Parran set the date
for the conference at noon the next
day at Upper Marlboro The next
morning, according to Maj Hesse, Par
ran called INSPECTOR Pratt and told him
that prosecution of murder case pre-
vented his meeting with Washington
police officials, Since then. Mai Hcsse
said, nothing has resulted from the
request.
Denies Diversion Charge.
Mai. Hesse denied Parran's allegation
that he was trying to divert attention
from WaShingtons gambling evils tC
Prince Georges County.
II was merely attempting to get the
cooperation of Prince Georges County
officials in matter that vitally affects
the policing of Washington" he said
Mai HeSSe expressed belief that a
conspiracy action could be pressed
against Maryland gambling house pro-
prictors and said he wanted to get the
opinion of the Prince Georges County
prosecutor
FL declared that he has seen cars
loading on Pennsylvania avenue with
gamblers bound for the Maryland
gambling places and deplored the fact
that the Districts vagrancy law could
not be invoked against the customers
of those places.
Inquiry throughout Upper Marlboro
and in other sections of Prince Georges
County reveals that there is a growing
sentiment among county residents, par
ticularly in the southern section, against
the gambling.
The Hard Way known to all persons
questioned in Upper Marlboro yester-
day, was admitted by police officers and
residents of the county seat to be oper-
ating almost publicly.
Police here declare that business at
the Hard Way has increased since agi-
tation in the District made it hot for
those who would RISK their money on
the roll Of the dice. the turn of card
or the spin of a wheel in Washington.