Evening star., 1928-11-23
HESSE CLAIMS GAIN
IN GAMBLING WAR
Picketing by Police Cuts
Down Number of Visitors
to "SoCiaI Clubs"

With condemnation Of what was term
ed the inadequacy of District laws in
dealing with the gambling situation
coming from quarters both high and
low, Maj. Edwin B. Hesse today ex-
pressed pleasure at the success of his
plan employed yesterday afternoon and
last night of picket!ug the establish
ments and his determination to con-
tinue his war on the local gambling
fraternity to the finish.
Six so-called social clubs" were under
surveillance last night and the official
reports Of the police stationed outside
disclosed that these places we're visited
by only 23o persons, considerably
smaller number than usually frequents
them.
Many Deferred From Entering.
Up and down Fourteenth street, where
most of the larger clubs" are located
were stationed uniformed men, whose
duty was to keep count Of the patrons
and by their presence deter many OF
the more timid from entering.
On many of the street corners near
the gambling houses could be seen
groups Of men, some fiaShily dressed and
some shiver'ng in threadbare clothes,
huddled together discussing the new de-
velopment in the war between the
gamblers and police.
i've got So coming to me in there"
one of the most shabbily dressed ones
confided to neighbor, with jerk of
his head toward door before which
stood a policeman. but there are too
many cops around tonight. I'm going
to steer clear"
law, go on in and get your dough"
his friend counseled. They can't 90
ANYTHING to YOU" Neither moved,
however, and the friend seemed in no
hurry to walk through the door past the
policeman.
The number of persons seen entering
the clubs varied considerably. The
greatest number of patrons was re-
ported at an incorporated club In the
1000 block of Fourteenth street. The
policeman there reported IL. Some
came singly and some in groups as large
as 10, he said
The least frequented establishment
was one near North Capitol and
streets. The officer there saw only
seven men enter.
Gamblers Called "'rin Horns"
Maj. Hesse emphatically denied today
that his campaign had its origin In
fear of an outbreak of anything re-
sembling a gang war arising from pos
sible reprisals fog series of hold-ups
and attacks recently perpertrated
against men we'll known in gambling
circles.
There are a lot of tin horns here
and they're afraid to start anything,
was the way he expressed his belief.
The only way to get around the
technicalities of the present gaming
laws, Mai. Hesse thinks, is for Con-
gress to enact stringent vagrancy law,
which will enable Washington to rid
itself of undesirable characters. The
laws governing search and seizure are
so strict, he declared, that 1t Is almost
impossible to put the social clubs out
of business by any other means.
He was high in his praise, however,
of the cooperation he Is receiving from
the office of the United States district
attorney. OF the seven indictments re-
turned by the grand jury IN gaming
cases, he said, the defendants in all
cases have been convicted.
The difficulty in obtaining evidence
necessary before raid can be made Is
said to be evident when one enters one
of the larger clubs The places are
usually on the second floor and two and
sometimes as many as four doors must
be passed through to enter them. The
first door usually is unlocked. The
second portal often is barred and is
opened by an operator who stands at
the head of the stairs behind another
door and inspects the candidate for en-
trance. If he Is known, a button Is
pushed and the door is automatically
unlocked. Still there remains heavily
reinforced wooden or steel door capable
of withstanding the blows of the sledge
hammers of the police, which must be
opened by the attendant inside.
The police informer must stand a
rigid inspection In order to obtain evi-
dence necessary to convict and the
patrolman on the beat is helpless. He
10 kpnwn whether In uniform or out