Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-27
Drastic Steps to Close Es-
adjustments Proposed by
Rover and Police.
LEGAL BASIS SOUGHT.
FOR PROJECTED MOVE
Report Sent United States Attorney
Lists 289 Places Raided
| During Is Months.

Drastic steps to close Washington's
gambling and handbook making estab-
l1shments by the use of paddock pro-
ceedings if legal basis for this action
can be found are contemplated by both
the District and Federal authorities, it
was learned today when the Police
Department forwarded to United States
Attorney Leo A. Rover a comprehensive
and detailed report on the gambling
situation.
The report lists 289 places raided by
the police for violation of the various
gambling laws in the period between
January l, 1928, and January 80, 1929,
and contains other data concerning the
location of the establishments, the
proprietors and owners of the property,
which, it is believed, will be useful to
the United States attorneys office in
any move 1t may make to assist the
Police Department In closing the places.
FL Others Under Suspicion.
The information furnished Mr.. Rover
is virtually the same in character as
that submitted to him some time ago
with respect to "speakeasies" when
paddock proceedings were planned.
Although Rover said he had not
reached decision as to what use will
be made of the list of gambling houses,
there is reason to believe that paddock
ing of these places might be attempted
if it is found that such a procedure
can be adopted legally.
Aside from the 289 places raided in
the 13-month period, the police report
stated that there are 81 other estab-
lishments still under suspicion
The report was prepared after a thor
ough check-up of records of all police
precincts. 1t showed that 469 raids
were made in the Is months which
resulted in ga arrests for violation of
the gambling laws.
Many Raided More Than Once.
The discrepancy between the number
of places raided and the number of
raids is due to the fact that number
of the establishments were raided more
than once. One place, the report re-
vealed. was raided II times in the Is
months, while another had a record of
9 raids. A third establishment, the
report further showed, was raided 7
times.
The largest number of raids, accord
ing to the report, was in the fourth pre-
cinct, which covers the Southwest Sec
ton. In the period covered by the re-
port it showed So raids in this precinct,
while the first precinct, which covers
pOt GiOi1 vi tllS DuSlLlC~S d1ol1ICts
was a close second, with 81 raids.
The only precincts in which no raids
were made are the twelfth and four
tenth. both in outlying sections OF the
District. The record of raids in the
other precincts, as shown by the report,
follow:
Second precinct, "a; third precinct,
43; fifth precinct, IS; sixth precinct,
43; seventh precinct, ID: eighth pre-
cinct; 8: ninth precinct, 10; tenth pre-
cinct, 4; eleventh precinct, l. and in
the thirteenth precinct 4.
Numerous Charges Filed 4
Charges placed against the establish
ments raided included setting up a
gaming table, violation of the lottery
laws. handbook making and permitting
gaming. Setting up gaming table and
lottery are felonies under the District
code, while making handbook on
races and permitting gaming are mis-
demeanors.
The legal question raised as to the
use of the paddock injunction in
gambling cases is whether this weapon
can be employed against establishments
in which misdemeanor has been COM
mitted. In the case of lottery and
gaming tables, however, which consti-
tute felonies, the authorities, it is said,
believe that the paddock can be legally
adopted.