Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-08
POLICEMEN PICKET
'BOOK|E SUSPECTS
TOCURB GAMBLING
Officers Keep Close Watch on
Establishments in First
Precinct.
DRIVE WILL EXTEND
OVER ALL OF DISTRICT
Patrons May Be Called Before the
Grand Jury to Testify for
Government.

Picketing of suspected bookmaking
establishments by uniformed officers has
been adopted as the Police Departments
latest weapon to force these places out
of business, it was learned today.
The picketing campaign. started
Thursday on a small scale by Capt. F.
S. w. Burke of the first precinct, in
which most of the alleged bookmakers
have their establishments, will be ex-
tended as soon as additional officers are
available. Already. however. according
to Capt. Burke, two of the places at
which police pickets were stationed have
closed rather than have the uniformed
officer standing guard at the entrances,
scrutinizing patrons.
Plans Grand Jury Action.
Capt. Burke revealed that it is
planned to continue picketing the estab-
lishments until they either close volun-
tarily or until sufficient evidence Is
gathered by the police to present to the
grand jury. The officers on picket duty
have been instructed to make note of
the names of all persons they recognize
who frequent these places with a view
to summoning them before the grand
jury as Government witnesses when
proper evidence has been obtained
against any suspected bookmaker.
Although the picketing campaign has
been comparatively brief, Capt. Burke
said the pickets have turned over to
him "a fairly substantial list" of names
of recognized patrons of the establish
ments. 1T is possible" he said, that
some of them will be summoned before
the grand jury"
Only four of the suspected bookmak-
ing establishments in the first precinct
have been picketed since adoption of
this method of attack, because Capt.
Burke has not had sufficient men avail
able to assign to other places where he
has reason to suspect that handbooks
are being made on the races. The four
other In the downtown business section.
Two Remain Open.
One of the establishments which
closed soon after the police picket went
on duty at the front door was on I
street near Fourteenth street The other
was on G street between Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets. The picketS. how
ever, have not yet succeeded in forcing
the other two places to close. One Is
located on Fourteenth street between
G and H streets and the other Is on
Thirteenth street, near Pennsylvania
avenue.
While picketing has been resorted to
in the past to force suspected speak
easies and disorderly houses to close,
Capt. Burke said he believed 1t to be the
first time that the plan has been adopt
ed against bookmakers. The success
thus for, Capt. Burke said. indicates
that it may be the most effective
weapon used against the bookmakers.
Numerous raids, Capt. Burke pointed
out, failed to close bookmaking estab-
lishments. In many cases, he said, the
places reopened soon after the police
had left.
The picketing campaign, however, he
believes, Will make it embarrassing for
persons to frequent the establishments,
particularly when they know they may
be summoned before the grand jury.
Even after the places close, Capt.
Burke said, the police will keep close
check on the proprietors to learn
whether they reopen in another loca-
ton. and if they do, picketing will be
resumed.