Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-05
ROVER CALLS FARLEY
OF POLICE HEADS
ON GAMING LAWS

CONTINUED From First Pagel
prina facie evidence of an intent to use
| the building for criminal purposes.
Senator Robson also announced he
! would have another meeting OF the sub
committee within a day or two to de-
velop further the constructive side OF
| the question, including discussion OF
| new legislation. Maj Pratt, District
| Attorney Rover and Corporation Coun-
sci Bride are expected to attend the
next hearing.
Referred to CoIlaterals.
Senator Robson explained today that
when he referred to playing with
criminals" at the hearing yesterday he
had in mind the testimony relative TO
| the depositing of small collaterals In
cases that arose in past years, and that
| he did not believe that was criticism
| Of Mai. Pratt. The Senator stated that
| If there was criticism of the small col
| lateral, it was in the sixth precinct,
commanded by Capt. Martin Reilly.
| The Senator said that he understood
the small collateral policy was prior to
Maj Pratt's appointment as superin-
| tendent and that It was not followed
now.
| the testimony Of Public Printer Carter
| was to the effect that the conditions
complained Of In the vicinity Of the
| Printing once have been going on for
| several years. The Senator made the
| observation that Mr.. Carter did not
make complaints until recently. The
| Public Printer testified, however, that
since he has been in charge of the
office he has removed a number of
| NJ
| gambling or liquor charges.
After listening to charges Of gross
police inefflciency made by Carter,
| public printer, yesterday which were re-
| Sponsible for the hearing Robson up
braided United States Attorney Leo A..
Rover. his assistant, Frank Adams, COL
ored. and Sergt. o. J. Letterman, head
of the police vice squad, as well as
| Pratt. Carter and Pratt also INDUCED
| in sharp exchanges.
Senator Copeland, Democrat, of New
| York, the only other member of the
subcommittee present. left the hearing
before Robson and Pratt clashed.
1 While present he made several causttc
remarks indicating he believe police
were being criticized without justiflca-
ton.
Utter confusion resulted when Rob-
sion began hammering his fist on the
4
took the stand. The peak of the uproar
| was reached when Robson poked his
right hand almost into the police chiefs
face and shouted:
81 think. that is just playing with the
criminals"
Charge Draws Applause.
This charge drew applause from q
| portion of the large crowd jammeo
| about the committee table and caused
Pratt's face to turn crimson. The polico
| chief then made several attempts tc
take issue with the chairman only to
be interrupted each time by the Ken
| tuckian.
Don't you think that in four years
the Police Department should find out
about big gambling house operating
here2" Robson demanded of Pratt.
The Senator had reference to ar
establishment formerly at IS H street
where Louis Hurwitz and Joseph Fitz-
gerald were arrested in a police raid
January 4, last, but where it was later
brought out Hurwitz no longer is To-
Gated. Previous testimony had brought
out that the place showed signs Of being
a gambling house after the policemen
broke in, but the men accused as opera
tors were not indicted by a grand jury.
I'VE have found out about that place
and we have haraSSed the operator" the
police chief countered.
ut doesn't look to me like he's been
haraSsed very much" Robson declared
1T looks like he's haraSsing the citizens
instead Of the police harassing him. Dc
and close him up?"
Robson opened fire on Rover when
witnesses testified grand jury had
failed to indict Hurwitz and Fitzgerald
after Adams had nolle pressed charges
OF permitting gaming which police had
placed against the pair.
Referring to HurwitZ, Robson said:
Evidently this fellow went along fol-
years without being bothered much by
police. You'll never put that fellow out
Of business If you walt years to get him
and II when you do get him you. take 9
trivial $25 or $50 in collateral and then
release him. Here's q fellow barricaded
IN building in defiance of the laws OF
the United States. Then you get him
and treat 1t as minor offense. We
can't treat anything like that You
ought to require q bond and q heavy
one"
Rover explained that the laws of the
District were such that 1t was necessary
to accept collateral in numerous cases
He added 1t was difflcult to make out
cases against operators of gambling
houses because persons found in them
oy police seldom were willing to testify
freely.
In response to a question by Senator
Robson as to how enforcement of the
laws against gambling could be made
effective Rover urged passage of a pad
lock law and also said the Police De-
partment should have more men. He
said If the force was larger Maj. Pratt
could. use new men, who are unknown,
to work their way into suspected places
and gather evidence that would hold In
court.
Physical Evidence Required.
Assistant District Attorney Adams
told Senator Robson the statements
OF witnesses In q gaming case would
not make any difference unless there
was physical evidence In, confederation.
The Senator said he did not agree with
that
i Senator Robsion asked Mr.. Rover
II the owners of property could be pro-
ceeded against under existing law. The
district attorney said he did not believe
owners Of property could be convicted
under present law unless it could be
SHOWN they knew how property was be-
ing used.
TT seems to me-" Senator Robson
! observed, that we are obsessed here
with the idea that you cannot reach
these places"