Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-11
Scope OF Paddock Proceed.
ingS Is Reduced by Aid,
circuit Says.
UNDESIRABLE TENANTS
EVICTED BY LESSONS
Possessors of Premises Are Notified
of Occupants Violations
by Prosecutors.

Whole-hearted cooperation of Wash
ington realty owners in the Govern
ment's prohibition paddock program has
reduced greatly the scope of paddock
proceedings and is keeping the speak
easies and bootleggers constantly "on
the jump" it was disclosed today by
Capt. Harold w. circuit, assistant
United States attorney in charge Of
padlocking.
The splendid attitude of 95 per
cent OF the owners has served to save
many valuable properties from the
economic disaster of padlocking, Capt.
Orcutt declared, and at the same time
has proved harrassing to tenants en-
gagged in the speakeasy business.
circuit Supplies Data.
The announcement was made in con-
nection with publication in yesterdays
Star of statement by Rufus S. Lusk
detailing the extent of padlocking &C.
tivities here at the present time, with
estimates of property values affected.
Capt. circuit said the figures contained
In the statement had been obtained
from his Office.
The Washington Real Estate Board,
circuit said, has taken the lead in ex-
tending a helping hand to the district
attorneys Office, and, in return, prop
erty owners who are acting in good
faith have been given the opportunity
to evict law violators from their prem
Uses.
Hundreds of these owners, when
notified by our Office of liquor violations
reported by police as having occurred
in properties they own" Capt. circuit
stated, have acted promptly to evict
the undesirable tenants. In every such
padlocking from the building involved.
No Desire to Harm Owners.
The Government does not desire
to prosecute owners Of real estate. 1t
Is glad to cooperate with honest own
ers in preventing the padlocking Of
premises and obviating consequent ecoA
nomic losses to realty interests. We
know that most real estate owners are
honest, and in q majority of the cases
which come to our attention, they are
ignorant of the fact that law viola
tionS have occurred in their properties.
1T is gratifying to note the SYM
pathetic spirit of such owners. In
stead of resentment, they manifest ap-
probation of the service rendered them
by our Office in notifying them that
their tenants are Of the undesirable
type"
Capt circuit pointed out that warn
ings are not sent to property owners
who are known to be In the liquor
business themselves or to be in league
with bootlegging tenants. Nor are
owners who are known to condone law
violations by their tenants given the
advantage Of a preliminary notice.
Customary Warning Quoted.
The customary warning sent owners
believed to be acting in good faith is
phrased as follows:
please take notice that this office
has been advised that various violations
of the national prohibition act, con-
sisting of illegal sales and possession OF
intoxicating liquors, have for some time
past been committed upon the premises
- in the City of Washington, District
of Columbia, and that said premises
now are being used for such purposes.
II am advised that you are the owner
in fee simple Of the premises of which
the above described premises are q
part, and I am taking the liberty of
writing you to notify you of these re-
ported violations and the substance OF
the provisions of law providing for the
abatement of such nuisances"
Then follow excerpts from the law
providing for padlocking of places de-
clared to be "a nuisance"
Such notices are sent to each property
owner as soon as report Is received
from the police Of a raid in which liquor
Is found. The notices are mailed even
before papers in the prosecution of the
tenant are made out.
Most of the notices, Capt. circuit said,
lead to the filing Of eviction suits in the
Municipal Court.
In the few instances in which owners
have failed to take appropriate action,
the District attorneys. ofiice proceeds
with the regular padiocs injunction suit.
Suspicious Owners Complain.
Capt. circuit recalled one case in
which no warning was given the owner,
a woman, because the violations had
been so persistent and so fragrant that
it was taken for granted she knew about
them and condoned them. Just before
the paddock suit was to be filed, how
ever, further investigation disclosed
that the woman had evicted two boot
Logging tenants from her property dur
ing past months and personally had
been inquiring to complaints about her
present tenants. The suit accordingly
was delayed and the woman quickly
filed ejectment proceedings.
Realty owners who suspect law vio-
lations by tenants frequently advise the
district attorneys office of their suSpi-
cions, the assistant district attorney
pointed out. The Real Estate Board
has made It's files of property owner
ship available to the district attorney.
SO that mistakes in ownership may be
avoided and unjust legal actions fore
stalled.
I'm cooperating In this way" Capt.
circuit explained, "the real estate In
terests not only are renuering q val-
liable service to the law enforcement
authorities, but are safeguarding their
own regulations and protecting their
holdings from the serious effects Of
padlocking."