Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-31
CROSBY SAYS WAR
ON GAMBLING HERE
WILL Be CONTINUED
Commissioner Declares No
Let-up in Drive on Resorts
Is Contemplated.
NEW LEGISLATION MAY BE
SOUGHT TO AID CLEANUP
Gpeakeasies and Suspected Houses
Are Virtually Deserted During
Holiday, Raiders Report.
~ . star Correspondent of The Star.

Rya star Correspondent of The Star.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va, May 30
Mai. Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, District
Commissioner In charge of the Police
Department, announced today that as
long as he has anything to do with
police activities In Washington. there
would be no let-up in the present cru
SADIE against speakeasies and gambling
houses.
Here at this seaside resort on three
day cruise with the Washington Board
Of Trade, Commissioner Crosby tndi-
Gated his concern over the gambling
and liouor situation in Washington, and
declared that every weapon Mt the
command of the police would be used
to stamp It out.
New Laws Planned.
Gen. Crosby also revealed that Dis
trict off1cials already have begun con-
alteration of plans to get legislation at
the next session OF Congress to give the
police easier access to places where 1t
is believed the gambling and liquor laws
are being violated The advice OF Cor
poration Counsel William w. Bride, he
said. has been sought
The present practice Of raiding the
gambling and liquor establishments
without warrants, Commissioner Cros-
BY said had been discussed with United
States Attorney Leo A. Rover, but he
did not disclose the outcome Of the con-
ferences. At any rate, he pointed out,
the raids are still going on, and there
is CONSERVATION in the ranks OF the
gamblers and bOOtleggerS
Gen. Crosby declared that Maj.
Henry G. Pratt, superintendent OF po-
lice, is handling the gambling and
liquor situation to his satisfaction. He
pointed out that 1t was not his policy
to interfere with the details OF police
administration, and confined his super
vision of the department strictly to
matters relating to policies.
Will Visit Williamsburg.
The Board Of Trade cruising party
aboe ri the S. S. Southland, arrived at
Norfolk today. and after an entertain
nlent aboard the u. S. S. Arizona at
the navy yard. wentrto Ocean View for
a dip in the surf and then came to
Virginia Beach. The closing event OF
the dav was a moonlight trip on Chesa-
peake Bay on the S. S. Southland.
The steamer will take the party to
jamestown Island tomorrow morning
and from there the members will go
to historic Williamsburg to view the
restoration work undertaken there with
Rockefeller funds. A stop also will
be made at Yorktown. The schedule
then calls for another moonlight cruise
on the BAY before the return to Wash
ington, where the Southland will dock
Monday morning.
Gambling Houses Deserted.
Washington's suspected gambling
houses and speakeasies, were deserted
yesterday. according to the four head
quarters detectives who have terrorized
these places in the past week.
The four officers, Detectives Howard
Ogle, Larry O'Dea Oscar Mansfield and
Arthur Ffhelly. made a tour of inspec-
ton of the places they raided. and some
others that are on their list for in
vestigation. but found no signs OF &C.
tivity Whether the establishments had
closed for the holiday, or merely shut
up as a precaution. the detectives did
not know. They are inclined to think.
however, that the proprietors knew that
police don't stop work on a holiday.