Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
Federal Warrants Issued in
StriCtest Secrecy on Down.
town Places.
SEVEN MEN CHARGED
WITH ALLOWING GAMING
Two Others Held as Witnesses and
Remainder Released After
Questioning.

Operating under Federal search war
rants. an entirely new procedure, the
vice squad and the United States at
torneys office struck the first blow yes
terday in campaign to clean up the
gambling situation in the District
when the police and deputy United
States marshals swooped down on two
alleged gaming establishments in the
downtown section, arrested nearly 100
persons and seized a quantity of gam
ing paraphernalia.
The warrants were issued by United
States Commissioner Needham c. Turn
age under the strictest secrecy, sealed
and handed to the deputy marshals,
who did not learn the location of the
places until they met members of the
vice squad a few minutes before the
raids. The new procedure is the result
OF conference several weeks ago be-
tween United States Attorney Leo s.
Rover, Police Commissioner Herbert B.
Crosby and Maj. Henry G. Pratt, SUI
perintendent Of police.
Needed Easier Entry.
While the principals at the time de-
clined to reveal what took place at the
conference, the police have complained
that they needed an easier method of
entry to suspected gambling houses
than the customary Police Court war
rants, which pass through the hands OF
several persons in the routine court
method before they reach the raiding
officers. Police recalled last night that
ON some occasions professional bonds
uyn OF aNf
tions when they brought in prisoners
from gambling raids
Seven of the men arrested in yes
terday's raids were charged with per-
hitting gaming; two others were
booked as Government witnesses, while
the rest, principally colored, and in
GLIDING one unemployed apple" seller
with his wares, were questioned at
first precinct and then released.
AS the raiders hit the two places
first in the rear of 1919 z street, and
few minutes later. Just 2 block away
on the third floor OF. sos Eleventh
street, hundreds Of spectators gathered
to watch while the officers. were ham
mering in doors to gain entry and IS
they carted away patrol-load after
patrol-load Of prisoners.
Dared Death in Fleeing.
Trapped IN the Eleventh street place,
several Of the victims dared possible
injury or death by taking to the roof
and then working their way down three
stories to cement-paved areaway by
bracing themselves with outStretched
arms and legs between two walls Of ad-
joining buildings, along which they
literally creepec and slid, with what.
ever precarious hold they could obtain.
But this bid for freedom was futile,
as police had anticipated an exodus
from the rear and set out a guard on
the ground there.
The raiders used John Doe" war.
rants. They were turned over to John
j. Clarkson. assistant chief deputy
United states marshal, and Gus Cert
mele, deputy and 1t was not until
they had joined the police raiders UNI
der command of Sergt. N. o. Holmes
and Officer r. o. Brass at first precinct
that the envelopes were opened.
Raids In MidafternOon.
The raiders, starting out about 8
o'clock at the E street establishments,
took more than score of prisoners.
Quickly following, they went a block
to the east, where another barrier was
crashed and where the remainder of the
prisoners were taken.
The officers also reported selling
racing charts, cards, chips and two
tables of the sort ordinarily used for
dice games.
At the first place visited, Deputy
Certnele reported serving the warrant
on David Rones, 20, Of the 100 block
OF Tenth street: in the Eleventh street
raid. the warrant was said to have been
served on Samuel Fricter, %, of the
Houston Hotel. Both were charged
with permitting gaming, as were the
following five:
Are Held Under Bond.
Benjamin Livingston, 81. 1900 block.
r street; F. j. Clayborne, 80, first block
Of street northeast; S. r. Piper, 81,
1000 block Fourth street; D. j. Kennedy,
IS, Houston Hotel, and Rufus Joyner.
SO, 900 block N street.
All were freed under $500 bond.
Charges of permitting gaming also
were booked against two other men.
but these charges were erased and the
pair were held under 500 bond as
Government witnesses.
They were: A. S. Hammond, 2s. TOO
block S street, and Emmett Robinson.
100 block, Four and One-half street
southwest.