Evening star., 1932-02-09
Note-This is the last OF series

Note-This is the last OF series
OF three articles on the numbers
gambling racket in Washington.
Proposed legislation pending in Con-
gress would enable the law enforcement
authorities of Washington to wage ar
effective war on the widespread rami-
ifications of the gambling racket in the
National Capital.
At present the professional gamblers
insolently conduct their operations just
beyond reach of the law. The long
arm" of the law is not quite enough tc
touch the followers of this racket ano
the operators of numbers race book
making and other betting establish
mepts know it.
There are several reasons for the I'M
potency of the police and prosecutors In
dealing with gambling
In an interview with Police Commls-
sioner Crosby and Police Superln-
tendent Glassford in the latters once
the handicaps under which the ponce
operate were recounted.
Il have created a special gambling
SQUAD" Gen Glassford said, but they
are working against great odds. We
cannot raid a gambling establishment
without a warrant, and we cannot get a
warrant without evidence, and we can
not get evidence of the sort now re-
ouired by law unless we get into the
place, and getting into one OF these
Joints surreptitiouSly IS very, very oil
ficult. It's a vicious circle that trus-
trates proper law enforcement.
Legislation Drawn Up.
District Attorney Rover has drawn
I'm some prOposed legislation that
should help us great deal. 1t is now
nendinp before the Senate District
Committee. If we get that leglslatlon
broadening our powers, 1 am connoenl
we can go a long way toward breaking
the gambling ring here
Even after the police have succeeoeo
in raiding an establishment tney may
find themselves powerless to conVlct
operators of the place. The courts
have held that mere evidence OF the
presence in the place OF RECOGNIZED
gambling paraphernalia Is not sumclent
to warrant conviction.
The police must produce evidence
that the apparatus actually was oeliig
used for gambling. Knowing TINS, the
proprietors have rugged up barred oooIs'
peepholes and signaling devices 10
circumvent the raiders. By the time the
police have smashed through several
armored doors, occupants nave haa
time to escape through secret exits, or
to hide all evidence of gaming. In 1act,
they need only to sit around, LOOKING
innocent, if they have no objection 10
what they are certain will be- at the
most. only temporary arrest.
The numbers" operators enjoy even
greater freedom than the proprletorS OF
"big time" gaming houses. To conduct
a numbers book one needs no elaborate
establishment with barred doors and
batteries of telephones, and expensive
gaming equipment All that is needed,
it was pointed out in an earlier article,
is a supply of scratch pads and penclis,
a corps of agents working on commS-
sion and a desk in some corner store.
Despite the open methods OF the
numbers racketeers. the police have
found it extremely difficult to make
cases" against them in court. This is
because the operators of this game eX-
ercise the keenest scrutiny Of all players,
making it virtually impossible for police
investigators to disguise themselves
successfully as players.
Witnesses Are Necessary.
Yet to obtain a conviction, the police
must produce witnesses to the actual
writing of numbers and accepting OF
bets. Gases in which police sought to
obtain conviction on evidence of mere
possession by the defendant of num-
bers" pads and slips were thrown out
in court.