Evening star., 1933-05-10
POLICE ARE HANDICAPPED
IN '1NUMBERS' GAME RAIDS
Existing Laws Are So Inadequate, They
Say, Only Few of Establishments
Can Be Eliminated; A

Only the enactment of new gam
bling laws can stamp out the mum
bers" racket-in which Washingtonianl
squander enough money each day to
provide food, shelter and clothing fos
ut least as needy families for . year
in the opinion of United States Attor-
ney Leo A. Rover.
Under present laws" Mr.. Rover ex-
planned in an interview, "the District
attorneys omce cannot prosecute gam
bling cases successfully unless the evi-
dence Is adequate. And the police say
they cannot obtain proper evidence in
many cases because their hands are
tied BY the statutes and by court de-
cisions."
District Attorney Rover states some
OF the newspapers Of Washington could
be Of material assistance If they would
refrain from publishing matter Of little
or no news value, but which Is used
by the gamblers in conducting their
numbers racket.
These gamblers" he said, ARE
highly resourceful in finding ways and
means OF operating. but some Of the
local newspapers could be Of real help
material which the numbers men use
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Of course, that they might use some
material which is of legitimate news
value and, of course, the newspapers
cannot be expected to suppress any
thing Of this nature. 1t would be q
real help to US. however, II some OF
the newspapers would not publish ma
terial used by the operators OF the
numbers racket unless its publication
Is made necessary by its inherent news
value"
Bet on Indictments.
Mr.. Rover said he had been told Of
one case in which the numbers play
ers had bet on the number of indict-
mentS returned IN q particular week
by the grand jury.
Existing laws are 20 inadequate, the
police claim, that they are able to raid
only . small percentage Of the Capitals
many numbers" stablishments-even
though they know the addresses Of more
than half . hundred such places and
keep them under constant surveillance
More than . year ago, Mr.. Rover
drew up two bills. which, II they had
been enacted, would have made 1t easier
Tor the police to carry on their war
fare against numbers" game operators
and other professional gamblers
One Of the measures would have in
creased certain penalties for gaming
law violations, and also would have pro-
vided for prosecution Of habitual fire.
quenters Of gambling places on mis-
demeanor charges. Most important OF
all, from the police viewpoint, the bill
would have made mere possession OF
gambling paraphernalia including
numbers" slips-a misdemeanor, pun
ishable by law.
The other measure would have made
it possible for the United States attor-
neys ONCE to paddock gaming estab-
Hshments.
Introduced by former Senator Robsion
Of Kentucky. the bills got as far as the
Senate District Committee and then
died.
II still feel the same way about the
matter" Mr.. Rover declared. THE FIRST
measure would have made 1t possible
for the police to at least harass fire.
quenters Of gambling establishments by
charging them with q misdemeanor
Such places cannot exist without pa
irons. and the type Of person who fire.
quents them does not relish being ar
rested.
Bond II Only Weapen.
AT present, the only weapon the
police can use against persons found in
gaming establishments IS to require
them to post bond as Government wit
nesses-and there Is some doubt Is to
the legality Of this action.