Evening star., 1934-11-26
DISORDERS BRING
. THREAT BY MAYOR
Capitol Heights Complaints
Involve Closing Hours of
Liquor Stores.
BY a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

By a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md, Novem-
Der 26.-Enactment of town ordinances
closing all liquor stores at l am. and
a shake-up of the town police force
was promised today by Mayor Thomas
j. Luckett as a result of series Of
disorders here over the week end.
The disorders led police to probe
the sudden death of Bennett Alton
Wells, 80. yesterday after the officers
were told that the man had been
hit with a pair of brass knuckles.
Wells died in bed at the home of
his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Horace
Wells. here Police said he had been
out most of the night.
An autopsy performed by Dr. James
l. Boyd at Marlboro failed to dis
close, however, any marks of violence
The physician reported that Wells ap-
parently died from heart attack.
Trio Likely to Be Freed.
Before the autopsy was performed
police arrested three local men for
investigation and jailed them at Hy-
attsville 1t was said the trio prob
ably will be released today. The
prisoners and several others are al
legged to have participated in fight
in liquor store here.
Three other men were taken into
custody following brawl in front OF
q magistrates Office. They were
charged with disorderly conduct and
are to be tried before Justice of the
Peace Oscar Poore tonight.
Meanwhile, Mayor Luckett, con-
vinced that the situation calls fQl
action by the local authorities, called
the council into special session to-
night.
The militant mayor, who is a cap
tain in the Marine Corps Reserves
said he would ask enactment of ordi-
nances which would make him vir-
tual dictator" in "clean-up' CAM
paign.
An attorney by profession. Mayor
Luckett said he believes the proposed
ordinances could be classified as ''rea-
sonable RESTRICTIONS which the mu-
nicipality is entitled to set UP under
the State liquor law.
Most of the disorders, according tC
Iuckett. occur between 2 and 7 am.
and he proposes to close all places
where alcoholic beverages are dis.
pensed between l and am. on Sun
day.
The county and State authorities
have been dilatory in dealing with
the situation, Luckett said. I'VE will
have to act ourselves if we want con-
dltionS improved"
The mayor added that most Of the
trouble comes from one establishment
and said he would ask that it be in
: vestigated by the County Liquor
Board. The majority of the estab-
lishments here are Legitimate" anc
orderly, according to the mayor.
Five written requests to enforce the
closing hours law have been filed in
recent weeks, with both the council
and the County Commissioners. Com
plants have been voiced by the wom-
en- of the Christian Church, the
Ladies' Auxiliary of the local fire de.
partment. the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics, the local Odd
Fellows Lodge and the Daughters OF
Rebecca.
Judge Oscar Poore blamed Wash
ingtonianS who come here after Dis
trict liquor stores are closed for the
lawelssness and disorder which has
aroused criticism.
Action May Be Drastic.
Pointing out that they have power
to revoke or suspend the licenses ot
those dealers who fail to observe the
rules governing closing hours, mem
bers of the County Liquor Board said
today they may take such action. II
an investigation of conditions here
warrants it.
I'VE have tried to be fair with the
dealers in the Capitol Heights neigh
borhood, but if the situation has be-
come as bad as the citizens claim, it
Is time for drastic action" Mrs Mary
w Browning, a member of the board
said
She recalled that several weeks age
the board found it necessary to in
definitely suspend the license of a
dealer in that vicinity because he had
been violating the State law.
Liquor stores are required to close
at midnight Saturday and at 2 am
other nights under the Maryland law
There are no closing hours for places
which sell beer and light wines. a fea-
ture of the law which many believe
should be changed.
Because of the apparently serious
situation which has developed here
the Liquor Board may hold special
meeting soon, members said. Its next
scheduled meeting is set for Decem-