Evening star., 1934-11-04
Nemesis of Al Capone and
Schultz Starts Probe of
Gamblers Taxes.
10000 WASHINGTONIANS
IN ORGANIZATIONS HELP
Citizens Federation Forms Com
mittee-Suggestion for Strin.
gent Laws Made.
The Federal Government and the

The Federal Government and the
representatives of 10000 private citi-
zens joined Washington's crusade
against organized crime last night
First came the disclosure that the
Bureau of Internal Revenue, which
sent AL Capone and other headline
''racketeers" to jail for failing to pay
income taxes, will within the next
few days institute criminal prosecu-
tions against local gamblers believed
to have evaded the income tax laws.
A few hours later, the Federation
OF Citizens Associations, representing
10000 Washingtonians, took the un-
precedented step of unanimously rec
ommending the organization of citi-
zens' vigilance committees by it's 81
member associations to join hands
with the public authorities in wig
orous and unrelenting crusade against
crime"
Plan Intermediary Vigilantes.
The association also voted to form
its own vigilance committee to act AS
an Intermediary between public Off
cials and the committees expected 70
be organized in the member organi-
cations. A report urging rigid en-
forcement of existing laws, the en-
actment Of more effective legislation
and the wholehearted cooperation of
every private citizen. as well as the
formation of the vigilance groups, was
adopted.
1t was learned the intelligence unit
Of the Bureau of Internal Revenue
for some time has been scanning care
fully the tax records Of Washing
tons gambling fraternity. and, as
result several cases have been placed
under consideration for prosecution
Investigation of a number Of other
cases is still under way.
The attack on Washington's num-
bers operators, bookmakers and gam
bling house proprietors is being di-
rected by Elmer L. Trey, chief OF the
bureaus intelligence unit, who num-
bers Capone and Dutch" Schultz
among his biggest victims. John r
Cox. special agent in command OF the
District intelligence section, however
is actively in charge of the investi-
cations.
-Four Already Sentenced.
The drive on washington's gam
blers for income tax evasion is not
the first undertaken by the bureau
Several days ago two men whose
names have long been linked with the
sporting element-James A. LaFon-
taine and Samuel r. Beard-collided
with Ireys bureau. as did several
others, John w. Dykes and William
E. Prather.
LaFontaine was forced to turn over
to the Government 20665l.09 ir
taxes, penalties and interest and II
addition drew a prison sentence oi
nine months coupled with fine o.
$1,000. III health reduced his actua
confinement to three months.
Beard went to Lewisburg under an
18-month sentence. was fined sl2.oOO
and was compelled to give the Gov
| eminent a total of S108,9ll.73 in
taxes, penalties and interest. He is
now under indictment for alleged
gambling activities since returning
from prison.
Dykes and Prather, other victims OF
the earlier drive. drew prison sentences
of six months each. and were placed
on probation. All of the prosecutions
were brought in Baltimore courts
because of the location there of the
headquarters of the area in which
the District Internal Revenue Bureau
is located.
S500,000 Collected.
That initial campaign against
other Washington gamblers also re-
covered for the Government approxi-
mately s500,000 in income taxes
Prosecutions were not brought in