Evening star., 1934-11-07
GARNETT APPEALS
FOR NEWSPAPER
BAN ON NUMBERS
Asks Them to Refrain From
Publishing Racing
Bet Totals.
MOVE EXPECTED TO AID
IN WAR ON GAMBLERS
Star Pledges Cooperation, Point
ing Out Policy Always Has
Opposed Racket

While civic readers today mapped a
unified war on crime, United States
Attorney Leslie c. Garnett struck a
blow at 'one of the most vicious forms
OF gambling in the District by asking
all Washington newspapers to diScon-
tinue notification of racing bet totals
by which gamblers determine winning
numbers" combinations.
The full cooperation of The Eve
ming Star Newspaper Co. was pledged
by its president, Frank B. Noyes, who
pointed out that The Star has in the
past refrained from printing these
totals" Mr.. Noyes wrote. however,
that IF the gambling basis is changed
to some other combination of figures
that ordinarily form part of the le-
gitimate news or other contents, we
will gladly comply with any sugges-
tions from you as to a change in form
that will defeat the purposes of those
engaged in this despicable form of
robbery of the poor of their pennies" Z"
Mr.. Garnett's Request.
Mr. Garnett's letter and the reply
from Mr.. Noyes follow:
Mr.. Frank B. Noyes,
Publisher of The Washington Star,
Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir:
This office appreciates the attitude
of the press of the city in aiding in
the enforcement of the criminal laws,
and especially in the eradication of
the gambling evil, perhaps the basis
and support of racketeering here
1t is generally recognized that one
of the most vicious forms of gambling
in the District is the numbers" racket,
for the reason that it is finding an
increasing hold upon those of tender
years and the poor and illiterate
Pennies, nickels, dimes. quarters and
half dollars are Squandered by these
persons least able to bear the loss, upon
the hope of selecting certain numerals
contained in the totals bet on certain
races, with the chances 600 to against
winning The selection of these nu-
merals from the totals bet at race
tracks seems the easiest method Of
conducting the numbers" racket, and,
IN any event, is now the accepted
method used by the gamblers.
The dissemination of these totals
seems direct aid to this racket, and
if the press of this city will unite in
refusing TO publish the totals bet on
these races, an item of news of in
terest, it would seem, only to those
gambling on the winning numerals,
it would go long way to curtail the
activity of the numbers racketeers
I realize that those who are greatly
proflting by this vicious racket will
soon change to some other basis. but
we can only try to meet these condi-
tions as they arise.
I am writing identical letters to
each of the daily newspapers here,
asking their cooperation in this mat
ter by withholding from their news
columns the amounts bet at the race
tracks throughout the country.
Trusting that you may see this
matter in the same light as it appears
to me, I am,
Yours very truly,
LESLIE C. GARNETT,
United States Attorney.
Mr.. Noyes' Reply.
Hon. Leslie c. Garnett,
United States Attorney, D. G.
Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir:
am in receipt of your letter of Mo-
yember g. asking The Stars co-opera-
tion in checking the numbers" gam
bling in Washington by refusing to
publish the totals bet on certain races
~
basis of the winning numbers in the
numbers" racket.
You are, Of course, aware that The
Star has in the past refrained from
printing these totals, not desiring to
help this racket in any way.
I cheerfully assure you that we will
meet your request in this respect and
if the gambling basis is changed to
some other combination of figures
that ordinarily form a part of the
legitimate news or other contents, we
will gladly comply with any sugges-
tions from you as to change in form
that will defeat the purposes of those
engaged in this despicable form Of
robbery Of the poor of their pennies.
Yours very truly.
The Evening Star Newspaper Co.,
by FRANK B. MOVES, president
Crime Committee to Meet.
The newly appointed Permanent
Committee on Criminal Justice will
meet the latter part of this week to
select chairman and map a program
of anti-crime measures for submission
to Congress.
The committees program also will
be laid before the anti-crime confer
ence sponsored by the Department of
Justice and the American Bar ASso-
citation here December 10. A number
of changes in laws affecting criminal
procedure will be considered includ-
ing the tightening of the District s
parole system.
The conviction that typical gangster
crime in the District" results from
the failure of the people themselves
to realize the close relation between
crime and liquor, vice and gambling" I"
was expressed by Deets Pickett, re-
search secretary of the Methodist
Board of Temperance, Prohibition and
Public Morals, in talk today before
the Women's Council of the Ninth
Street Christian Church.
Vigilantes to Be Formed
In addition to the permanent COM
mittee of nine lawyers and laymen set
up by the District Bar Associations
Emergency Committee of Forty, F..
Regis Noel, president of the Bar As
sociation, is considering nominees for
committees on criminal procedure and
on police case prosecutions.
Meanwhile. James G. Yaden, presi-
dent of the Federation of Citizens As
sociations. was expected to announce
the personnel of a vigilante group for
the federation in few days. The or
Sanization of such group was recon-
fnended at Saturdays meeting of the
federation.
Efforts will be made to unity public