Evening star., 1934-12-24
Prince Georges Commits
sioners Warn Policemen
Custer Will Follow Failure
to Act Immediately.
EFFORT TO OPEN new
RESORT ALSO BARRED
Harassment Campaign of D. G.
Officials Gives Board Evidence
of Type of Cooperation 1t Has
Wanted to Garry Out Long
Evaded Issue to End Gambling
Reign.

Orders to prevent Jimmy La Fon-
taine from conducting any further
gambling operations in Prince Georges
County, Md, were issued today by the
county commissioners.
The orders, climaxing three days of
harassment by District police, during
which definite blows were struck
against the numbers racket and the
gaming resort on Bladensburg road,
were to be given to County Police
Chief j. J. Crowley as a result of a
meeting yesterday in the home of
Commissioner Joseph H. Blandford.
A majority of the commissioners an
nounced determination not to accept
"alibis" from the county police force
for failure to carry out their edict.
I'VE will not hesitate to replace
any member of the present police
force who fails to obey out instruc-
tions," the commissioners said after
their meeting.
Results Are Demanded.
I'VE know the officers can find
plenty of alibis if they do not want to
do a thing. There have been alibis
galore in the past. But We are not in
tereSted in alibis now. We recognize
the responsibility is ours and cannot
be lodged. We do not care who gets
the credit, but we want results"
Jimmy's place, just across the Mary
land line on Bladensburg road, closed
Saturday and the county commission
ers directed that the police keep it
closed" and see to it that any other
similar place which might be opened
Is raided Immediately and forced to
close. These are the instructions
which Perry Boswell. president of the
County Board. said he would convey
today to Chief Crowley.
No formal written order was pro-
mulgated by the board. nor was II
considered necessary to meet n spe-
cial session to write one. he use in
1892, when civic leaders w: aging
one of the periodic campaifng a-"SV
Jimmy's, an order was = irse .->-
ing police to close c., ;-,.!oas
gambling house.
Old Order Stands.
Although the commissioners re-
sponsible for that order retired from
Office December 4, the new board
expressed the opinion it still is in
effect and their duty is TO carry out
its enforcement.
Cali we have to do is tell the
police we want the order carried out,
said the commissioners. Ever since
we took Office, we have been con-
sidering what steps we should take
to close Jimmy's.
I'VE were studying several possible
methods of procedure when, to Our
great satisfaction, Washington police
began their 'harassment campaign
last Thursday. In view Of the evil
dent intent of the Washington
authorities to cooperate at this time
we concluded We should act now
District police officials decided on
the campaign of haraSsment because
of their inability to raid "Jinmys''
themselves Members of the vice
squad and twelfth precinct we're as
signed to picket the District boundary
Of the resort and record the tag num-
bers of all cars entering the place.
Patrons who came out and crossed
the District line were stopped and
forced to exhibit their driving permits
and registration cards. Their names
were jotted down for possible use be-
fore the Prince Georges County grand
jury. Thus far, however, no request
for this data has been made by county
authorities.
Patrol Still or Job.
Lieut. George Little, head of the
vice squad, said he would assign a
patrol to the place this morning to
make sure the place has not re-
opened. He said there were rumors
in the underworld Saturday that La
Fontaine would open in another part
of the county, possibly in the vicinity
of Suitland, where an elaborate gam
bling casino was built few years ago
by a rival syndicate.
La Fontalne was said to have bought
the place to prevent competition, and
residents of the neighborhood said it
appeared available for occupation on
short notice.
This place is known both to Dis
trict and Maryland police and was
believed to have been in the minds
Of the Prince Georges County Com.
missioners when they directed po.
lice to prevent La Fontaine from
moving to another location.
Spokesman for the board empha.
sized their action was based on Ions
deliberations.
You cannot say too strongly that
we intend to see that our orders are
carried out" they said. In addition
to Boswell and Blandford, the boarc
is comprised of Harry w. McNamee
Capt. Vinton D. Cockey and James B
Berry.