Evening star., 1935-02-08
GAMBLING At EBB,
LITTLE TEST|F|ES
AT CRIME PROBE
Vice Squad Chief Says
RaCketeerS Driven Out
by Raids.
FEW NOW OPERATING
SERGT. DEYOE CLAIMS
Lieutenant Admits System of
Promotions Is Discouraging.
Cites Low Pay of Aide.

Lieut.. George M. Little, head of the
police vice squad, told the Houses
special Crime Investigating Commit
tee today there is less gambling in
Washington at present than at any
period IN his q years on the force.
In short, emphatic sentences, Lieut.
Little traced in detail the efforts of
his squad in the last year to stamp out
gambling and told of some of tie
outstanding raids which he said has
resulted in many gamblers going out
of business.
He called particular attention
to a raid last April on the Central
Information Bureau which supplied
bookmakers with racing results and
other turf data, and more recently
the closing of the headquarters of one
of Washington's most notorious gamb-
lers near Ninth and G streets.
Crippled Business.
Since the latter raid in October,
Lieut.. Little declared, gambling stop
ped to large extent and many gamb-
lers went out of business. In that
particular raid, he declared, Sam
Beard, who he described as "a well
known gambler" and II Of his
"henchmen" were arrested.
Representative Schultz, Democrat,
of Indiana. who is taking a prominent
part in the investigation, questioned
Lieut.. Little about the raid two days
ago on a gambling establishment
within a stones throw of the room
in the House Office Building where
the Crime Committee is holding its
hearings. Schultz wanted to know
especially if news stories that the place
had been raided a week previous with
out any evidence of gambling being
found were true
Lieut.. Little explained that officers
attached to the fifth precinct made
that particular raid and he believed
the period between the first and the
second raid by his squad was longer
than a week.
Quizzed on Liquor.
Later, Schultz called attention to a
newspaper report based on informa- |
ton given Secretary of the Treasury |
Morgenthau that Washington is losing |
100000 year in revenue because of |
the smuggling into the District of un-
taxed alcohol. He wanted to know
why officers had not been assigned
to stop these leaks"
Little explained his squad has been
concentrating on gambling activities
ever since the advent of repeal.
Acting Supt. George c. Deyoe, chief /
aide to Little, followed him on the
witness stand and declared there are
not more than two good sized" gam
bling houses operating in the District.
He said he understood one of those
had closed voluntarily as. result of
the raid Monday afternoon on place
near the House Office Building. He
explained, however. that some cigar
store proprietors and "curbstone bro
kers" are still taking race bets.
Wilson Staying Cited.
Little also denied the Police Depart |
ment turned the heat" on the gam
blers as a result of the murder of |
Allen Wilson, newspaper route agent |
He insisted the gamblers suddenly !
ceased operations after a raid on the |
headquarters of gambling ring Octo-
ber 5, and pointed out Wilson was |
killed october %.
The names Of some Of Washington's |
best known underworld characters !
were mentioned during the hearing |
and their photographs and pictures of
their places of business introduced in
evidence. Some of the photographs
showed the barred doors to many of
the gambling places raided by Little's
squad.
Inspector Frank S. W. Burke chief !,
of detectives, who was supposed to |
have returned to complete his testi-
mony, failed to appear Representative
Randolph, Democrat, of West Virginia. /
chairman of the Investigating Com
mittee, said he had not heard from
the detective chief At Burke's Office, |
1t was said he was at the Capitol.
Schultz also continued his criticism |
of the civil service rating system for |
determining promotions in the Police |
Department and expressed amazement
that Little after q years of service
had not advanced any higher in rank
than lieutenant.
Held Back by System.
"You bear an enviable reputation
for being an efficient officer" Schultz
said to Little. 1T does seem a shame
and very unfair that a man who has
given 27 years of his life so efficiently
to the Police Department has not
advanced any higher. What has |
held you back?"
"The civil service rating system"
replied Little. /
"It seems to me-" Schultz remarked, |
shat the officials would take action |
to eliminate it. There's no incentive |
for initiative"
"Its discouraging," added Little.
Little cited as another example of |
the drawbacks of the rating system,
the case of Deyoe, who has been
on the force IA years and is receiving
less pay now than he did soon after
he entered the department when he
was assigned to motor cycle duty at
extra compensation.
Deyoe was told by Schultz he should
be given a medal of honor for carry
ing on under those conditions.
so you're an acting sergeant and
receiving no increase in pay?" said |
Schultz. "That's just an empty title"
Both Little and Deyoe pointed out
that members of the gambling squad |
work from 70 to 16 hours a day, use |