Evening star., 1939-01-12
Montgomery
Joins Drive
On Gambling
F. B. |. Maps Plans for
Cleanup in D. c. and
Prince Georges

Montgomery County was lined up
today with Prince Georges County
and the District of Columbia in a
drive against gambling.
AS the Federal Bureau of Investi-
CATION made plans to clean out il
legal gambling devices in Prince
Georges County and the District of
Columbia, Ben G.. Wilkinson, jr.,
newly elected States attorney moved
to end gambling in Montgomery
County.
After conference with Chief H.
William Garrett of the Montgomery
police and Detective Sergt. Theodore
Vollten, Mr.. Wilkinson promised i'm
mediate action against the operation
of pin BALI machines.
1T has been brought to my at
tention that there are a large num-
Der OF so-called pin ball machines
operating in Montgomery County in
direct violation of the law" Mr..
Wilkinson said.
Survey of Machines Begun.
Il feel that the distributors of the
machines have had sufficient knowl-
edge regarding the law so that they
should know what machines can be
legally operated in the county. In
addition I feel that they have had
ample time in which to comply with
the law to the letter.
Beginning today, Chief j. Will
liam Garrett will begin a survey of
the various types of machines now
operating in the county. Following
this survey we will proceed i'm
mediately and without further warm
ing to confiscate all illegal machines
which have not been removed
This action comes as the F. B. l..
using the Federal conspiracy statute
as a weapon, began an investigation
of "Jimmy's Place" a gambling
establishment in nearby Prince
Georges County.
The investigation was ordered as
a result of request by United
States Attorney David A. Pine, who
held several conferences recently
with officials of the Criminal Di-
vision of the Department of Justice.
Police, judicial and traffic Off
cials of Maryland and Virginia were
invited by District Commissioner
Melvin c. Hazen to meet with him
2 pm. February Is, in "tri-State
conference" on the problem.
Legislative Plans.
One OF the particular points Of
fered for discussion is the possibility
of hot pursuit" legislation which
will permit Maryland, Virginia and
District police to cross District
boundaries when in hot pursuit of
suspected racketeers and other law
breakers.
Commissioner Hazen perfected
plans for the conference after OBJ
serving Maryland efforts to close
gambling places in nearby Maryland,
particularly "Jimmys' place, Just
beyond the Districts boundary,
which is known throughout the
East.
Mr.. Hazen also will ask the group
to consider reciprocal advancement
under which automobile drivers
from one jurisdiction, when arrested
IN another on traffic offense, and
being unable to post required COL
lateral, would be permitted to post
his driving permit, pending payment
OF the cash sum. During this interim
the driver would be given a tempo
rary card. to be turned in when he
pays over the collateral. The pur-
pose would be to avoid holding
driver over night in Jail because he
was unable to contact friends or
members of his family who could
bring out the necessary collateral.
Conspiracy Inquiry.
The F.. B. I. was ordered to in
vestigate gambling in nearby Prince
Georges County by authority of the
Federal conspiracy statute which is
directed against any conspiracy to
violate Federal law. Since a Dis
trict statute, such as the law barring
the. numbers game, is in reality
Federal statute, the F. B. is in
vestlgating to determine whether
there is a conspiracy in the nearby
county to violate this Federal num-
bers law.
Officials of Prince Georges County
also indicated they had conferred
with officials of the Department of
Justice.