Evening star., 1946-06-23
Million Dollar
Gaming Racket
In D. {. Charged
Lack Of Penalties
And Arrests Cited by
Justice Association

The Washington Criminal JUS
tlce Association charged yester-
day that gambling is flourishing
In Washington as million dol
lar racket" because the gambler
now pays fine instead of a
license fee-a fine which gener-
ally represents less than a one
day profit"
A report titled Crime in the
Nations Capital, 1945", and pre-
pared by James A. Nolan, managing
director of the association, observed
that If the District is to have
legalized gambling, it is a matter
for legislation in Congress and is
not the perogative of the courts"
The report noted that despite
increased activities in the Metro
politan Police Department against
gamblers. during the first six
months of 1945, a negligible gain
IN cases presented to the courts
was noted as compared with the
last six months of 1914"
Cites Drop in Punishment.
1t charged that there was a de-
crease in the severity of court dis
positions. Out of gambling cases
in the first part of 1945, 80 persons
were given the choice of fine or
imprisonment, three were fined.
seven placed on probation, 21 cases
were pending, six found not guilty.
IA nolle pressed, five forfeited
security, IL cases were ignored and
only three were given jail sentences.
The association observed that
again the arrests were predomi-
nately for possessing number SLIPS"
but that the increase predominantly
was in the more serious gambling
onenses such as setting up a gam
Ing table or permitting a gaming
table to be set up or used. 1t noted
that the incidence of gambling was
highest in the first police precinct
with the second precinct following
closely behind.
Primarily, this association is not
concerned with gamblers, policy
WRITER'S or bookmakers, the report
declared. 1T is, however, concerned
with the ramifications surrounding
these related activities. Murderers.
robbers, burglars and receivers of
stolen goods all deal with the gam
bling agent"
Claim Lack of Statistics,
Claiming that police statistics
have not been made available DIR
ing the past year on gamblers, the
report stated that the association
believes that the Police Depart-
ment should know its gamblers
(agents) and make clear to the pub
lie the extent of their activities"
however, despite a 6.3 per cent
increase in serious crime, Washing
ton Jared better than most cities
OF comparable size and the crime
rate was not considered alarming.
by the association.
The association, which releases
crime report annually. is COM
posed OF volunteer citizens who seek
TO determine why law enforcement
agencies are not as effective as
they should be and what can be.
done to strengthen them. The re-
port covers the year 1945 and stated
that 1t was the first time since
lS4o that Washington has shown an
increase in serious crimes.
The association called for a larger
police force in the District and for
more severe penalties in court, par
ticularly in gambling cases.
Callahan Reports Decline.
Maj. Harvey G. Callahan, super.
lntendent of police, commented YES
terday that he had noticed no great
increase in gambling in the city and
thought there probably was less
than there has been for some time"
due to the increased activities Of
the departments antigambling
squad.
L know of no indications of any
large gambling groups or syndicates
IN the District and 1 believe most of
the gambling is by individuals" he
stated.
Concerning the growth of gam
bling in the District, the report
stated decrease in severity of court
sentences had been noted. During
the first six months of 1945 the
number of gambling cases increased
" per cent but the average sentence
was fine of $50, the report declared.
Small Fines Blamed.
In actuality, the gambler now
pays fine instead of a, license
fee, fine which generally repre-
sents less than one day profit"
the report said. Unless more ade.