Evening star., 1951-11-27
Inspector Lutz
To Hit Big Boys
In Gaming Drive
Will Seek Evidence
For Conspiracy Cases
Against Racket Chief:
By Miriom Ottenbetc

newly named head of the police
gambling squad, said today he
wants to go after the big boys" in
the racketS by way of gambling
conspiracy cases.
At the same time, he put a
ban on gambling raids without
warrants except where the raids
are cleared in advance with the
United States attorney and po-
lice official is in on the raid.
Acting Police Chief Robert ".
Murray, in choosing one of his
toughest ranking officials for the
gambling assignment, made it
clear that Inspector Lutz will have
clear field in choosing his squad
and setting up his ket-busting
plans.
Gambling enforcement long has
been the target of much of the
criticism leveled at the Police De-
Ipartment by congressional COM
mittees, judges and prosecutors.
On the day he was named acting
chief. Maj. Murray pledged him.
self to wage war on the gamblers.
"Harassment" Raids Held.
Despite criticism of the no
warrant raids which failed toI
stand up in court. the retiring
chief, Maj. Robert j. Barrett. con-
Itinued a policy Of "harassment"
-raiding gambling places without
"a warrant and charging all pres
Ient with disorderly conduct.
Inspector Lutz said he has
never believed in "harassment.'
when police 60 into a place
without a warrant, "he said,
there a suspicion that it is
not done for a proper purpose.
If we make every effort legally
to get enough evidence for a war; !
rant and cannot get it, I'm going
to discuss the case with the
United States attorney. We're
not going to do that without his
knowledge. And I want officials
to be along so the public will
know it's done for a proper pur-
pose"
Aiming at Top Men.
He said he wants to make
gambling conspirancy cases be-
cause he wants to get at the men
at the top.
"It's the big boys I'm after
not the little stooges." he ex-
planned. Wen start with the
little fellows and trace the whole
operation through them" /
He said his plan would take time
and a lot of investigation but it
can be done with persistence and
the right type of personnel"
when the system is set up"
he said. Il don't think the gam
blers will be able to beat it. We're
going to keep them guessing what
we're going to do next"
Asked if he would make whole
sale changes in the gambling
as has been predicted. he
said there would be no changes
until he studies the set-up.
May Be Changes.
"I don't want to point the fin
ger at anybody by summarily re-
questing his transfer" he ex-
planned. But if there's anything
wrong there will be changes. If
there's any doubt, it viii be re-
solved in the interest Of the pub
lie. I'm representing law and
order"
Emphasizing that he expects !,
backing from the men on the
beat, he declared: This isn't a
one-man job. The reputation of
the department is in the keeping
Of each and every officer"
Inspector Lutz suspects that
right now the heat is on and
gamblers are being more careful.
He said it probably would be diff
flcult to place bet in the Dis
trict unless the would-be wager
er has been known to the bookie
over long peroid of time. He
acknowledged that would make
things more difficult for his un-
dercover men.
He made firm appeal for pub
lie cooperation. He gave assur-
ances that all tips would be
treated in absolute confidence and
the source would not be disclosed.
The law, he explained, permits
police to protect their sources.