Evening star., 1951-04-01
Legal Action Planned
To Close Club Where
Manager Was Slain
CONTINUED From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
months brought an angry outburst
from Police Supt. Robert j. Bar
rett. He and Capt. Howard Covell,
First Precinct commander, said
they had information that the
new club was being financed by
one or more of the Gold Key
hackers.
They should be held for con-
tempt of court" Maj. Barrett said.
'"The police department does not
have law to keep those places
closed. Those after-hours clubs
are meeting places of bank robbers
and crooks who prey on tourists
and give the city a bad reputa-
ton"
Contempt Citations Possible.
Ross O'Donoghue, assistant
United States attorney who spear
headed the action shutting 10
bottleclubs year ago, said the
prosecutors Office has been seek
ing evidence against the Down
town Club for some time.
If it can be proved that Gold
Key operators are behind the
Downtown Club, and if the in
junction order still applies to
them. the United States attorneys
Office may ask for contempt cita-
tions, he said.
OF the Downtown Club, Capt.
Covell said: Our chief complaint
is that we think there's a lot of
illegal whisky sales and pander-
ing there"
The club building formerly was
church, and after that it was
occupied by the Salvation Army.
It still is adorned with stained
glass windows. through which
light had just begun to filter
when the shooting broke out yes
terday.
Played with Managers Brother.
Paying his fifth or sixth visit
to the place, Bencoach had ar
rived at about 2 am. and began
playing the Switchboard game.
One of his opponents was Peter
Gregory, younger brother of the
manager.
Il got into the game with Ben
coach about 4 o'clock, and wei
started playing for quarters, Il
young Gregory said. HE lost
three straight and seemed to be
mad about it. Then we played for
@ dollar, he lost again, and quit.
Peter Gregory said he left the
club about 5 am, leaving Ben
coach standing at the bar, scowl-
ing and alone.
Later, Bencoach took up the
game with new opposition, and the
argument developed. .'I've had
trouble there before and was ex-
pecting it" he said later in ex-
PLANTATION for the gun.
Shots rang out and Louis Greg
DRY fell at the foot of the game
table. Ccside the club Police
Pvt. John Dials was escorting al
drunk.
Policemen are Nearby.
With what Capt. Coyell called
"fast thinking" Pvt. Dials re-
leased his drunk and, with his
partner, Pvt. Thomas Soverville,
scrambled up the curved, carpeted
stairway. They found Bencoachl
struggling for the gun with an
other patron, Edward A. Lloyd of
Groveton, Va.
MIR. Lloyd said he had been
forced to strike Bencoach over the
head with the gun. :!
Bencoach was subdued, but
when Pvt. Dials left to call an
ambulance. again became violent.
just then, Pvt. B. w. Best, onE
duty at Eighth and F streets, NV.
reached the scene. To quell Ben
coach it was necessary to strike
him several times with his night
stick, Pvt. Best said.
Bencoach was treated at Gal
linger Hospital for scalp wounds
1t was learned from recent job
applications that he before work.
ing as a Senate library clerk from
1945-47 he was a machinist in
wyoming. In 1947-48 he man.
aged several District grocery