Evening star., 1952-02-24
Second String
Runs Gambling,
Monroe Reveals
Big Operators Leave
City to Small Fry,
Squad Chief Says
Rv Charles G. Rrnnks

DlstrlCts gambling rackets since
the three "big bosses" ceased 0ps
erati0iis, The Star learned last
night.
Capt. John 3. Mohf6e, head Of
the police ai1tissafhblihe squad,
made the disclosure after he had
revealed that Eflfiitt WaFFifie,
sam Beard and simkihs had
"g6fe cut Of business" because Of
pressure brought about by the
feFHleF grand jury investigating
convicted Prince GEORGES County
gambler Charles q, Nelson, the
Senate District Crime subeemmit=
zee ana the special Faekets grand
jury,
Capt MeAFee declared that
with the exception of Feputed
gambling king Abe (Jewbey bietE)
Filsee, the eity's horse and NUM-
eefs betting Is eenflAed TO "see=
end stFingers,"
Can AffsFd 10 Quit,
The big racket bosses, he con-
tinued, can afford to lay of while
the heat Is on, but these others
have lived on a scale that they
can't otherwise maintain, They
have to keep going.'/
People like Warning, the cap
tain continued, have plenty Of
money and can afford TO take a
rest.
Even so, he commented, the ac-
tivities Of the second stringers"
have been curtailed.
The diScontinuance Of wire Serv-
ices has forced a certain drop In
betting, Capt. Monroe pointed out.
Furthermore, the imposition Of
the Federal gambling tax law and
the stricter attitude Of judges
have caused gamblers to sit up and
take notice before they expand or
even continue their businesses.
DietE IA Limited.
The only "big time" gambler
left In town TO the knowledge OF
the police department Ia DietS.
And Dietz. Capt. Monroe pointed
out, has cut his operations 10 the
point Of taking only large bets Of
$50 and 800.
Among the "second strIngers"
is q set OF three brothers, the
gambling squad chief declared,
who operate out OF Prince Georges
County Into the District.
Only one OF the brothers has O
local police Feeofd=-and hes been
operating here for 40 years" Capt,
Monroe said. The brother has O
record showing one arrest In the
District In iD4e for operating q
lottery and possessing numbers
slips and another gambling arrest
In Maryland In 1900,
Another set Of brothers on the
police list OF "seeend stFinaeFs,"
Capt, Monroe said, operate pFis
maFily In the Second and Third
police precincts, basing their main
center Of operations In the vicinity
Of Seventh and T streets NV,
THAT places them only block
away from the Brass Rail Fess
taurRnt, owned by elmklnS' wife,
Yv0nne.
Northeast Operator.
Another numbers operator, the
captain Aald, IN running the gem
efAi Northeast section OF town, Tie
Identified the man, who N eoloted,
As being associated With NJ least
one witness who recently Aps
peaFed before the special faekets
aFaRd jury now concentrating Oh
The activities OF simkihs,
simkihs, himself Ia vaeatl6hs
ina In his heme town OF Hdaeyale,
0, g. Tie recently told The Star
that one OF the main reasons ne
left the numbers racket WAS that
he had been WeFFied about the
VBbFiRaiRa OF his tive children,
NE blamed newspaper ana teies
Visieh publicity at the crime hear
ings for She recent se,se9 safe
robbery Oh his heme, asas Twelfth
street NyHr
6fleials have pointed out In
TegaFd 10 slmkins' numbers eFr
sanitation, that the tax statute
OF limitations IA fVe years and
the conspiracy statute OF llmttas
tlons In the District Ia three years,
Cited f0V eaRtempt,
Recently the Senate District
Crime subcommittee voted un&nl-
mously TO ask the full Senate tor
o contempt citation against Sim
kins for refusing to answer any
questions about his gambling
activities,
Capt. Monroe listed the ave
"hig-tiEne" gambling names linked
with District numbers and horse
racing bets as Warning, Beard,
Plisco. Simkins and William
"Snags" Lewis, now serving time
in jail on O gambling charge,
Inspector Clarence Lutz, newly
appointed chief Of the police de-
partment's combined vice squads,
last night refused comment on
Capt. Monroe's revelations. He
said The Star must have received
much Of It's information from
sources other than the police de-
partment."
Inspector Lutz has often blamed
the protection offered gamblers
by both the public and the courts
In their searchsand.seiSure law
interpretations for the widespread
activities Of numbers and horse
racing hackers.
He also stated that the police
department Ii after convictions
and ID not following d policy Of
''hAfassi1g" gamblers.