Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-28
County Police
Pledge War on
Sunday Liquor
Attorney Now Sees
State Force Aid
As Not Needed

10 INOt INSSOCU
Prince Georges County States
Attorney Blair H. Smith said
today he has been promised
county police will carry out a
"round the clock" check of
taverns to stamp out illegal Sum-
day liquor sales.
Such a concentrated drive
should not make it necessary to
request help from the Maryland
State police. Mr.. Smith said. The
county prosecutor had said
earlier he planned to request
State help this week to wipe out
what he termed wide open" il
legal Sunday sales of liquor in
taverns.
Mr.. Smith said he consulted
with State police because he felt
county and town police depart
ments were not able to cope with
the problem. He said local po-
lice forces apparently we're too
small or else all their men were
known to tavern keepers.
The States Attorney said he
talked yesterday with County
Police Chief George j. Pana-
goulis about planned drive by
police and concluded that that
"the county should be able to
handle the problem"
Points to Warning
But these taverns have been
warned and if the situation
isn't corrected I will request
State help without any prior
announcement" Mr.. Smith said.
When it was pointed out that
some of his previous remarks
might be construed as intimat-
ing lack of faith on the county
police force and Chief George
A. Panagoulis. Mr.. Smith said
Il would like to get this over.
There has never been any init
nation of wrongdoing on the
part Of Maj. Panagoulis or of
any member Of the county po-
lice force"
Asked whether his feeling OF
confidence extended to the sew
eral municipal police depart
ments. Mr.. Smith said mo COM
ment."
Might Favor Amendment
The States Attorney said he
might be inclined to go along
with an amendment to liquor
laws which would either bar
sales of all alcoholic beverages
on Sundays or broaden the
statutes to permit Sunday sales
of hard liquor. Present law per-
mits sale of wine and beer on
Sunday but prohibits sale OF
hard liquor.
Either one would go a Ions
way in solving the problem" Mr.
Smith said. He added that il
might be a good time for thu
tavern keepers to get some new
legislation while the General AS.
Sembly is in session.
Asked whether he would favol
legalization of pinball and slo
machines or both. Mr.. Smith
emphatically said NO"
mot because of the nickel,
that go into or fall out of them,
he added. but because of wha
it might lead to-"
Opposes County Operation
Mr.. Smith said his attitud,
would be the same if coin-oper,
ated gambling devices were own
ed and serviced by the count,
rather than by distributors.
In that case we would hav,
another Reno" he declared.
Both the police chief anc
States Attorney agreed illega
Sunday sales are being made
in the county taverns. number.
ing about 1903. The law permit!
sale of only beer and light wine
on Sunday in Prince Georges
Maj. PanagouliS said his force
of undercover men found M
violations yesterday during
checks of some 80 taverns thai
went on until midnight.
Some of the taverns publicizec
the drive on illegal sales by
posting newspaper clippings
about it near their bars.
May Need More Funds
The police chief said the Coun
ty Commissioners have promised
him all the help he needs in tn
drive. which he declared will re
quire constant and continuou
work." The work may requir
a supplement to the police de
partment's $1,000 investigation
fund, the chief added.
Mai. Panagoulis declared hi
130-man force also is adequat
to wage war on pinball machin
payoffs. Making payoff arrest
and building cases that will stan,
up in court take time but tn
task will be done, the chic
added.
Mr.. Smith predicted toda,
that gambling stamps bought 70
pinball machines that pay off
will not be renewed since a Fed
eral court has ruled the machine
are not gambling devices.
Herbert w. Reichelt, presiden
of the County Commissioners
said he will talk to Mr.. Smitl
about the liquor and pinball ma
chine problem.