Evening star., 1959-11-22
TrioArrested
In Police Raid
AtGamingDen
Pete Giunoris,
Sports Figure,
z Others Charged

ROllce kicked IN the basement
door Of 1926 Webster street
NV. yesterday and arrested
Pete J. Gianaris. As, whom
they described as the kingpin Of
. $4,000 q week gambling
operation.
A woman and another man
were also arrested In the oddly
furnished basement. and two
hours later two more men were
arrested as they sat down to
eat dinner at the Elks Club,
police reported.
AL were charged with operat-
ing a lottery and setting up a
gaming table.
In the basement with Gia-
naris, a well-known figure in
Washington sporting circles for
many years. the raiders said
they found indications of heavy
action" on the week end foot
ball games.
Five radios and a television
set were going full blast, and
three telephones were all in
use. according to Morals Divi-
sion Inspector John Layton,
who led the f1ve-man raiding
party.
Bet Pads Found
On two large tables they
found several pads of yellow
paper on which bets, mostly on
football games. had been re-
corded, Inspector Layton said.
Arrested with Gianaris were
Mrs. Beatrice j. Ghillani, 40,
an attractive brunette who de-
scribed herself as a housewife
living at the Webster street
address, and Edmund j. Bren-
nan. 81. who said he is a re-
tired clerk from Pottstown, Pa.
The raiders struck at 3:45
pm. About two hours later,
Eric Edmonston. Al. and
Charles V. Azzi, 80. were ar
rested in the dining room of
the ElkS Club. 9l9 H street
NV.
Edmondston gave his address
as the 600 block of Comet
drive, Prince Georges County,
and AZzi said he lives in the
1900 block of Massachusetts
avenue NV. Both said they are
car statesmen. -.g
Inspector Layton said his
men have been watching the
Webster street address since
November S, after receiving a
tip about activities there.
Burst Through Door
Yesterday, armed with a
search warrant for the house,
and arrest warrants for Gia-
naris, Edmonston. and Azzi,
Inspector Layton launched the
raid.
The windows, Inspector Lay
ton said, were blocked of with
plaster board. The basement
was in the process of being fin
ished of into a recreation
room.
Along with 1t. William D.
Foran of the gambling and
liquor squad and three other
officers, Inspector Layton burst
through the basement door.
The suspects had little to say,
the inspector said. GianariS
said he was "self-employed,'
but did not elaborote. Inspector
Layton said Mrs. Chillani's
husband Joseph, At, was arrest
ed october %, 1858, in a gam
bling raid in the 5000 block OF
Webster street NV, charged
with operating a lottery. and
convicted.
After the arrests yesterday,
the raiders took several tele-
phoned bets, Inspector Layton
said. The evidence indicated
that it cost 10 per cent to place
a bet, he said. For instance,
there were many notations for
$3.50 for the bet plus So
commission.
A safe was found in the base.
ment, along with a box contain
ing about 5000 in coins. In
spector Layton said there was
evidence that numbers anc
horse betting was also conduct
ed there.
Several football pool cards
were found on Edmonston anc
Azzi, the inspector said. On thu
cards a bettor could win up tt
$3.50 for picking 10 winners ir
10 games. and a consolation
prize Of $25 for picking 8.
All the cards bore the words
For news matter and informa'
ton only" Inspector Laytor
said.
Gianaris, who lives in the
1900 block of Yuma street NV.
was arrested in 1887 on a charge
of setting up a gaming tabL
and sentenced to serve three
to four months. In 1945, he wal
picked up on four gambling
charges. two of which werC
dropped. He was sentenced II
so days on the other two counts
All five suspects will be ar
: raigned Monday before U. S
| Commissioner James F. Splain