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it is not because of the police that things are getting tough all over for Washington's reputed gambling kingpins. First Sam Beard finds himself indicted for income tax evasion and now Emmitt Warring, who has operated in the western part of the city for many years, has a $160,000 income tax lien slapped on him. All of the recent commotion in local gaming circles was stirred up without benefit of the Police De partment, which is supposed to suppress gam bling In the District. Warring, incidentally, is the man whose friendly relations with certain police higher-ups aroused the “deep concern” of the Davis Crime Committee. He is the man de scribed to the committee by his attorney as a person with a reputation of being a “fair and honest gambler.” There is no doubt that Warring has such a reputation in Foggy Bottom and across the creek in Georgetown. But being fair and honest in a gambling enterprise does not make the enter prise legal, or less subject to police interference. A gambler's reputation for always paying off his clients in full does not qualify him to be a pal of precinct commanders or higher officers. It is pertinent to recall a portion of the Davis Committee’s comments with respect to Warring’s remarkable ability to avoid trouble with the po lice: “Granting the difficulty of securing evi dence necessary for successful prosecution, it would appear that little, if anything, has been done to scratch the surface. This probably ex plains in large part why it is that as notorious a character as the alleged fair and honest gam bler, who, by his own admission, for 20 years had followed no business about which he could testify without incriminating himself, can circulate freely, not alone without fear of the police, but also mentally disposed to friendship toward im portant police officials.” The committee pointed out in its report that “In recent years few, if any, leaders of these (gambling) enterprises have been molested by District law enforcement authorities.” Beard, who once testified that he was a “racetrack gambler,” has been as free from serious police interference in late years as has Warring. It was not until United States Attorney Fay launched an independent drive on gambling two years ago that gambling circles began to become disturbed, Mr. Fay and the Internal Revenue Bureau co operated in digging into the financial affairs of both Beard and Warring. The results indicate that a little digging by energetic law enforcement officers can be profitable. The Police Department should take note. As the Davis group suggested, some real digging is needed—not just half hearted, sporadic attempts that “scratch the surface.”
Newspaper Details
Washington Evening Star
Washington, Washington-DC, US
Thu, Mar 15, 1951
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Larry C.
USA 05 Aug 2026
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