Evening star., 1940-02-25
Further Indictments
indicated in Detroit
Graft Investigation
Grund Jury Intends to
cIeon Up County, Says
Speciol Prosecutor
b the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
DETROIT, Feb. "a. - Special
Prosecutor Chester P. O'Hara Of the
grand jury investigating gambling
and graft in Detroit said today
''there are other and bigger things
Z TO follow" the indictment Of Duncan
G. McCrea, Wayne County prose-
cutor, against whom Gov. L,lren D.
Dickinson has started removal pro-
ceedings.
THE grand jury intends to 60 on
with this job and clean up Wayne
County" Mr.. OrHara said.
= Circuit Judge Homer Ferguson,
who has been sitting as q one-rnan
grand jury as authorized by Michi-
gan statute, petitioned Gov. Dickin-
son to oust McCrea after indicting
him. Fred w. Frahm, deposed De-
ttroit police superintendent; Harry
Colburn, McCrea's chief investiga-
81 tor; four police detectives and sew
eral other persons. The group Is
charged with operating and pro-
tecting a $1,000,000 baseball lottery
In Detroit.
Linked to Gamblers.
In the removal petition Judge
Ferguson charged McCrea with COL
lecting money from operators Of
disorderly houses and various forms
LOT gambling In Wayne County De-
troit).
( Attorney General Thomas Read
came to Detroit from Lansing today
Ito take over "as much of McCrea's
work as in our judgment has been
made necessary by his indictment
and other circumstances"
He said the case in which McCrea
Is one of the accused and several
others also would be taken over by
his department.
McCrea said today he welcomed
the opportunity "for the first time
to be confronted by my accusers
under oath"
He reiterated his charge that his
Indictment is dirty, rotten politics
In its lowest, vilest and most con-
temptible form"
The Wayne County prosecutor,
the sheriff and some other officials
are Democrats. The State admin
istration is Republican. Mr.. O'Hara
and McCrea have been headliners
In 4 political feud for years. Each
has had the upper hand at times.
Elected Three Times.
McCrea is the only Yawne
County prosecutor in recent years
to be elected three times to that
Office.
McCrea said the charges against
him contained in the indictment and
in the separate petition for his
custer are false. He termed the
grand jury an 'inquisitorial tri-
s"I defy Judge Ferguson or any
one else" he said, Ito show where I
or any Of my assistants could in any
way provide any protection whatso-
ever to the operators Of any Illegal
enterprise"
Upon arraignment yesterday on
the gambling conspiracy charge Nc
/. Crea announced he would be a can
didate for the Democratic nomina-
ton for United States Senator. con-
testing the seat now held by Senator
Vandenberg, Republican.
Calls O'Hara UNIT.
Today McCrea said he had ad-
vised the Attorney General that Mr..
OHara and his assistants are "un-
Mt" to act as representatives of the
State. He accused them of "wanton
abuse OF the rights of the people"
I've read McCrea's statement" {"
said Mr.. O'Hara. Hes always do
ing some mysterious talking about
things nobody else can lay their
hands on. I don't know why any
one pays any attention to his state
ments. There isn't anything to
them"
Since the grand jury started its
investigation of charges of collusion
between gamblers and law enforce
ment officials succession of SEN
sationa1 occurrences has followed.
Police officials and an undersheriff
have spent days in Jail for con-
tempt Of court. The police depart
ment has been put through the
most extensive shake-up in its his
tory, and numerous arrests have
been followed by the statement that
only "the opening gun" has been
fred"