Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-27
Tax Charge Dismissed
AGAINST Skidmore
And Three Others
Prosecutor in Chicago
Feors Other Cases
Would Be Jeopordized
BY The Associated Press.

CdlCAJO, aug. Zf.-WuLdIH II.
(Uncle Billy Skidmore was dis
missed by the Government today
when he was about to 90 to trial
as a principal defendant in an in
come tax conspiracy case expected
to rattle the skeletons in Chicago
gambling racket.
He and II others were charged
with conspiring to accomplish eva
sion of sl.887,6 64 in taxes on the
1868 income Of William r. john
son, accused by the Government as
gambling syndicate key man.
Skidmore and three others were
freed in the case, after which q
venire Of 100 prospective jurors was
brought into court for the lengthy
questioning preceding selection Of
the jury.
Totally unexpected the dismissal of
Skidmore came after a brief discus
sion of several motions between
counsel and Federal Judge John P.
Barnes when the case was called
Others dismissed were william
Goldstein, counsel for Skidmore:
Orrie Alexander. bookkeeper. and
Miss Bernice Downey. an employee
in currency exchange which the
Government alleged handled gam
bling funds.
Instructed by Prosecutor.
Earle C. Hurley. assistant prose-
cutor, moved for the dismissals.
A few minutes later, United States
Attorney William J. Campbell gave
reporters statement saying he had
instructed Mr. Hurley and the other
assistants to dismiss the quartet of
defendants.
Mr.. Campbell said the action was
taken after full discussion among
the prosecution staff of the avail
able evidence" concerning the four.
Trial tactics prevent further COM
ment by the Government at this
time" Mr.. Campbell said.
Later, Mr.. Campbell said the Gov
eminent dismissed Skidmore because
he felt it had "a very strong case"
against Skidmore in other indict-
ments charging that, individually,
he evaded S2l0,117 in taxes on his
1887 income and evaded 1926 ,648
in taxes on his 1888 income,
and that those cases might be
jeopardized" by keeping Skidmore
In the present conspiracy case.
May Turn States Evidence.
AS to the other three dismissals,
Mr.. Campbell said draw your own
conclusions" Federal building re-
ports were that Goldstein would
become a Government witness. Mr..
Campbells only comment on that
was that disposition of a pending
perjury case against Goldstein
would depend on how he performs
here"
The dismissals left nine defend
ants in the conspiracy case, which
covered the years 1886 to 1885,
The Government alleged Skid
more and johnson were key men in
Chicagos gambling syndicate.
500 Witnesses Summoned.
Five hundred witnesses have been
subpoenaed to tell the story of a
great city's gambling-a story which
grand juries have been listening to
| for several months. About 400 of
the witnesses, prosecutors said, were
employees or former employees of bet
ting establishments. 1t was estimat-
ed that two months would be re-
Quired to present all the evidence.
Only one of a number of indict-
ments resulting from the Govern
ment's investigation of gambling
here, the conspiracy case listed five
counts and set forth an allegation
that the general method of evading
tax payments was for each of the
johnson 1ieutenants or Skidmore to
claim ownership of one or more
parcels of property, thereby conceal
ing Johnson's ownership. OF the re-
sorts mentioned, 81 were in Chicago
or its environs.