Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-07
.2WitnessesB aIk
AT Testimony
In Graft Trial


Two witnesses called by the
prosecution in the county graft
trial surprised their would-be in
terrogators today when they stood
on their constitutional rights and
refused TO testify.
The witnesses were James Gar
della and Nathan GlasSman. both
Of whom had worked in hand
books. according to Special Prose-
cutor Chester P. O'Hara. They
were the first witnesses to stand
on their rights since the trial
began.
GardelIa. who said he was an
unemployed bartender, stood on
his constitutional rights when
Asst. Atty. Gen. Thomas A. Ken
ney questioned him as to whether
he know defendant James Morano
or had worked as ticket writer in
a Hamtramck handbook.
MINOR WITNESSES
Gardella declined 10 answer on
the ground such questions might
incriminate h m in subsequent
court actions. At the examination
he had testified he had worked in
a handbook operated by Morano.
Glassman similarly refused TO
testify when questioned. Both
were relatively minor witnesses
called in an effort TO link certain
of the defendants with handbooks
in Hamtramck, the suburb into
whose alleged gambling affairs
the prosecution dipped today.
Edward Gregoire. a shoe repair
man in Hamtramck for 20 years,
testified that he rented Sam Block
confessed handbook operator and
graft collector for the prosecu-
tors office) the rear of his shoe
repair shop on Joseph Campau
avenue for two years.
SIa5 MONTH RENT
81 got SIPS month rent
when the place was running" he
testified. when they bring the
heat on and the place closes,
/ got SIS month"
Gregoire said that after the
place closed in 1910. attaches con-
tinued taking bets in whispers on
the curb outside the shoe repair
shop.
The testimony was objected TO
by defense attorneys on grounds
il was immaterial and Special
Prosecutor O'Hara areplied that
the prosecution did not have to
show actual payment of money for
graft or bets but simply an agree
ment on the part of the defendants
to form conspiracy.
COURT CHARGE LATER
Judge Earl c. Pugsley said he
would charge the jury on the point
at the conclusion of testimony
taking.
After Crosse Pointe, River
Rouge and Ecorse had been
covered, the prosecution turned to
Hamtramck by calling Lusk Hof-
fer as witness
Hoffer testified he was employed
between 1887 and 1899 in a hand |
book at 3005 Caniff avenue. Ham,
tramck. operated by two defend
ants. Sam Soloman and Jake
Rubin. He said the place took in
81 500 a day at its blackjack
tables alone during the week and
between $1,000 and $4,000 on Sat-
urdays.
He testified that one day Solo
man took eight employees into his
office and had them stay there
for two hours. When they came /
out the place was re-opened for
business. the implication being
that a fake raid had been staged /
Joseph Bedo. first a county jail !.
turnkey and later a detective when
defendant Thomas c. Wilcox was
sheriff. testified 10 two visits he
made TO the River Rouge Club.
alleged gambling house at 1923
West Jefferson avenue. with |
Undersheriff Barney McGrath.
EASY TO GET IN
1.-THE first was early in 1870"
he said. 1--WE had no trouble
getting in. McGrath told Eddie
Way, who was I'm there, that he
thought II was foolish for Way
to operate while the grand jury
was sitting. On McGrath's
orders 1 took the names of five
of the 20 persons in there.
THE next time we went
there, fremont McDermOtt, an
other county detective, was with
Us. McGrath and I got between
the second and third floors you
passed through TO get in and /
were trappe The doors
wouldn't open.
I'VE yelled to McDermott and
he broke down the door with
sledge. We confiscated equip