The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-10-08
Slot Machine
Cases Before
Circuit Court
Nolle Pros Entered By
State After Five Juries
Failed To Convict

Several SlOL machine cases OCCu-
pied the attention of the Circuit
Court at Elkton last week, but ver-
dict of guilty was returned in but one
case.
The first one of the 81 persons
indicted by the September Grand
Jury for Cecil County, charged with
operating illegal slot machines at
their places of business, was Charles
E. Groves, proprietor of Granite Inn,
near Port Deposit, who was placed
on trial before jury. He was rep
resented by e. D. E. Rollins. Ira
Lynch, of Bay View, swore that they
operated a slot machine in Groves
place of business until it paid off. On
the other hand, the prorietor testified
he never had slot machine in his
place The jury rendered verdict
of not guilty.
Mrs. Sara Boulder of near Cecil
ton, was found not guilty of having
slot machines. James Weinroth rep
resented Mrs Boulder. Mrs. Boul-
den's daughter testified that there
were no one-arm bandits at the road
house and did not know either Lynch
or Cameron.
Leonard Ramsauer, of near Elk
ton, owner of restaurant on Route
40, charged with having gaming
machines, was found not guilty by
a jury. E. D. E. Rollins represented
Ramsauer.
Michael Saponaro Of near Port
Deposit, was .gound guilty of having
slot machines in his possession. He
conducts what is known as the Old
Mill Inn. e. Kirk Brown and Omar
D. Crothers represented Saponaro.
A jury returned verdict of not
guilty in the case OF Sophia Casper
son, known as Sophia Inn, near War
wick. d. R. Green, who manages the
place, stated that ne yiad not see the
three men in the place nor did he
have machines which paid off in
money.
Catherine Frederick of Blythe
dale, was tried for the same offence,
and jury returned verdict of not
guilty. Mrs. Frederick stated that
she didn't have pay-off machines
Rollins represented her and G.. c.
Squier, ]. Condo1 of Henry and
Stewart Smith testified in her behalf.
In all six trials no gaming ma
chimes were produced in Court.
A. S. Edwards, Of Bel Air, an al
legged former distributor, through his
attorney, Mr. Rollins, changed his
plea of not guilty. to guilty. 1.
After Jury trial of six gaming
machine cases, when five of the six
persons involved were found not
guilty and one guilty. States Attor-
ney Henry3L L.. Constable elected to
plead Nollel Prose and the State con-
fessed plea of not guilty in the re-
naming slot machine cases.
In making p statement to Court
and the public, Mr.. Constable stated
that the Grand Jury has passed on
the indictments but there seems to
be an andercurrent against the
States witnesses He further stated
that he believed that convictions
would mot bel given in the present
term. He also said that he would
take alleresponsibility for discontin-
uing the trials. The Judges replied
that they were ready to hear the
cases further II the States Attorney
desired to continue the trials.
Judge Knots in open Court, COM
mended the State witnesses in the
slot machine cases for their work;
also praised the work Of States At
torney Constable. After completing
his talk, Judge Knots stated that
his two colleagues Joined him in the
views he had just expressed.
The case Of State vs.. Tommie
Howard. colored, of Elkton. indicted
for murder. was removed to the
Caroline County Court, for trial
William L. Richards pleaded gull
" to the charge Of bastardy. He was
placed under $500 to pay SIS per
month Tor keep OF child Until Is
years of age
.