Evening star., 1946-08-13
Curran Still Uncertain
On Gambling Charges
Against Variety Club

AyoiIISI VoICly VIuU
United States Attorney Edward M
Curran said today he will decide this
week whether to prosecute the Va
riety Club for permitting gambling
on its Willard Hotel premises or
drop charges against the club.
Admitting the x-month old case
has him in dilemma. Mr.. Curran
today told The Star: TITS just one
of those tough decisions I've got
to make
! The club ran afoul of the law last
February 8 when police raiding
squad entered the clubs rooms, al
legedly found slot machines operat-
ing and arrested club bartender
for setting up gaming table and
permitting gambling on the prem
ises. The bartender, Teodorico
Galera. was freed in $500 bond
the same night and the case has
been hanging fire ever since.
The law has been violated and
I'm satisfied that the club is guilty
but I hate to do anything about it
because the Variety Clubs books
show that every cent realized from
the machines was turned over to
charity Mr.. Curran said.
Won't Hold Galera Responsible.
/ L can either prosecute them
through the United States commits
sioner or refuse to prosecute. 1 GER
tainly am not going to hold Galera
responsible for what happened in
the club"
! Mr.. Curran said he would attempt
to confer with the clubs attorneys
Alvin l.. Newmyer and Michael F
Schwartz.
! The District Attorney pointed out
that the Variety Clubs members
ARE reputable men" He sale
there had been no recurrence Of
the use of slot machines by the
club since Inspector Oscar Letter.
mans antigambling squad stagee
its raid and added "the club ha.
promised they will never install
slot machines again"
The District Attorneys hesitation
recalls controversy set off JUNE
~ when Police Capt. Beverly C
Beach, an ardent foe of gambling
was transferred from No / precinc
in which lies the Variety Club ane
other social clubs-to outlying No
6 precinct. At that time Commis.
sioner John Russell Young told re
porters emphatically that the raic
on the Variety Club, in which Capt
Beach took part. had no connection
with the transfer. Commissions
Young is member of the Variet,
Club
Curran Long Undecided.
IT know it looks like It," MI
Young said, and Capt. Beach prob
ably thinks SO, but the Variety CluI
raid had nothing to do with tn,
transfer"
Since the raid reporters period
ically have asked the District at
torney what he intended to do abou
the case. Not long after Galer
was arrested Mr.. Curran said h
planned to present the charges t
the grand jury. In May he ha'
, decided not to make Galera tn
"scapegoat" for the club but wa
; undecided on what to do abou
the club pending a survey of it
books. Three weeks ago he wa
still undecided pending conferenc
with club attorneys.
{ Mr.. Curran said at that time h
had just about decided to drol
charges against Galera and to e
ahead with a prosecution of tn
club. as corporation because tn
law clearly was violated"
Asked If this move would caus
officers of the Variety Club to ap
pear as defendants, Mr.. Curral
said, Some one will have to appea
to present plea" The case mean
while has remained on the book.
, Clubs Books Checked.
After police arrested Galera an
conflscated six slot machines in tn
raid, Mr.. Curran requested that tn
Variety Club submit it's books t
his Office for examination. J,
! Fontaine of Paramount Picture.
, Inc, chief barker of the club, sal
, he turned the entire matter owe
! to Attorney Newmyer.
1--WE had nothing to conceal,
Mr. Newmyer told a reporter, IS
| we gave them permission to loo
> at our books"
! Mr.. Curray said his investigator
> showed there is no connectio
between slot machine usage in tn
, Variety Club and the gambling fra
! ternity in Washington"
There was no fix involved" h
added. "the proceeds were going t