Evening star., 1947-12-05
bookmaker Gets
Stiff Sentence
In nMontgomery
All Gamblers to Get
Severe Punishment,
Judge Declares

Judge Charles w. Woodward made
it clear yesterday that Montgomery
County Circuit Court will not toll
crate professional gamblers.
He said so in strongly worded
pronouncement from the bench of
the Montgomery court at Rockville,
then gave point to the statement by
imposing on bookmaker almost
the maximum sentence allowed by
law
"All professional gamblers ought
to know by this time" Judge Wood
ward said, that if they are con-
victed in this court they are going
to serve time-that they are going
to be punished severely"
Unless stopped, Judge Woodward
explained to attentive spectators
who nearly filled his courtroom, pro-
fessional gamblers obtain control Of
communities. When that happens,
he said, corruption invariably fol-
lows and frequently there is vio-
lence, such as shootings and murder.
Asks for Leniency.
The man found guilty of accepting
horse race bets was Peter H. Hill, 33,
a salesman of electrical appliances
who lives in the 800 block of Eastern
avenue, Silver Spring. The neatly
attired bookmaker sought leniency
on grounds that he must support his
I'm sorry for your wife and chill
dren," Judge Woodward said, but
I am not going to stand for profess
sional gambling or any other kind
of racket. You knew what you were
doing and you knew the conse-
quences.
Therefore, am fining you 81 1000
and costs. That is the maximum"
Should he fail to pay the maxi
mum fine, Judge Woodward pointed
out, Hill would have to serve time
in Jail. The court also ruled the
man must serve nine months in the
Maryland House of Correction in
addition to the fine. The maximum
under the charge would have been
- months.
The court next called Wilburn E.
Morrow, So, to come before the bar
for sentencing on a charge similar
to Hills. In the hushed room, spec
tators still mulled over Judge Wood
wards comments on the Hill case.
Next Man Asks New Trial.
'Your honor" interposed an at
torney for Morrow, I'VE wish to offer
a motion for new trial"
Judge Woodward agreed to defer
sentence pending arguments on the
motion today.
In what the judge described as .
very sad case" Charles H. Grouse,
81, partially disabled veteran, was
sent to the Maryland House of Cor
rection for two years as penalty for
assault with intent to kill his former
wife
After being honorably discharged
Grouse won a divorce on grounds
that his wife committed adultery
while he was overseas and while he
was being treated in a hospital for
service disability. When he learned
of her unfaithfulness. he and his
wife were separated. Then he took
"a gun and went to another's prop
erty and shot her.
Gets I Years for Assault.
Maurice Crawford, 30, who was
convicted of assault and battery and
assault with intent to kill, drew q
total sentence of seven years. Craw-
ford, who is colored, shot his girl
friend and man who happened to
be in the vicinity
An indeterminate sentence of IL
months was imposed on Richard c.
Nealan, 81, who was found guilty of
firing at a man who forbade Nealan
from visiting his daughter.
Seymour Thomas, 20, a colored
Army veteran, was fined $100 and
costs for assault and battery.
Judge Stedman Prescott passed
sentence in several liquor cases.
People can buy whisky or drink 10
legally, he said, but bootlegging has
got to stop"
Fines of $500 and costs each were
imposed on Walter Stewart, 80;
Rosa Davis, 36: Alberta Davis, 26,
and Lula Potts, "a. All are colored.