Evening star., 1948-05-09

Fay May Copy Plan
Used in New York
In Gambling Fight
By Chris Mathisen
The techniques of New York pros
ecutors in cracking big-time gam
bling combines may find application
here in United States Attorney
George Morris Fay's efforts to Grip
pie ~hat he has described as a
$1O0 ,00O, 900 business of chance.
Combining business and pleasure
in a weekend trip to New York,
Mr.. Fay has been conferring with
John Murtagh. New York City COM
missioner of investigation, on meth
ods Of gambling law enforcement
used there.
Mr.. Fay left Washington Friday.
Mrs. Fay said last night she had
not heard from him and did not
know exactly where he was staying.
Mayor William O'Dwyer of New
York, however, said Mr.. Fay was his
houseguest. The prosecutor could
not be reached at the time.
Guest Of O'Dwyer.
Asked by telephone whether Mr..
Fay had gone to New York to study
the city's anti-gambling procedures,
Mayor ODwyer told The Star he
was sure that was not his original
intention.
He came up for the Anvil
G horus', dinner tonight, )" Mr..
ODwyer explained. Hes an old
friend of mine. He's been my house,
guest before. In fact, he usually is
when he comes to New York. a.,
He knows Mr.. Murtagh well, too.
They got to talking shop, and, nat
urally, .Morrie' Fay was interested
in what we had been doing here. It's
continuous battle. We think lot
of 'Morrie,' and we're only too glad
to help him in any way we can"
Mr.. ODwyer reiterated his belief
Mr.. Fay had not travelled to New
York with the forthcoming special
grand jury investigation of gambling
uppermost in his thoughts. He said
the anvil Chorus" gathering was
the magnet.
Anvil Chorus Described.
He described the organization as
a Brooklyn group devoted to good
fellowship and Kidding the man."
It's dinner program last night was
to include a program of bantering
skits, the Mayor explained.
He said he and Mr.. Fay had be-
come good friends while the Mayor,
an Army Air Forces colonel, was
handling an investigation at Wright
Field, Ohio, during the war, and
Mr.. Fay was assisting. Mr.. Murtagh
also was there at the time, Mr..
O'Dwyer recalled.
Earlier yesterday, Mr.. Murtagh
told The Star he did not know Mr..
Fay was in New York, had no ap-
pointment with him and was not
aware a special grand jury was to
be impaneled here May II to in
vestigate the gambling industry.
Mr.. O'Dwyer is former prosecu-
tor who, before defeating the late
Forello H. LaGuardia for the
Imayorality in 1941. won fame for
breaking up the Murder. Inc, kill
for a price organization while
Kings County (BrooklynD district
attorney.
O'Dwyer Crusade Recalled.
In addition to his own expert
ence in fighting the underworld
Mr.. O'Dwyer could give Mr.. Fay
the benefit of New York's case
records on gambling prosecutions.
An attack on major gambling
interests was part of the program
of Gov. Thomas E. Dewey while he
was district attorney of New York
County. In 1887, he climaxed his
crusade by obtaining the indict-
ment of Dutch" Schultz, already
slain in a gangland dispute, and
a number of his lieutenants.
| A multi-million- dollar numbers
game operation proved to be the
| foundation of Schult's violent
underworld reign.
Mr.. Fay has indicated the scope
of the special grand jury inquiry
will cross the District line. Police
officials have stated from time to
time their efforts to curb gambling
here have been hampered by the
fact the "big shots maintained
headquarters in Maryland and Vir-
ginia.
Clark Approved Action.
In requesting impaneling of the
special grand jury with the approval
OF Attorney General Clark, Mr.. Fay
pointed out its subpoena power
would enable it to compel testimony
by persons residing outside the Dis
trict.
The extent to which his brief
New York study has been helpful
| in planning assistance to the grand
jury probably will not become evi-
dent until the investigation gets
under way. Mr.. Fay has stated his
belief that body should decide the
methods it wishes to use
Meanwhile. routine police activity
against gambling continued here.
! Three persons were held for grand
jury action by United States Com
missioner Needham G. Turnage yes
terday. Bond was set at $500 each
on lottery charges.
All Plead Not Guilty.
The three, all OF whom pleaded
not guilty. are John I. Robinson and
his wife, Annie, both 80. Of the 500