Evening star., 1948-07-08
By Chris Mothisen

The Washington gambling investi-
CATION apparently has moved to the
offices of United States Attorney
George Morris Fay and his assist
ants for more pondering and prepa-
ration.
The special grand jury, which
has been conducting the inquiry
since May IT, has been in recess
since June 80.
Since Mr.. Fay does not reveal its
meeting plans, it is not known when
the % citizen investigators will re-
sumo their work.
When the jury does not sit. how
ever, the prosecutors assisting it
continue to occupy themselves with
the problem of finding means of
breaking up an illegal business Mr..
Fay believes is crossing more than
500, 100000 a year here.
The inquiry seems to be in that
phase now Mr. Fay and Assistant
United States Attorney Charles B.
Murray presumably h ave been
studying the information in their
hands with a view to selecting the
next aspect of the gambling picture
to be offered the special grand jury
Brass Rail- Case Heard.
When it began its recess. the
grand jury was considering the
Brass Rail case"-tWo shootings in
a cafe last January. The list of wit
nesses heard in connection with this
case indicated virtually all persons
likely to have information concern
ing the reason for the alteration
were summoned.
Charles Henry Nelson of the 1906
block of H street NE. and Henry
M. Leake of the 100 block of r
street NE, both 39 and colored
who were wounded in the shootings
we're scheduled to 60 on trial yester-
day on charges of assault with a
deadly weapon, assault with. intent
to kill and carrying a dangerous
weapon. The cases were postponed
one week, however, at the request
of the Government.
A further continuance may result
when they are called again Wednes-
day. Few trials are held during the
summer. recess of District Court
when only skeleton staff of Judges
is on duty. Cases having an urgency
factor, such as those Involving per-
sons who are spending their time in
Jail while awaiting trial, are given
preference.
Nelson and Leake are free under
bond.
With most of the testimony about
the cafe shootings in its record
there has been speculation as TO
where the special grand jury would
turn next.
May Call Outside Witnesses.
Mr.. Fay refuses to discuss prog
reSs of the Investigation, so the
answer will not become available
until the next group of witnesses is
identified through a watch which
has been kept on the grand jury
room since the inquiry began.
Among the matters the speCial
grand jury has been expected tc
/ look into eventually is the reputeo
interstate character of the gambling
industry in this area. The grand
jury may call witnesses from out
side the District.
1t has been thought probable the
investigators will want to hear from
the persons everybody knows are
backing numbers game and horse
betting operations in Washington
from headquarters in Maryland and
Virginia.
Further, it has been felt the
special grand jury will try to obtain
information on regional bet-taking
organizations within the Capital,
including one reported to have con-
centrated it's business for years in
the Georgetown and West End
neighborhoods.
The indictments eventually re-
turned by the special grand jury, If
any, may not allege gambling
offenses. With the task of obtain
ing evidence against the "big shots
to support gambling charges known
to be extremely difficult, the in
vestigation may strike at these in
dividuals through perjury or income
tax evasion indictments