Evening star., 1948-06-07
Maryland Raid,
D. {. Gambling
Probe Linked
Most of Men Arrested
From Capital, County
Prosecutor Points Out

The District gambling investiga-
ton undoubtedly had a direct
bearing on operation of the Roc
way Towers, Maryland gambling
casino closed in raid Saturday,
Daniel Murray. jr.. Howard County
States attorney said today.
Most of the men arrested were
from Washington, weren't they?"
was the way Mr.. Murray justified
his statement.
The prosecutor said he still was
conducting his investigation and
had not set the date when 81 men
charged as a result of the raid
would be arranged at Ellicott City.
Altogether, 40 persons, s45,000 and
a small arsenal were seized when
80 State troopers swooped down on
the Towers, square-turreted road
house near Laurel, in a midnight
raid that surprised even the county
law enforcement authorities.
Lane Pleased by Success.
Today Gov. Lane of Maryland
expressed satisfaction that the raid
was complete"
In accordance with State policy,
the State police stood ready to
conduct other raids any time county
officers requested it, Gov. Lane said.
That policy is not new and covers
not only gambling but every field
OF law enforcement, he added.
Explaining how the sheriffs offlce
was by-passed in planning the raid
Gov Lane said he understood there
were only few deputies available
and that the manpower was insult
f1cient to cope with the task.
The fact that State police did not
ask cooperation of local police was
not meant as a criticism of the
sheriff, Mr.. Lane said.
Other counties, such as Prince
Georges and Montgomery, have
county police with more personnel
than that of Howard County, the
Governor added.
State Aid Was Asked.
Mr.. Lane said the raid was insti-
gated at the request of Mr.. Murray
several months ago. but that
there were deterring factors. One
OF them was the Staying of Hunter
C. Lewis, an ex-convict. near the
Towers in March, an incident that
led to temporary idleness at the
gambling house.
Mr.. Murray asked for special as
sistance from the State police, say
ing the county law enforcement
body was not adequate for the raid.
the Governor said.
Both he and Mr.. Murray declined
to say whether similar raids are
planned in the near future.
In connection with the assertion
that Washington area men had
moved into Rocway Towers as re-
suit of the grand jury investigation
here, Mr.. Murray noted that the
place was opened under new man
agement only two weeks ago.
Seized $4,000 Creates Problem.
Owners of the establishment were
listed as Theodore A. Meyers, 4200
block Of Branch avenue, Silver Hill,
Md, and Walter Novak, 1900 block
jackson avenue, Takoma Park, Md.
Police said Meyers is better known
In the Silver Hill area as Mike"
Meyers.
Mr.. Murray also credited the
breakdown on Prince Georges
County gambling last fall with driv-
ing some known gamblers into How
ard County.
One of the problems facing the
States attorney was what to do
about $4,000 seized in the raid from
an elderly woman living on the sec
ond floor.
She was identified by her son,
John Maddox, as Mrs. Anna Mad
dock. He said she had been given
permission to live in the house
pending completion of home OF
her own next door, and that she
had nothing to do with the opera
tion of the place.
Mr.. Maddox, who lives in home
at the rear of the Towers. said he
would obtain an attorney in an at
tempt to retrieve the money, de-
scribed as his mothers life savings.
Mr.. Murray did not know what
action would be taken in the matter
and said he had planned no confer
ence with Mrs. Maddox.