Evening star., 1948-07-12
Trial Of Il Starts
|npo|iceRaidon
Rocway Towers
Gambling Tables and
Other Evidence on
Display in Court

Twenty-one persons arrested
in connection with the June 5
raid on Rocway Towers, gambling
casino near Laurel, Md, went on
trial today in Howard County
Circuit Court at Ellicott City.
The courtroom of Judge James
Clark was arrayed like gambling
place itself with the display of two
felt-covered tables and other para
phernalia purportedly seized as eVi
dence.
In his opening statement, States
Attorney Daniel Murray described
the raid on the turreted, rambling
building. The raid was executed IN
great secrecy by State police.
Tells of Steel Doors at House.
Mr.. Murray said troopers, moving
in on the Rocway at l2:l5 am,
found it protected by steel doors
with mirrors and peek holes. Ihe
doors we're such that the person on
the outside saw his own image IN
mirrors. but himself was visible
to those inside the building, ne
said
Mr.. Murray said the police not
onlv seized the gambling devices,
but found $4,000 in cash behlnd
a radiator downstairs and $l2'ozo
in a third floor room.
The first witness called was Sydney
T. Holland, documentary expert OF
the FBI, who was asked to compare
signatures on income tax forms with
those of some of the defendants ap-
pearing on bail bonds.
Small Arsenal Exhibited.
In addition to the gambling tables,
two 6-foot high "overseers" chairs
and a small arsenal of guns and am
munition allegedly seized IN the
raid. were on display in the court
room
Sergt. G. Earl Newcomer, a State
policeman who took part in the RAID,
had lust taken the stand when the
court recessed at noon.
A four-man battery of defense
attorney was headed py William
Curran, former attorney general OF
Maryland.
One of those on trial was Patrick
J. Clarke, identified as owner OF the
Towers and charged with knowing
" permitted gambling in place ne
owned.
Two others were Theodore A.
Myers, 1900 block of Branch avenue.
Silver Hill, and Walter Novak, l2oo
block Jackson avenue, Takoma
Park. charged with operating the
establishment.
Eighteen Others Charged.
Eighteen others, identified as en-
ploves. we're charged with keeping,
dealing at, managing and having an
interest in a gambling table, keep
ing and managing a gambling place
and unlaWfully betting. Clarke also
was charged on all these counts eX-
cept unlaWfully betting.
The 18 listed as employees, and
their addresses as furnished by po-
lice. were:
Charles r. Beers, first block of
Colebrook drive. Silver Hill; Alfred
E. Movers, 400 block of Hagen road,
Washington; William E. Downs,
Silver Hill; Edward Kali, 3400 block
of Newton street NE; Silvio j.
Damico. 1900 block of Nelson place;
John Geraci, 5000 block of Nelson
place: Mike Mofet, 1900 block OF
Holbrook terrace: Joe w. Helmick.
5000 block of Bladensburg road;
Thomas H. Rice of Silver Spring.
Also Edward T. La Prairie, 200
block of North Nineteenth avenue;
William A. Garner, 100 block of
Worthington drive; Martin L.
Murphy, 1900 block of Holbrook ter
race: Nele j. Rodick, $500 block of
Arundel road, Mount Rainier; Frank
Tolson, $500 block of North WASH
ington boulevard, Arlington; Robert
E. Meyers, Silver Hill; William c.
Quade, Cheltenham, Md, William
B. Bellfield. Ogden street, and Will
Gor,, Corlpy of 9llrel