Evening star., 1948-04-15
Grand Jury Inquiry
Seeks Tighter Curb
On Numbers Racket

A grand jury investigation aimed
at better results in the apprehen-
sion and prosecution of numbers
racketeers is under way in the Dis
trict.
The inquiry began two days ago
when United States Attorney George
Morris Fay appeared before the jury
with his first assistant, John M.
Finely, and 1t. Roy Blick, head of
the Police Departments vice squad.
Mr.. Fay said today he was not at
liberty to reveal the scope of the
inquiry. 1t was learned, however
that he and others are concerned
with negligible results obtained thus
far in the war on the multimillion-
dollar racket.
Police officials from time to time
have expressed dissatisfaction with
the small number of convictions OBJ
tained in apparently air-tight cases
One police official said principal
concern of the department was the
reason why more cases presented to
the grand jury do not produce in
dictments.
He said some assistants in the
United States attorneys Office were
reluctant to press for indictments
in minor cases, arguing that the
police are concentrating on small
fry instead Of shooting for the head
men.
In rebuttal, the police contend that
knocking off the leaders is difficult
because they conduct their business
from Maryland and Virginia.
Eight Sentences This Year.
Records show only eight Jail SEN
tences meted out this year from
the ia cases in District and
municipal courts. The longest SEN
tence was a year, and the others
tapered off to 80 days.
Police officers responsible for the
suppression of the lottery have ex-
pressed satisfaction that the illegiti-
mate enterprise is under better
control now than for many years.
But they also have pointed to the
percentage of convictions as dis
couraging, to the fact that nearly
10 times more light fines than the
Jail sentences have been since the
first of the year, and that policemen
at times have been badly treated In
the courts.
At one time there was talk in high
police circles of requesting an FBI
inquiry into the entire legal ma
chinery as it pertains to the numbers
racket.
SQUAD Makes Double Raid.
Yesterday 1t. Blick led a squad to
l421 Twelfth street NV. and made
a double raid on upstairs and down.
stairs apartments.
The result was eight arrests on
charges of operating a lottery and
possession of numbers slips.
The defendants were held on
$500 bond each after their ap-
pearance before Judge Ellen K.
Raedy in Municipal Court this
morning. The cases were continued
until April %.
1t. Blick called the spots sub
headquarters" OF the numbers game.
He said that recently kingpins of
the racket have been subdividing
their locations instead of operating
out of the headquarters.
Arrested in the raid were James
R. Carter, 81, of the 900 block
TWenty-f1rst street NE; Sumner
Brooks, AZ, of the 800 block Ninth
street NE; Joel Clark, SO, of the
14O0 block Twelfth street NV:
Gordon Wilson, 35, of the 700 block
Otis place NV: Robert A. Tucker,
"a, of the 100 block M street NV;
Theodore Jackson, 81, of the 1900
block Park road NV; David I. Stro-
man, 36, of the 200 block Hollywood
place NE, and James L. Harrington,
46, of the 14O0 block Twelfth street
NV. All are colored.
Twelve million defense medals
and war medals will be produced in
Britain in the next two years.