Evening star., 1948-08-16
Gambling Probe
|s0pened With
Judge'sRebuke
La Plato Grand Jury
Censured in Failure
To Advertise Session
SpseioI Dispatch 10 The Stor

LA PLATA, Md, Aug. 16.-A
special session of the Charles County
grand jury today is investigating
alleged lax enforcement of liquor
and gambling laws after repri-
mand from Judge Charles c. Mar
bury for failure to issue a press
release advertising" the special
session.
Judge Marbury told the jurors
today that 10 days ago he instructed
Circuit Court Clerk Patrick C. Mudd
to inform Foster NJ Reeder, grand
Jury foreman that he should issue
a statement to the press announcing
that the investigation would begin
today.
The Judge expressed surprise"
that no notice of the impending in
vestigation had appeared In any
newspaper as far as he knew.
Tells of Ordering Release.
Judge Marbury said that he had
directed that a press release be
issued after Mr.. Mudd had informed
him there had been "misconcep-
ton" as to whether the court or
the grand jury should advertise the
investigation.
The grand jury report handed to
the court last May 10 requested
that the group be recalled in 80
days and asked the court to "adver-
tise the special investigation it in
tends to make so that the jury could
hear complaints from individual
citizens or persons representing local
groups"
In charging the grand jury today,
Judge Marbury read excerpts from
the May report which alleged wide
spread liquor and gambling law vio-
lations and laid the blame squarely
on the county's duly elected en-
forcement officers"
Liquor Sales Attacked.
The sections referred to were:
Improper, reckless and unlawful
dispensing of alcoholic beverages has
caused crowds to congregate, OBJ
structing sidewalks and highways,
making free passage Of trafic by
pedestrians and vehicles almost i'm
possible, thereby disturbing the
peace"
The report recommended that en-
forcement officers make special in
vestigation of these establishments
with view to suspension or revo-
cation of licenses"
The report further said that "there
are adequate laws governing pro-
fessionla gambling such as slot ma
chimes, numbers and race horse
booking. as we'll as the sale OF
liquor"
ANY unlawful situation that
exists" the report said, ''is due to
lack Of enforcement by the duly
elected officers of Charles County
whose oath Of Office covers this
enforcement"
State Police Aid Asked.
THE grand jury" the report
said, strongly begs the court to
delegate enforcement Of county
laws regarding gambling and sale
of liquor to the State police in CO.
operation with county law enforce
uept officers"
Judge Marbury told the jurors
this morning that the court is not
a legislative body and cannot dele
gate such authority"
Maryland State police, under the
law, have full authority to act in
criminal case, observers said.
States Attorney Thomas c. Car
rico explained that under Mary
lands common law procedure, the
prosecutor is neither required nor
permitted to investigate alleged
gambling or liquor law violations.
Sheriff Refuses Comment.
Sheriff Elmer M. Quade refused
to comment on the alleged lawless
conditions, but made it clear that he
believed the responsibility for inves-
tigating such allegations rested with
the grand jury.
Sheriff Quade said that 'if it de-
velops that I am charged with re-
sponsibility, I intend to act without
discrimination" He explained that
meant he would file charges against
those who operate games of chance
and gaming devices at civic and
charitable events. church festivals,
and picnics. as we'll as those who
violate other gambling and liquor
laws"
J. Franklin Winkler, one of the
county's two delegates to the Cen
eral Assembly, said that if the
sheriff pursued such a policy, it
would assure passage of law legal
izing slot machines and other games
of chance.
r. Vernon Cooksey, the other Del
egate, agreed that liquor and gam
bling law violations are common
place. He pointed to the numbers
racket as the worst offender, Sew
eral hundred dollars day are TAX
en- by numbers men from the coun-
ty's fifth district, in which my gen.
eral store is located" he said.
Would Back Referendum.
"1f referendum measure is in
troduced,' Mr.. Cooksey declared, i
will 60 along with it,
Both Mr.. Cooksey and Mr.. VIM
kler said they would support such
bill because of the county's need for
additional revenue.
State Senator James B. Monroe
viewed the matter in substantially
the same light as the two Delegates.
All three are Republicans, as is
Sheriff Quade. Mr.. Carrico is the
only elected officeholder in the
county who is Democrat.
The Senator emphasized that If
I do introduce such a bill, it prob
ably will impose license of 5000 on
each machine In other words, it
will be strictly revenue measure
and not a gamblers bill"
Members of the grand jury are
Mr.. Reeder; w. Ernest Offutt,
Charles A. Ullman, Richard H
Thomas. A. Victory Estep, Ralph G
Wade, w. Emory Shannon, Middle
ton l.. Shannon, J. Marvin Speake,
Ralph L. Simms, James C. Queen,
w. Ralph Gardiner. G. Sellman
Robey. Jesse M. Herbert, James W.