Evening star., 1948-04-28
Special Grand Jury to Investigate
$1OO>OOO>OOO-a-Year Racket in
All Phases Of Gambling in District
Prosecutor Silent
On Rumors of
Police Protection
By Chris Mothisen

At the request of United States
Attorney George Norris Fay,
Chief Justice Bolitha J. Laws of
District Court today signed an
order for the impaneling of
special grand jury to investigate
what Mr.. Fay described as the
$l00000,000-a-year Washington
gambling racket.
Justice Laws directed that a draw
Ing for the special panel be made
Friday and that the jury be i'm
paneled May IT.
Mr.. Fay said he had requested the
special grand jury as a result of
information which had been coming
to his office for more than year
He told Justice Laws the gambling
situation here had been discussed
with Attorney General Clark, who
had authorized the request for an
investigation,
Mr.. Fay said it was believed to
be the first time a special grand
jury had been requested for a
gambling investigation here, and
John w. Finely, an assistant, added
1t certainly was the first in his as
soCiation with the Office, which goes
back Is years.
Silent on Protection"
Mr.. Fay would not comment on
reports he would seek to offer the
grand jury evidence bearing on al
legged police protection" of certain
gambling figures and their opera
tons. He emphasized his Office
merely would present a picture of
the situation as it appeared from
information which had trickled in
over a long period.
Then. he said, it would be up to
the grand jury to decide on wit
neSSeS 1t wanted subpoenaed. These
could include police, reputed gam
blerS and other persons.
Elsewhere in the United States
attorneys office it was understood
no direct evidence" OF police COL
luSion had come to Mr.. FayS at
tention.
Such an aspect of the gambling
industry often has entered grand
jury Investigations in other cities.
viii Touch All Phases.
The attention of the grand jury
will be directed toward all phases
of gambling here, it was understood
gambling, horse-race betting and
numbers playing,
The S100,000000 total annual
take" was described as "a realistic
figure" which might be multiplied
several times in fact.
In revealing his request. Mr.. Fay
issued a statement in which he de-
Clarcd, in part:
The anticipated investigation b.
the grand jury is not a mere
crusade against gambling. but
rather is directed to Curtailing or
breaking up the tremendous
gambling racket which has grown
up in the District of Columbia and
now has assumed inter state pro-
portions"
In the certificate submitted to
Justice Laws. Mr Fay pointed out
efforts to crack the rich gambling
industry here had been compli-
Gated by the fact that financial
headquarters of gambling interests
were maintained across the District
line.
But, he told reporters:
The grand jury has plenary
powers to summon any witnesses
within or without the District of
Columbia and as a result thereof
Will be able to make full and COM
plate investigation of the gambling
situation as it affects the District
of Columbia"
Tells of Discussions.
MI Fay explained he had discuss
ed Washington gambling with two
OF his principal assistants, Mr..
Flhelly and Charles B Murray. from
time to time and had taken steps
to acquaint the grand jurors of
the January and April terms of the
general situation
After consideration of all the .
Continued on pooo . roI q