Evening star., 1948-08-22
Legal Betting
In All Counties
Urged by Jury
Charles County Panel
Says System Would
End Numbers Racket
BY J. [. MichoeI
SpeeioI Dispatch 10 The Stur

Speeiol pispo.eh TO The ssor
LA PLATA, Md, Aug. 2l.-Legal-
lied pari-mutuel betting in all
Maryland's 23 counties was recon-
mended today by a Charles County
grand jury foreman as a means OF
ending the Illegal numbers racket.
The recommendation came from
Foster M. Reeder, forman of a grand
jury which reported after special
session here Monday that slot ma
chimes, bingo and raffles should be
legalized.
Mr.. Reeder also announced that
the grand jury had written to
Beverly Ober, State police superin-
tendent asking that his officers be
instructed to aid county authorities
IN cleaning up the gambling and
liquor situation in Charles county"
Text of Letter Withheld.
The grand jury in an earlier re-
port at the May term of court said
violations of liquor and gambling
laws were fragrant and wide
spread" 1t its report to the court
Monday the jury declared that such
conditions are getting progressive
ly worse"
He did not disclose the txet of the
letter. He explained that a copy
had been sent to Judge Charles C.
Maroury, who presided Monday.
Il do not think it would be prop-
err" Mr.. Reeder said, TO reveal the
text OF the letter. especially since I
understand that Col. Ober is not at
his desk at this time and probably
has not received it,
Mondays special session was CALI
ed at the jurys request. It's Nav
report laid the blame for alleged
lawless conditions on the countv's
duly elected enforcement officers"
ana requested its own recall as a
jury within 30 days.
Matter Of Giving Notice.
The jury also asked that the spe-
cial session be advertised so indi-
Vlduals or representatives of civic or
rellglouS groups would be notified
In time to present evidence.
No witnesses appeared Monday
and the jury was dismissed after a
7hou-r session.
In his charge to the jury, Judge
Marbury expressed surprise" that
press release announcing the spe.
clal session had not been issued.
Inc judge said that was the proper
advertising method and added hs
nad instructed Patrick C. Mudd of
Circuit Court 10 days before tina
4 Gsand jury convened to inform the
foreman this should be done. Mr..
Mr.. Reeder said today there had
been a misunderstanding, as ,
4 EMr. Mudd," he declared "cs,,ea
me few days before the extra ses-
sion relative to advertising the in-
Vestigat1on we intended to make.
however 1t was my understanding
that the grand jury was without
authority to indebt the country for
advertising expense.
| Suggestion Outlined.
! The jury considered Its May re-
port as constituting q press release
since its contents were widely pub.
licized," he explained. It was the
jury's wish that advertisements be
inserted in weekly newspapers cir
culating in Charles County. We
regret that through q misunder-
standing this was not done"
Concerning pari-mutuel betting,
Mr.. Reeder expressed the belief that
If such system. now legal at the
States horse-race tracks, were
adapted to supplant numbers games,
it would eliminate illegal numbers
establishments in the District Of
Columbia and Maryland.
He advocated installation of a
pari-mutuel machine at each county
seat operated under the supervision
of county authorities, with small
percentage of the take" going to
the State and the rest to the county.
) Under the plan. tickets would be
sold at mercantile establishments
throughout the counties.
such a system" Mr.. Reeder de-
cleard, would stop the flow OF num-
bers money out of the county ana
the State. 1t also would provide
ample funds for county hospitals,
schools and other public projects.
1t would. In fact, rejuvinate the
counties in a financial way.
Likened To Tidal Force.
:. 1t also would virtually eliminate
gaming law violations and would in
sure that those who liked to take
, chances would get square deal.
Also such a plan would make it
possible for the little fellow to sat-
isfy his gambling instinct without
incurring stigma as law breaker
and without leaving home.
1.-The gambling instinct" Mr..
Reeder declared, "is deep rooted in
Charles County as it is everywhere
else. 1t would be better to permit
citizens to take chances legally,
than to try to legislate such an
instinct out of existence.
ITO attempt that is like trying to
stop the rise and fall of the tide"