Evening star., 1949-05-28
Ship. Raid Conference
Fails 10 Find Motive
For Tip on Gambling

All was quiet along the Potomac
today in Prince Georges County's S
war on steamboat gambling which
backf1red to the embarrassment OF
county authorities when a raid on
the s. s. Mount Vernon taking the
Southwest Harbor Lions Club on
a charity cruise netted respectable
businessmen instead Of profess
sional gamblers.
But one thing was agreed on
yesterday to the satisfaction Of
county authorities and ofilcials Of
the Wilson line. which operates the
steamer. in q two-hour conference
u the office of the Prince Georges
prosecutor in Marlboro. They con-
cluded that 1t was 65-year-ol
Eppa Dodson, the relief master Of
the ship. who asked the Prince
Georges County police to make the
raid on the steamer Wednesday
night. ,.
Capt. Dodson was not present at
the conference. although A. Gwynn
Bowie. States attorney Of Prince
Georges County. had asked par
ticularly Of the line officials that
they bring him along. .
Dodson Denies Calling Police.
Herbert Hail, the regular cap
tain Of the ship. attended. War
rem E.. Magee, attorney for the
line. explained to the press after
ward that Capt. Dodson was out
on the river in the Mount Vernon
on an excursion and that 1t was
only possible to bring one of the
two masters assigned to the ship.
Capt. Hall. he said. knew nothing
about the raid until 1t occurred.
The conclusion Of the confer
ence was not to the satisfaction
Of Capt. Dodson, however. Met
at the Maine avenue wharf by a
reporter when he brought the
Mount Vernon back from her
afternoon cruise. the little white
haired mariner continued to deny
with great indignation that he
had called the police and threat
ened to sue the newspapers II they
printed any more about 1t.
How are you going to prove
it?" he demanded belligerently.
MIR. Magee acted as spokesman
when the several Washington re-
'porters who had been waiting out
side were called into Mr.. Bowie s
Office In Marlboro. . -.
No idea Of Motive.
He said he had not the slight
est idea Of Capt. Dodson's motive
in calling the police. He said he
felt certain that Capt. Han had
no knowledge Of the raid until
he was ordered by the police to
dock his boat at Fort Washington
Wednesday night.
As for Capt. Dodson's reasons
for. making the call. Mr.. Magee
said, the company is beginning
q thorough investigation into that
angle Of the affair.
Present at the conference were
Mr.. Bowie. Mr.. Magee, r. r.
Hyman, Washington agent for the
Wilson line. a Delaware CORPORA
ton; Ralph Brown. superintend-
ent Of Prince Georges County
police, and Prince Georges Detec-
tive Richard A. Pearson.
Detective Pearson told newspa-
permen he had checked the call.
and that it came from the home
Of Capt. Dodson's sister, with
whom the mariner lives.
Won on First Spin.
According to the police. Capt.
Dodson called the police station
at Hyattsville Wednesday after
noon and informed them that pro-
fessional gamblers were operating
on the Mount Vernon. The call
was taken by Louis A. Weaver,
q desk clerk. He referred 1t to
Supt. Brown. who referred 1t In
turn to Detective Pearson.
Detective Pearson said he came
into Washington and conferred
with Capt. Dodson. The detective