Evening star., 1949-03-21
Pyramid Club
Leader Indicted,
Lottery Charged
Grand Jury Calls
Activities Illegal;
Police Seek Cases

A 28-year-old br1cklayer who
comedies that he started a Pyra-
mid Club here, was indicted by a
District grand jury today on
charges of violating the lottery
laws.
BY this action the grand jury
took the view that Pyramid Clubs.
in which thousands of Washing
tonians are now involved, are
illegal.
Immediately afterward 1t. Roy
Blick of the Police Vice Squad an
that as a result of the
Indictment he was going to make
a drive on Pyramid Clubbers. He
said his investigators would try
to join Pyramid Clubs to get evil
dence to make cases.
Lots of people may lose their
telephones under the gambling
laws, 1t. Blick warned. IF it is
gambling and they are using their
telephones to solicit recruits in the
Pyramid Clubs Under the Federal
Communications Commission rules,
they can lose their telephones"
United States Attorney George
Morris Fay declined to comment.
$1,000 Fine, Prison Possible.
Conviction of violating the lot
terry laws carries a penalty OF up
to $1,000 fine or imprisonment
for up to three years or both.
The indicted bricklayer is Daniel
A. Thomas, of the first block OF
Hawaii avenue NE, who is said
to be in the contracting business
with his father.
Mr.. Thomas was never arrested.
He was questioned by 1t. Blick and
later talked with Assistant United
States Attorney Warren Wilson.
Mr.. Thomas lawyers said their
client freely admitted having
started a Pyramid Club in which
his wife and sister-in-law also COL
lected.
Mr.. Thomas was notified that
he had been indicted while he was
laying bricks for a Pepco substa-
ton at Four Corners, Md, just be-
fore noon.
Bushes to See Lawyer.
He jumped in his car and drove
to the Office of his lawyer, Denis
K. Lane, 426 Fifth street NV.
This is giving me more trou-
BILE than it was worth" :" Mr..
Thomas told a reporter who ac-
companied him downtown.
Eyes, I hit it, but only for about
half as much money as half OF
these people. I haven't been able
to keep my mind on my work for
two weeks" =.
Mr.. Lane, who is associated
with George ]. Boden In repre-
senting Mr.. Thomas. said he will
seek court test OF the legality OF
the indictment.
II say he is not guilty Of oper-
ating a lottery" Mr.. Lane said.
when informed of the indictment.
Il don't think Pyramid Clubs are
a lottery"
The grand jury. however, took
a different view. It charged that
during the period from about
February 26 to about March IL
Mr.. Thomas was concerned as
owner, agent and clerk, and in
other ways, in managing, carrying
on and promoting a lottery, re-
ferred to and called Pyramid
Club
Citizens May Turn in Solicitors.
1t. Blick said police attention
will be focused on those collecting
pay-of money and on those using
the telephone for recruiting.
He warned that he will raid
Pyramid Club pay-offs on the
basis of evidence from one OF his
own investigators or on the basis
of affidavits from citizens.
If any of his investigators are
solicited by telephone or II ne
gets a complaint from some one
else who has been solicited by
phone, the vice squad chief SAID
he will move in on the telephoner.
Asked if his investigators are
lust starting to get into the
pyramid club progression, Lt.
Blick replied with laugh: There
is many fictitious name in the
PYRAMID Clubs right now
1t. Blick said he had founo that
Pyramid clubbers anxious 10
recruit new members are now SO
7See PYRAMID CLUBS, Pg. A-3o