Evening star., 1949-11-22
Gambling
Continued From First Page.)

COQUluueQ rTOM clISt EdSc.l
the conspiracy consisted of TAX
ing numbers bets through agents
In the District and transporting
them across the State line to be
processed and banked at Bladens-
burg.
The Government, which closed
its case this morning, contends
the syndicate was doing $14.-
o00, 900 worth of business in the
District annually. Mr.. Collins
pointed out that no evidence had
been introduced to show that
Lewis had taken any bets in the
District. The arguments took
place after the jury was tempo
rarily excused.
Judge Mcclure replied that the
Government contends Lewis re-
ceived the bets through his agents.
Mr.. Hitz said that other bets had
been telephoned to the syndicate
from the District by players TAX
ing a part in the conspiracy, but
whose names had been unknown
to the grand jury.
Attorney Charles E. Ford argued
for Seger that he was doing
nothing but standing there" when
the raiders arrived. And he later
said nothing and did nothing, nor
was any evidence discovered on
his person to connect him with
the operation Of the place. Mr..
Ford said.
Behind Barricaded Doors.
Mr.. Hitz made the point that
Seger and Del Negro were present
behind two barracaded doors
fitted with peep holes in a prem
ises that contained a ticker, IA
adding machines and three tele-
phones.
Mr.. Ford insisted that mere
presence did not prove the man
had a guilty knowledge of any
conspiracy to violate the gambling
laws Of the District.
IF you are at ball park you'd
know If football game was going
on, wouldn't you." the judge
asked. Mr.. Ford replied that he
certainly would, but this case was
different.
Mr.. FIitz told the judge that
Lewis is considered to have been
the principal operator or the
owner. All the others, he added,
were aiding and abetting each
other, principally Lewis" He de-
MED that they could have been
operating as individual lottery
brokers.
The defense was expected to
offer one additional witness this
afternoon before the case goes to
the jury. Meanwhile, Govern
ment and defense counsel were
asked to prepare suggestions they
wished the judge to include in
his instructions to the jury.
Yesterdays session was marked
by a bench conference which led
to clearing of the courtroom
Judge Mcclure excused the jury
and summoned opposing counsel
to the bench. Spectators and re-
porters in the courtroom over
heard Judge MCGUIRE tell Mr.
Hits he was becoming extremely
concerned" over the way the Gov
ernment was handling the case.
1.-The Government has been less
than frank with the court" the
prosecutor was told.
Judge MCGUIRE then broke Oh
the conference with an order tc
clear the courtroom.
II want all newspapermen
and everyone else out OF here,
Judge MCGUIRE said.
Lecture on Numbers Game.
The principal difficulty between
Mr.. Hitz and Judge MCGUIRE at
yesterdays session concerned the
number of Government witnesses
still to testify. Mr.. Hitz said al
first he had three or four" wit
nesses left to testify and later
amended the figure to five.
One of these, 1t. Roy Blick
head of the police vice squad, lee
tured the court and jury on the
numbers game as it is played ir
Washington.
1t. Blick supported the Govern
ment's contention that the mum
bers game is a lottery and not 8
game Of skill. With the aid o1
diagrams and enlarged numbers
slips, he explained how the daily
three-digit winning number Il
chosen from the pari-mutuel totals
in three consecutive races at 6
Undetermined track,