Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-27
Order Halls
Charles County
Slot Machines
No Clue to Origin;
Bon Moy'Lost Until
After June II Vote
By J. [. MichoeI
spseioI s,or cesrsspondsn,

By J. l. MiehoeI
SpseioI sier Correspondent,
LA PLATA. Md. April 27.-All
but a few of Charles County,s
1000 illegal slot machines are out
Of operation today.
-. A mysterious word" setting a
deadline at 2 am. yesterday
brought the devices to a stimuli
taneous halt In every section of
the county.
Under cover Of darkness. grape
vine sources said. some were
loaded on trucks. some were
locked up in back rooms and
and others were hidden in barns
and outbuildings.
So quietly was the order passed
and obeyed that even the grape
vine was unable to learn the
source.
No Clue on Command.
County authorities. business
and political leaders said they
could furnish no clue as to who
had issued the cease play" COM
mand.
From usually reliable quarters
1t was learned. however, that the
ban is to remain in effect at
least until after the grand jury
session beginning May Is and
probably until after referendum
scheduled for June 81.
II Gov. Lane signs a bill now
on his desk, county voters on
that date will decide in a spe-
cial election whether slot ma
chimes are to be legalized.
First reports that slot machines
were out of play came into the
county seat here at noon from
the Newburg Rock Point area in
the fifth election district. Tele-
phone calls to Hughesville and
Indian Head revealed that In
those towns similar conditions
prevailed and a tour of the La
Plata Waldorf area found most
of the machines missing from
their accustomed places.
Other Devices Operating.
Pinball machines and devices
which do not pay off in coin were
still operating, but no silver dis
pensing machines were seen in
any of several places visited.
While news Of the development
spread over the county, group of
ministers meeting in the Meth
odist Church at Waldorf laid plans
for . campaign against legaliza-
ton Of the devices.
The pastors. after forming the
Charles County Ministerial Asso-
citation, instructed their chair
man, the Rev. Harold A. Milstead,
TO try to enlist the aid of Demo-
cratic Party leaders to have Gov.
Lane veto the measure.
Mr.. Milstead also was asked to
arrange for mass meeting at the
courthouse here May 6 with an
FBI official as the principal
speaker.
No Word From Lane.
Chairman Milstead, who a few
days ago wrote Gov. Lane re-
questing hearing on the county's
slot machine bill, said he had not
yet heard from the Governor.
At the same time he made pub
lie a letter to Sheriff Elmer M.
Quade demanding action against
slot machines. and IAN immediate
reply as to what you and your
deputies intend to do about the
matter"
The letter, Mr.. Milstead said.
was written on behalf of the min
isterial group and also for several
county civic organizations who
have adopted resolutions oppos-
ing legalization of slot machines.
Mr.. Milstead's letter said I'VE
are living in a day and state of
civilization which assumes a So
ciety Of orderly and law-abiding
citizens. When the law is violated
it is the sworn duty of the proper
law enforcement officer to use
every means to bring such violator
into court for q fair and just
trial"
fragrant Violation Seen.
"Yet in spite of this sworn duty
for which you are being paid by
the people Of Charles County,
there exists a fragrant, open. I'M
abashed. defiant and scandalous
violation of the laws OF this State
and county in regard to the slot
machine racket.
Therefore, Mr.. Sheriff. I call