Evening star., 1949-09-16
Grand Jury Sees
LittIeGaminq in.
Pr'inceGeorges
Activity Exaggerated,
Report Says; State
Lottery Study Urged

1ottSiJ Stuuy OISeu
A Prince Georges County grand
jury. after five months of investi-
cation, reported yesterday that
gambling in the county now is at
an almost irreducible minimum. -
(The report was filed in Cir
cult Court, Upper Marlboro, at
the same time nine men and a
woman were pleading guilty to
gambling violations before a
Prince. Georges magistrate in
Hyattsville.)
The grand jury, which has had
turbulent session and received
extensive publicity since it was
convened last April. told Judge
Charles c. Marbury that reports
of gambling activities have been
exaggerated and the citizens have
no reason for undue concern
about what goes on.
Furthermore, the 23 jurors said
they found no evidence to SUBJ
stantiate reflections on, the con-
duct of the Prince Georges County
police.
Lottery Study Urged
The jury recommended, how
ever. that immediate study be
given to the establishment of a
State-sponsored lottery. in order
to remove the element of private
profit and to provide govern
mental revenues. It also proposed
a study of the advisability of COM
bining county and town police
departments within Prince e
Georges.
Harry w. McNamee, president
of the Board OF County Commis-
sioners, said these recommended
tions probably would be considered
by his board Tuesday.
Linden Briscoe. clerk OF the
Board Of License Commissioners,
said that body would be glad to
comply with a third grand jury
recommendation that more care
full check be made of all Inter
ested parties" before issuing or
transferring alcoholic beverage
licenses. &
The grand jurors suggested
that county enforcement author
tiles submit written reports tosthe
license board on all disturbances
occurring where liquor is sold, re-
gardless of whether the disturb
ances result in criminal prosecu-
ton.
Jury's Conclusion.
The report said the jury had
reached the following conclusion: !:
'The reported facts upon which
has been based unfavorable news
paper publicity in recent months
with respect to the alleged condi-
tions have been exaggerated and
the publicity has ybeen a1nwar-
ranted." s 4
Such conditions, at least for the
past several years, have been no
reason for undue concern by citi-
zens Of the county" the jury
noted.
The report asserted that much
publicity "has been based solely on
the unwarranted and idle state
ments of irresponsible publicity
seekers and has no foundation
whatever in fact" It continued
Some reports have come to the
grand jury in the form of anony-
nous communications or commu-
nications from apparently non
existant persons, the facts stated
in most of which communications
it has been impossible to verify
No Improper Conduct.
The jury said reports of "pos-
sihle improper conduct of law en-.
forcement authorities" had not
been substantiated by any evi'
dence."
"At least one specific charge oil
certain police officials setting the
stage for a fictitious raid of ar
alleged gambling establishment has
been definitely established to be
untrue" the jury asserted.
(The jury apparently referred to
q statement made by Washington
Attorney James j. Laughlin in
connection with a raid January
II on an apartment in the 5000
block of Rhode Island avenue,
Mount Rainier, but Mr.. LaughIin' S
name was not used. At that time,
Mr.. Laughlin charged that police
men went to the apartment and
"sprinkled dust" over it before
making the raid.)
The jury conceded there is some
gambling in the county. 1t said:
"The grand jury is not so naive
rs to believe that violations of the
gambling laws are not occurring
Such violations. however, are con-
fined to isolated instances of minor
nature and involve no organized
or widespread operations, and in
view of the present population of
the county and its proximity to
the District Of Columbia, these
violations are now at an almost
irreducible minimum"
Severe Punishment Urged.
Stating they were cognizant of
the fact that detection and appre-
hension of such offenders is diff
cult, the jurors also urged that
more severe punishments be meted
out In the future, particularly for
repeat offenders.
In its final conclusion, the jury
declared that total elimination oi
illegal gambling Is a condition
which will in all probability never
be achieved.
$50 long as the gambling in.
stinct exists there will be those
who will risk detection and Grim.
inal prosec, On to satisfy thai
=.