Evening star., 1950-01-08
'Snags' Lewis Will Go
On Trial Tomorrow
With AcaIotti, BiIIeci

The fourth actual trial arising
from United States Attorney
George Morris Fay's anti-gam-
bling drive which netted SO sus-
poets early last year. is due to
begin tomorrow in District Court
when William (Snags) Lewis, At
tilio Acalotti and Frank Billeci GO
on trial on lottery charges.
Court will convene at 10 am.
but. because several preliminary
motions must be heard it may be
afternoon before the first open
ing argument begins.
AS a result of surprise legal
moves last week, the court must
act initially on these matters:
The motion of Bernice Franklin
key Government witness in many
of the Governments cases, to
quash the subpoena ordering her
to testify in today's case. The
red-haired waitress claims she has
been summoned to the courthouse
by Mr.. Fay's Office so often that
she can no longer find or keep a
job. This, she feels, is "oppres-
sive" under the law.
Billeci Seeks Separate Trial. =
The motion of Billeci to have
separate trial, claiming that be-
ing linked with Acalotti and Lewis
in Joint proceedings prejudices his
case. Billeci also wants the court
to allow him to examine any evil
dence the prosecution may have
obtained as a result of wiretap-
ping. -.. i
The trial judge will not be
named until tomorrow morning.
under court procedure. The judge
who is appointed is expected to
have at least a two-week job
ahead OF him. At least 20 wit
nesses are expected to take the
stand.
Assistant United States Attor-
neys William Hitz and Edward
Carey will be prosecuting their
second anti-gambling case. Lewis
will be represented by Attorney
William H. Collins, Acalotti by
Charles E. Ford, and Billeci by
Myron Ehrlich.
Trials No Novelty.
To Lewis and Acalotti the role
of defendants comes as no novel
experience. Lewis. repeatedly the
biggest operator in Mr.. Fay's anti
gambling haul, undeJ.ent a two
week trial with 13 co-defendants
last October. A hung jury result
ed, and a second trial is impend-
ing for those IA men.
Acalotti is under an eight
month to two-year sentence i'm
posed last month by Judge Alex
ander Holtzoff after jury
convicted the defendant of in
timidating Miss Franklin, his ex-
girl friend. ~.-
Billeci, Lewis and Acalotti enter
as co-defendants as a result OF
alleged lottery operations in and
between the downtown Washing
ton area and the reported Bla-
densburg Md headquarters OF
o large gambling syndicate.
Lewis Accused.
In the October trial, Lewis was
implicated as the operator of the
syndicate in a bungalow in the
1900 block of Forty sixth street
Bladensburg. Testifying against
Acalotti in the latter's intimida-
ton trial. Miss Franklin testified
her ex-boy friend was active in
the horsebetting trade.
Mr.. Fay's forces will be battling
for their second gambling charge
conviction. Walter Danny Plum
mer, waiter at Hammels Res
taurant here. represents the only
successful prosecution of that ma
ture growing out of the gambling
drive. Convicted of accepting @
bet from a Government under
cover agent, Plummer now is on
probation. '
Aside from the first "Snags'
Lewis mistrial, the rest of Mr.
Fay's score sheet shows: -Four
cases dropped for insufficient evil
dence; two defendants deao; one
acquittal and the remainder ct
the 36 originally indicted still
facing trial.