Evening star., 1950-04-05
Maryland Hints
Bribery Action
Against Sheriff
Hammond Believes
State Can Prosecute
In Poyoff Case

Attorney General Hall Ham,
mond of Maryland said today he
believed former Sheriff r. Earle
Sheriff of Prince Georges County
can be prosecuted under Mary
lands bribery laws.
Sheriff, according to the Feder-
al Government, has admitted re-
ceiving $4,000 in protection
money" from nearby Maryland
gamblers.
His admissions were reported
yesterday to the Federal Court
in Baltimore when the former
law enforcement officer pleaded
guilty to income tax evasion dur
ing the four years he served as
sheriff-from 1943 to 1946. The
Government charges that he failed
to report the protection money
he got from gambling interests
during those years.
Up to County First.
Mr.. Hammond said it was up to
the county, rather than the At
torney General, to initiate pro-
ceedings against Sheriff as result
Of his admissions.
The Attorney General added,
however, that he believed the re-
ceipt of protection money" came
within the scope of the Maryland
law on bribery.
States Attorney A. Gwynn
Bowie of Prince Georges County
declined to comment on the case
until he has conferred with his
assistant. States Attorney Igna-
titus Keane, who sat in on the pro-
ceedings at Baltimore yesterday.
Mr.. Bowie said he had sent Mr..
Keane to Baltimore to "get the
facts" and expected report from
him today.
The county grand jury now is
In session and is expected to sit
lOI several lIlOIe weeks.
Several Obstacles Noted.
There appeared to be several
obstacles to prosecution, however,
despite Sheriff's admissions.
First is the fact that Sheriff
according to the Government
said he could not name the per-
sons who gave him the protection
money" He said the cash came in
unmarked envelopes and was
handed to him by runners" act
ing for unidentified gambling in
terests.
There also is the contention of
Sherif's counsel. Robert McCul-
Tough. that as sheriff the defend
ant did not have law enforcement
powers over gambling. The Gov
ernment. according to legal au-
thorities, would have to prove that
Sheriff acted as middleman or
otherwise was paid to influence
the actions of those responsible
for policing gambling.
Jury Found No Evidence.
Rumors of protected gambling
have simmered in the county for
years but Prince Georges County
grand jury reported last Septem-
ber that it had found no evidence
to substantiate reflections on the
conduct of county police.
The same grand jury branded
reports of gambling in the county
as exaggerated and declared gam
bling activities at that time had
reached an almost irreducible
minimum"
Mr.. Hammond said he had re-
ceived a letter from the county's
League of Women Voters suggest
ing that the Attorney Generals
Office investigate charges of cor
ruption of county officials. Mr..
Hammond said he sent the request
to Judge Charles c. Marbury of
Prince Georges County Circuit
Court because the Attorney Gen.
erals office had no authority to
proceed.
Asked for Recommendations.
The judge in acknowledging the
letter, Mr.. Hammond recalled
asked Mr.. Hammond if he had
any recommendations and the
Attorney General said he didn't
because he lacked concrete infor-
nation.
Whether the Sheriff case will
precipitate a new investigation is
up to Mr.. Bowie.
Meanwhile, Sheriff is awaiting
sentence on four counts of income
tax evasion, which carries max
imum penalty of five years i'm
prisonment and a $4,000 fine on
each count.
Judge w. Calvin Chestnut au-
thorized a pre-sentence investi-
cation of Sheriff's conduct and
record and ordered that a report
be submitted to him next Tues
day. Sheriff continued at liberty
under $1,000 bail.