Evening star., 1950-03-24
|B|adensburg Official
Twill Have HEARING
On Gambling Charge

A Bladensburg town councilman
is to have hearing Thursday on
a charge involving gambling which
grew out of a. raid led by a sus-
pended policeman.
Arrest of two other men in a
private dwelling in the 400 block
of Forty sixth street Bladensburg,
led to these developments:
l.. Councilman Josias S. Cobb.
ST. was booked at the Hyattsville
police station for permitting op-
Grafton of a lottery" in a house
owned by him next door to his
home.
Suspended Day Before.
2. Councilmen and Mayor An
drew F. Gasch said the leader of
the raiders-Policeman Henry J.
Nebel-had been suspended the
night before the raid yesterday.
5. The toNn officials also dis
closed that the position Of police
chief, held by Mr.. Nebel. had been
abolished about week ago." Sc
Town officials were withholding
the full story but promised a
statement shortly.
A councilman who refused the
use of his name said an investi-
cation of the police department
had been in progress for about
month. On March Il, he said,
the Office of chief was abolished
so that Mr.. Nebel would not have
authority over the three town po-
iicemen during the investigation.
The councils Police Committee
made its final report and recon-
mendation Wednesday, night, the
night Mr.. Nebel was suspended.
He was to have been served no
tice the next day, the councilman
said. The notice~was to have set
forth the complaints against him
and he was to have been afforded
an opportunity some time next
wek to appear before the Coun-
Gil, the official added.
The Police Committee was un-
able to serve the notice on Mr..
Nebel yesterday. but plans to do
so today, the councilman said.
Arrested in the raid yesterday
were Ollie Holland, so, colored,
who according to Mr.. Cobb rented
the house, and Clyde R. Wilkins,
81, 4400 block of Forty sixth
street, both colored. Holland was
charged with operating a gaming
table and freed under 81 900 bond,
while Wilkins was charged with
possession of numbers slips and
released under $500 bond.
County Police Take Part.
Participating in the raid with
Mr.. Nebel were William A. Baxter,
another Bladensburg policeman,
and the following Prince Georges
County police: 1t. Charles N.
Thomson. chief of detectives; Ed
win c. Cissel, Identification officer
and Pvt. Emmett F. G. Gray.
The warrant against Mr.. Cobb
was sworn out by Town Policeman
Baxter. The councilman volun-
tarily appeared at Hyattsville
police headquarters and posted
500 bond.
Mayor Gasch said the special
council meeting Wednesday night
was held at the Office of Town At
torney George G. McLeish. The
mayor added he was mot at lib
erty" to disclose reasons for the
suspension.
After yesterdays raid, Mr.. Nebel
was asked about the suspension
OF the previous night.
Suspension News to Him.
TITS all news to me-" Mr.. Nebel
said. I'm going to find out what
it's all about"
The 35-year-old policeman of
more than three years said he
had mo idea" of what would be
the basis of the complaints against
him.
Mr.. Cobb denied having knowl-
edge of activities in the house
next door.
Mr.. Cobb, garage operator,
indicated that he believed the
charge against him might have
been brought in retaliation for the
councils action.
Mr.. Nebel, however, later denied
this, adding that he was unaware
of his suspension.
The house which was raided is
about block away from another
on the same street which was
raided by United States marshals
and led to the arrest of William
(G~,reN -