Evening star., 1950-07-09
Virginia Beach Jury
Finds Al True Bills
After Vice Inquiry
BY the Associated Press

PRINCESS ANNE COURT
HOUSE, Va, July "a special
grand jury today returned Al
gambling and common nuisance
indictments as result of its in
vestigation into alleged law viola
tions in the town of Virginia
Beach and Princess Anne County
Charged June 27 by Circuit
Judge Floyd E. Kellam to look
into reports of gambling, illegal
whiskey sales and nude entertain
ers at clubs in the area. the jury
reported these findings after hear
ing 20 witnesses:
/. Most of the evidence regard
ing wide open gambling" was OF
"a strictly hearsay character" but
enough testimony was received to
Justify the issuance of a number
OF indictments covering the pos
session and operation of slot ma
chimes and other gambling de-
vices"
2. "A great deal of hearsay evil
dence was presented as to alleged
betting on horse racing and other
sporting events, but not a single
witness who appeared before the
grand jury would admit to having
made a bet or having seen one
made"
Testimony on Whisky.
8. Testimony regarding the ille-
gal sale of whisky made it i'm
possible . !. to bring in indict-
ments on this specific charge
The jury, however, returned sew
eral indictments on common
nuisance" counts.
4. There was mo admissible
evidence of any nature" concern
ing reports that a Virginia Beach
town employe served as the "bae
man" to collect tribute from
illegal operators"
The jury made no reference to
Judge Kellam's charge that coun-
ty and town authorities had re-
ceived. reports that there "are
nude entertainers in some of the
clubs"
THE jury found indications tina.
there are certain trouble spots
which should definitely be elimi-
mated and it has been suggested
that this can perhaps best be done
by policing them to death with
repeated raids and arrests"
But. the jury warned, if author
tiles hope to get convictions,
the evidence "can be obtained
only by trained plainclothes en-
forcement officers. unknown in
the town and county,"
Because local officers are "weiI
known to every law violator in the
community" the jury recon-
mended that any cleanup cam
paign would require the employ
ment of some outside independ-
ent investigative agency :. to
obtain the technical evidence nec-
essary for convictions.
Big Job, Judge Says.
I'VE shall strive to carry out
your recommendations" Judge
Kellam said. Slot machines must
be banished. I call on the police
to Danish them Z
Judge Kellam remarked that
''it is q big job policing the big
crowds that come here from all
over America" and Jury Foreman
Eldridge H. Whitehurst told the
judge that much of the charges
resulted from loose talk which
he said "hurts the community"
In reply to question by Judge
Kellam. the foreman said most
of the witnesses agreed that the
police in the town and county
were efficient.
Regarding sthose particular
night clubs that will not observe
the laws and have become a COM
mon nuisance" Judge Kellam de-
clared that the police should "try
to police them to death and call
on them to do So"
Persons indicted today will be
notified to appear and post bond
in the next few days, Common
wealth's Attorney Paul w. Ackiss
said. They probably will not be
tried before the August term.
In addition to Mr.. Whitehurst
members Of the grand jury were
Henry s. Lewis. president of Nor
folk Newspapers. Inc; Grayson
Harding, Virginia Beach hotel
operator; j. Peter Holland, jr.
baking company executive, and
Fred A. Haycox, building con-
tractor.