Evening star., 1950-04-15
PrineeGeorges
Jury Reports
Conditions Good
Publicity Declared
'UnfovorobIe';; Urges
Credit Where Due

Prince Georges Countys retir
ing grand jury reported yesterda.
that Notwithstanding recent un
favorable publicity" law enforce
ment and general conditions il
the county are very good"
The jury rendered its report a
the conclusion of a session which
began April 3.
No mention was made of r
Earle Sheriff, former county sher
if, who went to jail this week fo
income tax evasion, or of gam
bling.
The jury noted, however, tina
isolated instances of irresulari
ties frequently occur Throughout
the Nation. and such instance.
cannot be taken as an indication
Of general improper conduct OF
ineficiency of police and other
public officials"
Wants Credit Given.
What the county needs appar-
entity is a little praise, the jury
stated, reporting:
IF the ill-advised, even though
perhaps well-meaning, critics OF
county officials and employees
would give at least the credit due
those who deserve it for work well
done they would serve the public
interest better and furnish added
incentive for even greater efforts
In the public service"
The jury, before adjourning, an
nounced it had considered III
cases of alleged criminal viola
tions and had returned 78 indict-
ments.
The jury said it ignored 2e
cases and continued seven others
for further investigation" Status
of the Sheriff case was not re-
vealed.
Tax on $4,000 Admitted Due.
Sheriff, fined $1,000 and SEN
fenced TO a year and day ir
Federal Court, Baltimore, hae
pleaded guilty to failing to pay
income taxes on $4,000 from 1874;
to 1946. Government prosecutors
at the time said Sheriff admitted
accepting that amount from
Washington area gamblers az
protection money" Efforts o1
the county to obtain Federal files
on the case were unsuccessful.
The jury presumably ignored
the case of Henry j. Nebel, dis
missed Bladensburg police CHIEF
who was accused by a resident o1
that community of accepting
bribes. Both Nebel and his ac'
cusers appeared before the jury
The jury suggested that th'
county aims house at Ritchi'
might be abandoned because O
excessive operating cost.
Linden Briscoe, clerk to tn;
county commissioners. said the
county annually appropriates $24,.
900 for the aims house. The
institution has an average of %
inmates, he added.
Marbury Reads Report.
Yesterdays report was read by
Judge Charles C. Marbury and
signed by w. Landon Turner. jury
foreman, and Clarence L. Carroll,
its secretary.
Named on murder indictments
were three colored men-William
j. Curtis, 81, of the 4500 block
of Forty-flrst street, North Brent
wood; James L. Miles, 25, Acco-
keek, and William E. Wright, 80
of Mitchellville. James R. Craw-
ley, 20, of the $500 block of Davis
street. Maryland Park. was in
dicted for manslaughter, while
Joseph F. Burke, 80, of the 1900
block of Fifty y-seventh avenue
Hillside, was accused of rape.
All were released under bono
yesterday after pleading not
guilty.
A breakdown of other indict.
ments and the number under each
includes: Bastardy, 7; larceny ane
receiving stolen goods, 9; com
mission of an unnatural and per
verted sex practice, 3; bigamy. /
false pretenses. q; motor vehicl
larceny, 2; assault, /; assault an,
battery. /; store housebreaking, 6
assault, with intent to rob, /; rob
berry. !; burglary, i; assault wit
intent to kill. 6; receiving stole,
goods, /: non-support, l; robber
with a deadly weapon, l; carryin
q concealed weapon, /; maliciou
destruction of property, l.; carns
knowledge, l. and practice c
dentistry without a license, /.