Evening star., 1951-03-04
Arlington Probe
Will Hear Lano
Again Tomorrow
Grand Jury Inquiry
Into County Gambling
To Enter Sixth Day

~
grand jury and nine months of
study by a police investigating
committee. the Arlington Police
Department and county gambling
still are in for sharp scrutiny by
the jury and the County Board.
The grand jury's inquiry will
go into its sixth day tomorrow,
when Sam Lano, former pinball
machine distributor in Arlington
and Prince Georges Counties, is
due to resume his testimony.
The parade of witnesses started
when Commonwealth's Attorney
Denman T. Rucker, a Democrat,
ordered the three investigating
committee members to appear be-
fore the jury.
The committee members, e. J.
Steger, Vic Gauzza. jr., and Joseph
Leib. were appointed by the board
after they were nominated last
May by nonpartisan Daniel A..
Dugan, who was chairman at that
time.
Jurors Told of Raids.
Mr.. Leib said he told the Jurors
"of several raids where there ap-
parently were tip-offs. but had
no direct evidence" Four police
men were called to testify. All
disclaimed knowledge of any tip
off and said it was virtually i'm
possible to give advance warning
Of a raid.
After questioning the three COM
mittee members and the four po-
licemen, the jury began question:
ing other witnesses subpoenaed by
MIR. Rucker and those who ap-
peared voluntarily.
Last Friday, it became clear
the jury's inquiry into the Police
Department had been succeeded
by investigation into violation of
gambling laws. Sam Lano, for
mer Prince Georges and Arlington
County pinball machine distribu-
tor, was told by Judge William
D. Medley that he must answer
questions put by jurors about
gambling.
Lano, appearing before the jury
voluntarily, had refused to answer
the question, WAS not a message
sent to Mr.. Rucker to lay off or
several people were going to get
hurt?"
800 Fine Imposed.
Lano was prosecuted by Mr.,
Rucker in Arlington County Court
last November and was fined S100
and costs for permitting illegal
operation of "free-play" pinball
machines. The machines were
seized in a raid led by Mr.. Rucker
last October.
The investigating committee,
before the raid, had been studying
Lano's activities and at least one
committeeman had talked with
him.
In its first report to the County
Board last October, the commit
tee discussed administration of
the Police Department and COM
mented on relations between
County Manager A. T. Lundberg
and Harry L. woodward, who re-
tired as chief of police last Thurs
day.
After the report was submitted,
the committee and the County
Board held a number of meetings
to discuss the testimony and find
ings. Mr.. Rucker, Chief Wood
yard and Mr.. Lundberg were ex-
cluded from these conferences.
Frisbie Seeks to Call Halt.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Rucker, County
Board member Alfred E. Frisbie
and the Police Beneficiary Asso-
citation called for an end to the
committees investigation.
On February 10. the board ter
minated the committees activi-
ties and asked that all records
be turned over to the board. Mrs.
Florence Cannon, board chairman,
said yesterday that the boards
receipt of the records was delayed
by the committees appearance be-
fore the jury.
Mrs. Cannon said that after the
board receives the records, some
time will be spent in thorough
study" before it makes a public
report.
The board plans to take time
for further study, Mrs. Cannon
said, in view of, the designation
of Capt. c. Burns Presley to be
in charge of the Police Depart
ment until a new chief is ap-
pointed.
Court Hearing Set for March 20.
The board and the Common
wealth's Attorney are in dispute
over who should appoint the new
chief. A Circuit Court hearing
is set for March 20 to determine
whether the board or the man
ager has the power to make the
appointment.
Mr.. Lunberg has said he will
not name a new chief, until the
committee final report is issued.
Mr.. Rucker has charged that
the board majority, including Mr..
Dugan, Mys. Cannon and Robert
w. Cox, "are most eager to con-
troll the appointment of chief of
police" The commemorative At
toney said that eff poor selec-
tion (of chief is made, gangsters,
hoodlums and racketeers might
walk unhindered within our bound
aries"
Mr.. Dugan in 1947 touched off
a grand jury investigation of pos
sible collusion between the Police
Department and county gamblers.
The grand jury found no evidence
of collusion, but recommended a
number of changes in the depart
ments administration.