Evening star., 1951-05-22
Charles County
Maps Drive 10
Curb Gambling
Court Also Urges
Grand Jury to Halt
Liquor Violations
By J. l. Michoel
Stor Stcff Coryesoondsnt

LA PLATA, Md, May o.
Charles County prepared today
for law enforcement drive which
promises to become the biggest
in its history and may spread
throughout Southern Maryland.
Spurred by court directives, a
new grand jury called on State and
local authorities to help stamp
out widespread gambling and
liquor law violations.
Circuit Judge j. Dudley Digges
yesterday ordered a general
Iclamp-down in an hour-long
charge to a panel headed by WAL
ter H. Mills, a merchant and farm
er of Grayton.
Liquor Changes Urged.
The court especially cautioned
that Washington and Baltimore
Ibig-time gamblers may attempt to
set up headquarters in the county
land demanded that impossible
road blocks be set up.
You may say that because this
lis a small county they will not
come here" Judge Digges de-
Iclared, "but they will"
"It would be easy for them to
set up command post here" he
added, from which they could
direct their activities in nearby
cities and the rest of Southern
Maryland"
| Asserting that he had been in
formed that "a lot of moonshining
and bootlegging is going on and
that much of it is being sold to
minors" the court called for an
end to after-hours and Sunday
liquor sales.
Admonished on Job.
Juvenile Court cases have given
me much concern" Judge Digges
said, Il find that crime among
teen-agers is increasing"
In what court attaches said
was an unprecedented action,
Judge Digges delivered the charge
before the panel had been sworn
in. At the end of his address he
said to the jurors:
you know what is going on
in your neighborhoods and if you
don't it will be your duty to find
out. I want each of you to recog-
nize when you leave that you have
| that Job before YOU for the next
six months
Then the court said, sternly:
IF there is a man among you
who cannot conscientiously act in
accordance with these objectives.
let him say so now and be ex-
lcuSed."
| Court Procedure Changed.
Turning aside temporarily from
liquor and gambling, Judge Digges
explained new court procedure
plan he devised and inaugurated
this year. Under it, the May grand
jury is expected to complete its
work today or tomorrow. Petit
jurors will serve this week and
possibly next Monday and then
will be given a recess until July 9.
| The plan involved recall of the
November grand jury which three
weeks ago returned is true bills
leaving only six presentments for
the present panel to consider.
Judge Digges said he evolved the
plan in order to free farmers at
tobacco planting time which be-
gins next week, to save taxpayers
money and to speed administra-
ton of justice.
Powers Are Broad.
Referring again to the cleanup
drive, the court told the jurors
''you can be called Kefauver
committee, but unlike that group
your powers are unlimited. They
could investigate only one phase
of crime-you can probe all
phases.
"The Kefauver committee en-
phatically stated" Judge Digges
continued. that local authorities,
grand jury and sheriffs are re-
sponsible for wiping out opera
tions of professional gamblers
operations which burrow into gov
ernment's very core, bringing
forth corruption and a complete
breakdown of law enforcement.
7 Charles County now has a
sheriff" Judge Digges said, "in
whom the court has unlimited
confidence. but he has a limited
force and cannot be everywhere.
This means that you have got to
help him"
Refers to Sheriff.
The court was referring to
Sheriff R. Vernon Cooksey, Re-
publican, who has interspersed
two previous terms as sheriff with
service in the Maryland Senate
and House of Delegates. He was
elected to his third term last No
vember.
Judge Digges suggested that
commanding officers of the State
Police barracks at Waldorf be
called before the grand jury along
with the heads of various county
agencies.
You may ask to be called back
into session at any time" Judge
IDigges said, "and when you have
developed evidence you are ad-
Ivised to notify the sheriff and
ask to be called back"
$1,000 10 Receive Degrees