Evening star., 1951-04-29
|Dugan Cleared
OF Charges
In Custer Trial
, Will Serve Out Term
OfOffice;; Judge Holds
Evidence insufficient
By Alex R. Preston

Daniel A. Dugan yesterday was
found not guilty of malfeasance,
misfeasance and gross neglect as
a member Of the Arlington County
Board. He can serve out his four.
year term which began January /.
Judge John L. Ingram, who tried
the case without a jury in County
Circuit Court, said. my decision
Is, and assuming that the acts
charged occurred in the current
term. that the evidence is insult
f1cient to find him guilty as
charged"
The 34-year-old defendant broke
down and wept. A filed court
room burst into applause.
Thank God for truth and
Armistead Boothe," said Mr.. Du-
gan, Mr.. Boothe. Alexandria mem
Der OF the House of Delegates, was
his attorney.
Wife Overcome With Joy.
Many in the audience jammed
inside the court railing to grasp
the hand of Mr.. Dugan who was
trying to fight back the tears. His
attractive wife. Jeanne, who had
sat by his side throughout the
six-day custer proceedings, was
almost overcome with happiness.
At the outset of the trial, Judge
Ingram rule, in effect, that Mr..
Dugan could be, removed only for
acts which might have occurred
this year. Mr.. Dugan was re-
elected last November.
This ruling struck out four of
the eight specifications charged to
the former board chairman by a
special grand jury. The specifi-
cations covered a series of events
which allegedly began last May.
Mr.. Boothe said he did not be-
leVe that court could consider a
question of Mr.. Dugan's alleged
llntoxication or a question of Mr..
iDugan's wounding himself, either
junlawfully or maliciously.
Special Prosecutor Oren R.
Lewis made it plain that he did
not intend to raise the point.
Shot Self Last Month.
The Independent board mem
Der. an official of the Labor De-
Ipartment and father of a 9-year-
old son, attempted to commit
suicide by shooting himself in th2
chest March 27 after the granA
Jury had brought the charges
lagainst him.
Judge Ingram said he had
anticipated that the question of
attempted suicide might b.
raised.
I think that matter should be
tested first, if at all, before a Jury
IN a criminal proceeding" Judge
Ingram observed. IF he were
found guilty he would be auto
matically removed from Office. So
I'd rather that matter be handled
| AAA eA41t A4d14klGT.
| The custer proceeding against
Mr. Dugan was described in legal
circles as a quasi-criminal tria;
with no penalty involved. It was
held under the rules of civil pro-
cedure, thus giving the prosecu-
ton, as well as the defense, the
right of appeal.
Prosecutor Silent on Appeal.
Mr.. Lewis. who was appointed
by the court to prosecute the
case. said. mo comment" when
asked if he would appeal. He also
has been designated to prosecute
charges. brought by the same
grand jury. against F. Freeland
Chew, a Democratic member of
the County Board. Mr.. Lewis re-
places Commonwealth's Attorney
Denman T. Rucker, who disquali-
ned himself from prosecuting the
two cases.
Mr. Chew's trial will begin at
II am. Thursday before Judge
ingram of Richmond Hastings
Court. who is sitting in place of
the regular Arlington judges who
disqualified themselves.
Mr.. Chew is accused of having
accepted a television set as a gift
Tor the purpose of influencing his
See DUGAN. Page A-4.)