Evening star., 1951-03-27
Dugan andCheN
File Denia|s on
Jury Charges
TriuI Dates Are Set
For Members of
Arlington Board

should not be removed from otflce
were filed in Arlington Circuit
Court yesterday.
At the same time, Judge John
L. Ingram of Richmond Hastings
Court, set April % as the date for
Mr.. Dugan's trial and announced
that Mr.. Chew's trial would take
place Immediately after its COM
pletion. Both waived jury trials.
Judge Ingram, sitting in place
of Judges Walter T. Mccarthy and
william D. Medley, who disquali-
fed themselves, also appointed
Attorney Oren Lewis to prosecute
the cases. Judge Ingram acted
after commemorative Attorney
Denham T. Rucker asked to be
disqualified. The Richmond jurist
then asked Judge Mccarthy for a
recommendation.
Calls Lewis Man of Honor.
In recommending Lewis. we'll
known attorney, Judge Mccarthy
declared:
HE is a man of ability and
honor. I don't believe he has any
connection with anyone in these
cases"
Mr.. Lewis unsuccesSfully op-
posed Mr.. Rucker in the Novem-
ber. l947, general election for
commonwealth attorney. Mr..
Lewis is a Republican and Mr..
Rucker a Democrat.
The accusations against MIR.
Dugan and Mr.. Chew were made
by county grand jury on March
IL after an investigation which
extended over a two-week period.
The lengthy presentment
against Mr.. Dugan. an indie
pendent, contained eight speci-
fications and sixteen recitations
of fact. The one against Mr..
Chew, a Democrat, covered but
a single page and involved only
one accusation.
Generally. Mr.. Dugan was
charged with an intimate rela-
tionship" with Sam Lano. Wash
ington and Maryland pinball and
slot machine distributor. whose
firm was convicted of operating
illegal pinball machines in Ar
lington; with accepting gifts from
Lano, and with being aware that
Lano was intimately associated
with Joseph Leib when the latter
was appointed to a police investi-
eating committee, but not telling
other board members.
In addition, Mr.. Dugan was
charged with aiding. abetting
and counseling at proposed viola
tions of the laws against gambling
in the State of Virginia.
In denying any guilt, Mr.. Du-
gan declared Ito the contrary,
that, as member of the County
Board he diligently and con-
scientiously urged the passage and
enforcement of legislation tend
ing to eradicate and prevent
gambling :"
Denies "Fact and Innuendo."
Mr. Dugan denied that Mr.. Lieb
"had any relationship or associ-
alton with Lano except as a re-
suit of Joseph Lieb's position as
a member of the police investi-
eating committee" The board
member further denied "the fact
and the innuendo of the fact that
he had an intimate relationship
with Lano.
"He acknowledges that he knew
Lano, that he saw Lano a num-
ber of times during the period
when he 0anoO lived near Ar
lington County, just as he saw and
knew hundreds of other citizens
resident in Arlington County" the
answer declared.
Mr.. Dugan denied that he tried
to influence a restaurant proprie-
tor to do business with Lano.
Answers Recitation.
Regarding the presentment's
recitation that while an ordinance
regulating pinball machines was
pending before the County Board,
Mr.. Dugan invited Malcolm Dev-
ers, operator of a private school,
to his home to discuss the pro-
posed ordinance, and that when
the measure was scheduled for
adoption, it was postponed, Mr..
Dugan declared:
20. this defendant denies that
he invited Malcomn Devers to his
home to discuss the pinball ordi-
nance, but states that he did dis
cuss the said ordinance with Paul
Varoutsos, Assistant Common
wealth's Attorney, at Dugan's
home. one evening when Devers
was also present. said discussion
being entirely proper for both
Dugan and the Assistant Com
monwealth Attorney. This defend
ant further denies the innuendo
that he failed to call any confer
ence necessary for action on the
pinball ordinance, but alleges that
action on the said ordinance was
postponed by the County Board at
the urgent request of one or more
residents of Arlington County who
were owners, but not distributors,
of pinball machine allegedly not
classed as illegal devices"
Tells of Birthday Presents.
Mr.. Dugan admitted recon-
mending a lifelong acquaintance,
Francis Griffith. for employment
as a truck driver by Lano; admit
ted being in the Service Tire Corp.
store with Lano. but denied that
there was any connection directly
or indirectly between this and the
purchase of television sets by Lano,
and acknowledged that Lano
"openly and obviously, in the
presence of several other people,
give him a birthday present con-
sisting of two shirts, not expen-
sive, one necktie and a pair of
cuff links which retailed for not
more than $2."
The board member denied,
however, that the gifts were made
to influence his official conduct
=. l.