Evening star., 1951-09-14
Senator'S Spur
Move 10 Probe
District Crime
Committee indicates
Investigation Will MOI
Stop at D. c. Line
By Miriam Gutenberg

OF OlSGTlCC crime WIFI lQQkCdtlOuS
that the inquiry will cover the
entire Washington area.
Although the measure authoriz-
ing the $25. 900 investigation speci-
fed District crime and law en-
forcement, it was made clear that
investigators will follow the trails
leading into Maryland and Vir-
ginia.
Tentative plans call for direc-
tor, two investigators and two
clerks. According to committee
sources, the appointment Of
Downey Rice as director of the
investigation already has been in
formally approved by four of the
five Senators on the special sub
committee.
Met With Senators.
Mr.. Rice, Washington attorney.
ex-FBI agent and associate coun-
sci of the now defunct Senate
Crime Investigating Committee,
met with subcommittee members
yesterday and is due to attend the
Subcommittee's organization ses-
sion next Wednesday at 8 pm.
Losing no time in getting
started on the four-month in
veStigation, the subcommittee al
ready has asked for space for its
investigating staff. A likely loca-
ton was the space in the HOLC
building formerly occupied by the
crime committee.
In addition to Chairman Nicely,
the subcommittee includes Demo-
cratic Senators Hunt Of Wyoming
and Pastore of Rhode Island and
Republican Senators Butler of
Maryland and Welker of Idaho
Senator Welker repeatedly was
reserving his decision on Mr. Rice
until next Wednesday.
Grand Jury in Recess.
Meanwhile, the District grand
jury making its own investigation
Of Washington area gambling and
alleged protection" payments to
law enforcement officers was in
recess until next Wednesday while
prosecutors continued their in
vestigation and lined up the next
group of witnesses.
Government attorneys also were
preparing motions to file in con-
nection with the key records in
the caSe-those turned over to
the Senate Crime Investigating
Committee by Charles E. Nelson,
Maryland horse breeder, acknowl-
edged numbers backer and key
figure in the grand jury probe.
Nelson attorneys last week filed
a motion to regain possession Of
these records and to suppress
their use as evidence before the
grand jury or in any later Grim
mai proceedings.
Arguments Postponed.
Arguments on that motion orig
inally were set for today, but A..
Gwynn Bowie, Nelson's Maryland
attorney. said he understood it
will be argued September 81 be-
fore District Judge F, Dickinson
Let's.
In another development, Assist
ant United States Attorney Thom-
as Walden said today a complete
investigation of threats repeatedly
made to Alfred G. Evans, a witness
subpoenaed by the grand jury, has
been closed for lack of evidence.
Mr.. Evans, 81. colered, who said
he is a plasterer and painter and
lives in the 1900 block of Sixth
street NV, complained he was
threatened and warned that he
might be killed after he was
subpoenaed.
Case Called Closed.
Mr.. Walden said two witnesses
to the alleged threats against Mr..
Evans we're questioned in the
United States Attorneys Office.
They denied any threats were
made, he said. and added:
"The case is closed because of
insufficient evidence"
: Mr.. Evans was to appear for
further questioning in the United
States Attorneys Office at 9 am.
today but had not arrived by an
hour later. Mr.. Walden said the
case is closed whether he shows
up or not.
Among yesterdays grand jury
witnesses was an 18-year-old
youth whose uncle protested Bit
terly about the grand jury sum-
mons.
The witness was Charles w.
Hooper. Prince Frederick, Md,
high school student, who was ac-
companied by his uncle, Marvin
Hooper. Young Hooper, his par
entS, Mr.. and Mrs. Estep Hooper,
and the uncle all live on a to-
bacco farm.
Deputy Was Trailed.
The uncle told newsmen that
the youth was questioned about
this:
A deputy marshall cruising in a
maroon Dodge in North Beach
Md, said he was followed by
young Hooper in the youths 1851
blue Ford sedan. The deputy said
that Ray Brooks, manager of Mel
sons North Beach Amusement
Co.. was in the youths car the
night it trailed the deputy.
The uncle said he believed il
must have been last Tuesday night
because Charles was in NORTH
Beach that night, but not trailing
the deputy marshal. Charles, sale
Mr.. Hooper, went to North Beach
to visit new bowling alley and tt
collect money at a party" giver
in a tavern by a man who charged
so much per person for the guests