Evening star., 1951-09-02
Louisiana City Gambling Fades
But Its Foes Face Trouble, Too

Claude Williams and E. j. Miller.
Reid Not Indicted.
The grand jury refused to in
dict Sheriff Reid on the mall
feasance charge and also refused
to indict Mr.. Dixon on charge
Iof defaming Judge Pickrel.
Mr.. O'Brien sees the indictments
as part Of "a conspiricy to silence
the press"
When PAG members were hunt
ing evidence, he said. parish gam
blerS wore SNUG looks.
Il believe the gamblers were
promised that the paper would be
silenced," he said.
Mr.. Dixon summed it up this
way:
We'll, I see that we are accused
Iof uefaming both law enforce
ment officials and admitted law
breakers. That seems to put it
all in a very neat package"
The sheriff commented,
Freedom of the press is guaran-
teed under the Constitution but
the Constitution does not give
any one newspaper or individual
the right or license to falsely
publish defaming statements con-
cerning an individual without any
criminal or civil liability for that
individuals injury"
Cites different Morals"
Mr.. Hawkins told out-of State
newsmen gathered here that it
was necessary to understand the
history of south Louisiana to
understand the peoples outlook
on gambling.
He said the people are mainly
of French extraction and told
visiting newsmen you people
from distant places may have
different morals than mine"
Dave Dugas, Police Jury presi-
dent, developed this thinking fur
ther. He said predominant reli-
gion did not oppose little family
games like punch boards and
bingo' and added, that's what
the folks (Pag) were riled about. "
Mr.. Dugas said the whole thing
was political and started when
Mr.. Dixon began sticking his
nose into politics"
| Mr.. Dixon replied he thought it
was a newsman's job to stick a
nose into politics. He is a native
of Illinois. Mr.. Buchanan is a
Floridan. and Mr.. O'Brien was
raised in protestant north Louis
lana. All three are Methodists.
Wants Outside Judge.
| Both the Pag and Mr.. Hawkins
want the State Attorney General
to appoint an assistant to handle
the prosecution of the cases. Mr.
Hawkins also asks that a judge
be sent in from outside.
Il think the general reaction
would be better if we called in
impartial outsiders to handle the
case" he said.
/ Mr.. Hawkins says the PAG does
not represent the sentiment of
Calcasieu parish people and rep
resentS only about three per cent
of the population. Mr.. Dixon says
the movement has the support of
about 80 per cent of the people.
One main basis for indictment
of the five newsmen was an
article on the front page of the
August IL issue of the American
Press. In that were printed the
records of men of the same name
as some of the gamblers recently
given suspended sentences after
pleading guilty.
/ Mr.. Hawkins said that part of
the record the newspaper pub
llished under the name of Sam
Smith, whom Mr.. Hawkins identi-
fed as white man and a night
club operator, was part of the
record of a Negro from Alex
andria, La.
/ The men indicted for defama-
ton are Thomas B. Shearman,
publisher of the American Press:
his son., William Hugh Shearman,
co-publisher; Mr.. Dixon: James
Norton. city editor; Carter George
police and court reporter and
three PAG members: E. F. Brouse.
Maurice Vincent and Ernest
Miller. all of nearby Sulphur.
I Each is at liberty under $3.50
bond on each count. There were
five indictments in all and a total
OF IA counts. Each count is pun
ishable by one year in jail and a
$4,000 fine. No date has been set
for arraignment or trial.
Mr.. Hawkins told a news con-
ference that he made more money
than any other public official in
cluding the governor.
Il don't believe l enjoy my Job
very much" Mr.. Hawkins said.
In fact. I think I dislike it. But
I make more money legitimately
than any other public official in
Louisiana
| He placed his income at $4,000
year and said he paid $1,000
Federal income taxes last year.
The governors salary is fixed at
$4,000 annually.
/ Paid Under Fee System.
! Mr.. Hawkins said he is paid
through system of fees set up
by the State legislature for some
district attorneys.
| He said that it was just a
"whimsy" of the legislature as to
whether a district attorney was