Evening star., 1951-08-24
Threat Reported
Made Against
Gaming Witness
Disclosure Comes
AS Prosecutors Check
Nelson Material
BY Miriom Gutenberg

ecutorS burrowed into the raft OF
material involved in the District
grand jury investigation of Charles
E. Nelson's alleged gambling activA
tiles.
The threat, it was learned, was
reported by Waldo Roberts, En-
haSsy Dairy driver, who first in
jected Nelson's name into the
Senate Crime Investigating Com
mittee'S probe of Prince Georges
County gambling.
Mr.. Roberts has told authorities
that the day he testified before
the crime committee his wife got
a telephone call saying his num-
Der was up" There has reported
ly been no repetition of the threat.
TeStifies for IS Minutes.
Mr.. Roberts, who lives at 1922
South Third street, Arlington, Va,
was cleseted for rs minutes with
the District grand jury yesterday
Before gong into the jury room,
Mr.. Roberts told reporters that if
the grand jury asked him about
threats, he would "tell them" But
he did not disclose to newSn1en
the nature of the threat.
Before the Crime Committee,
Mr.. Roberts testified that Blight
Lee, Virginia gambler now
hunted by deputy marshalS, took
Mr. Roberts on a tour of numbers
Joints in Northeast Washington.
He die not give the committee the
exact addresses but said he could
point out the houses.
Lee has been accused by As
sistant United States Attorney
John w. Fihelly of "brazenly'
ducking a subpoena to appear be-
fore the grand jury.
Nelson, the Maryland horse
breeder who has admitted back
ing what he thought" was a num-
bers operation, has appeared be-
fore the grand jury and has been
described as an "unco-operatlve
witness" )"
The same label of -co-opera-
ton was pinned on Sam Beard
after his 10 minutes on the wit
ness stand yesterday. Beard.
Washington gambler now under
indictment on income tax charges.
was mentioned with Nelson in
committee testimony. Nelson was
quoted by Sheriff Carlton j. Beall
of Prince Georges County as say
ing Beard and Nelson joined in
paying $4,000 a month for pro-
$ lection in the county during the
previous administration.
Alexandria Seeks Facts.
In another development of the
far flung gambling investigation,
Alexandria officials called on the
Crime Committee yesterday for
whatever information might be
available about gambling in Alex
andria.
Commonwealth's Attorney How
ard w. Smith, jr.. said the visit
was prompted by the fact that one
of the key figures in the gambling
inquiry lives in Alexandria. Ee
said he was referring to Robert
Nowland, whom Nelson says he
backed in the numbers business.
Mr.. Smith and City Attorney
Floyd Williams conferred with
Committee Counsel Downey Rice
and arranged to have Inspector
Russell Hawes, chief of detectives
of Alexandria. go over the commit
tees material.
Mr.. Smith said he and Mr.. VIII
liams didn't want to be remiss and
pass up anything that might be of
use
The grand jury was in recess
today until next week. leaving
Government prosecutors to go over
the testimony to determine, among
other things, whether to put up a
court fight over set of sealed
records.
Records Held Under Seal.
The records were brought into
the grand jury room yesterday by
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Nowland in
response to a subpoena, but their
attorney, T. Edward O'Connell,
said he had advised them not to
show the records on grounds that
what they contained might in
criminate the Nowlands.
While the prosecutors decide
what to do next, the records ale
IN the custody of the clerk of the
court under seal. 1t was indicated
that if the records are considered
vital and If there are sufficient
legal grounds to fight for them,
District Court will be asked for a
ruling on whether the Nowlands
must show them.
Nowland is the man that Mel
son has admitted backing in what
he thought was gambling. The
crime committee, however, took
the view that Nelson was the real
boss.
Another witness, James Pumph-
rey, partner with Nelson in a coin
machine company known as the
p. and N. Amusement Co., also
refused to show his records yes
terday. but there was less likeli-
hood that fight would be made
for them.
More Witnesses to Be Called.
Another batch of witnesses is
due to face the, grand jury next
week. and it was emphasized that
those who have already appeared
may be recalled. For instance
Nowland spent only few minutes
before the grand jury, and pre-
Sumably that time was taken ur
in discussion of the records.
Mr., Fihelly predicted to news
men that the term of the grano
jury which was sworn to serve in
July and August will have to be
extended into September to handle
the Nelson investigation.
Meanwhile, there were more
STRINGS on Capitol Hill to pick