Evening star., 1951-08-29
Newsmen Indictment
Stirs Capitol Hill
Demands for Probe

( AOAA6A OOOAOAAol 4AltC6VAS
was suggested today as Senators
expressed Indignation over the in
dictment of five Louisiana news
papermen on charges that they
DETAINED three admitted gamblers
and some public officials in a
campaign against gambling.
Senator Kefauver, Democrat, of
Tennessee, who headed the Senate
Crime Committees recent investi-
cation of gambling in Louisiana,
expressed the hope that citizens
of that, State will rise to the
defense of these courageous men
in their fight to expose the very
bad gambling situation in their
parish"
Senators Case, Republican, of
South Dakota, who has news
paper background. and Moody
Democrat, of Michigan. former
Washington correspondent, raised
the possibility of Senate investi-
cation of the situation.
Would Let People Act.
Senator Case added. however
that he thinks an investigation
will not be necessary. He ex-
pressed confidence that ''the
people of Louisiana have enough
pride in their free press to handle
it for themselves.
Senator Moody said he hopes
to see Senate investigation and
added:
When a newspaper exposes
crime, particularly if some polit-
ical ring is involved. that news
paper is entitled to recognition
for performing a major public
service"
The five indicted newspapermen
were Thomas B. Shearman, pub
Usher of the Lake Charles La
American Press; his son, William
Hugh Shearman, co-publisher;
Kenneth L. Dixon, managing
editor; James w. Norton, city
editor, and Carter George, police
and court reporter.
They were accused of defam-
ing three men who pleaded guilty
to gambling charges, and a group
of county officials whose enforce
ment of gambling laws have been
attacked by the newspaper.
Mr.. Dixon, former war cor
respondent. is well known in
Washington. He was with the
Associated Press for several years.
Senator Kefauver said the
people of the parish had wanted
the Senate Crime Committee to
investigate conditions there and
had described conditions in
which gambling flourished OPEN
ly." But he added the committee
lacked the time to do it.
Personally" Senator Kefauver
continued, Il believe it is a won-
derful thing that these newspaper
men had the courage to 60 after
the situation. That is exactly
what the crime committee has
urged-that private citizens get
together and expose that type of
thing. The people should be proud
Iof the diligence this newspaper
showed F"
The Tennessean said it was not
clear whether Congress had any
jurisdiction in the matter. But the
question. he added. is worth some
thought"
Long Declines to Comment.
Senator Long, Democrat, of
Louisiana. said he wanted to OBJ
tain more facts before comment
ing. He added he had heard
generally that there was a cru
Sade" sparked by Mr.. Dixon.
Mr.. Dixon's indictment was
based on an editorial page column
he wrote in the American Press.
He has been critical of what he
termed wide open law violations
in CalcaSieu Parish County, -
The two Shearmans and Mr.
George were accused of defaming
Claude Williams, Sam Smith and
E. j. Miller. who pleaded guilty
to gambling charges. They were
fined and given suspended SEN
Itences. The alleged defamation
took place on or about August IL,
when the American Press devoted
nearly all it's front page to print
ing previous court records of men
with the same names as those
who had just been given the sus-
pended sentences.
Senator Kefauver said the name
of one of the gamblers, Smith,
lis we'll known to the crime COM
mittee."