Evening star., 1951-04-26
Wire Recording
To Be Played at
Trial Of Dugan
Rucker Admits Help
From z Politicians
IN Preparing Charges
By Alex R. Preston

ton in which bribery is said to
be charged, was to be played in
court today at the custer trial of
Arlington County Board Member
Daniel A. Dugan for alleged mall
feasance in office,
Judge John Z. Ingram closed
the third day of proceedings in
Arlington Circuit Court yesterday
by ordering the wire recording
produced. The conversation took
place between Mr.. Dugan and a
former employe of Sam Lano, pin
ball and slot machine operator In
the Washington area.
These developments unfolded
yesterday in the complicated
case:
l. An appliance dealer testified
that Mr.. Dugan had helped settle
Lano's bill for a television set.
The witness said Mr.. Dugan told
him the set was delivered to F.
Freeland Chew, another county
board member facing custer
charges.
Leading Democrats Mentioned. 81.
2. Names of two leading Demo-
Gratis were brought into the case
by Commonwealth's Attorney
Denman T. Rucker. He said State
Senator Charles r. Fenwick and
Edmund D. Campbell had had a
small part in his investigation
leading to grand jury charges
against Mr.. Dugan. Mr.. Rucker
appeared as a witness. he dis
qualified himself as prosecutor.
8. Mr.. Rucker linked three of
Mr.. Dugan's friends to an alleged
conspiracy to set up a horSe-rac-
ing and numbers business in Ar
lington. He did so by reading a
statement which he said was made
to him by the former Lano en-
ploye, Francis D. Griffith.
The witness who said Mr.. Chew
received the TV set bought by
Lano was Paul S. Enright, man
ager of the Service Tire Co. He
said he was introduced to Mr.
Dugan by Lano in the appliance
Storen on June IL.
Mr.. Chew is due to be tried at
the conclusion of the present case.
He is charged with accepting the
gift of a televiSion set from Mr..
Devers to influence the board
members vote.
The names of Senator Fenwick
and Mr.. Campbell were brought
into the proceedings over the
strenuous objections of Prosecutor
Lewis and with apparent discom-
fort to the witness, Mr.. Rucker.
Mr.. Dugan, an Independent who
created a political upset for the
county non-partisan movement in
1916 when he defeated Mr.. Camp
bell, then chairman of the county
board, had testified Tuesday that
st had reason to believe some one
wanted to get me out of office"
Yesterday, Defense Counsel
Armistead Boothe asked Mr..
Rucker:
Have any private individuals
helped you investigate this case?"
IT did it all myself" said Mr..
Rucker.
Mr.. Boothe stared at the table
in meditation. After a few sec
onds, he looked up and asked:
Didn't you consult over the
telephones with some political
personages?"
Indirect Role in Investigation.
II talked with Edmund Camp
bell and Senator Charles R. Fen
wick" the witness replied.
Did Senator Fenwick play any
part in this Observation-Disclosures
ly or indirectly?" Mr.. Boothe
pressed on.
eIndirectly yes-on a small
SCALE" came the answer.
The testimony of Mr.. Rucker
with respect to the alleged gam
bling conspiracy was based on a
statement which Mr.. Griffith had
repudiated, for the most part, on
Tuesday. Mr.. Griffith had ad-
mitted making a statement while
Mr.. Rucker took shorthand notes
at the latter's home February %.
Both witnesses said Mr.. Griffith
did not sign the typewriter state
ment. Mr.. Rucker said he gave
the statement to the grand jury
to be used as basis for question
ing witnesses.
The alleged conspiracy to set
up horse racing and gambling
: business involved Mr.. Dugan, Mr..
Devers, Joseph Leib, member of
a Police Investigating Committee
appointed by the county board,
and Lano, according to Mr..
Rucker.
Fuckers Story.
This, in part, is what Mr.. Rucker
said Mr.. Griffith related:
Last May, Mr.. Dugan sent Mr.
Griffith to Lano's home. then near
Falls Church, to get a job. AT
the Lano apartment were Mrs
Lano. Mr.. Devers and Mr.. and
Mrs. Leib. When Lano came
home, Mr.. Griffith was offered a
job at $50 week. Griffith SAID
he could not live on that.
Then the subject of bigger ano
better things was brought up, such
as operating horse and numbers
business" Mr.. Griffith was quoted
1t was agreed that this woulc
have to wait until after the enc
of the police investigation so thai
certain officers. such as the police
chief and Detective Russell Run.
;yon, could be removed.
''I was told at the time thai
we had a key man in our mids
Mr.. Leib. who was making thii
investigation"
The next day, Mr.. Grifitl
started moving Lano's equipmen
from Prince Georges County tt
Arlington.