Evening star., 1951-09-09
Virginia Cities Take
Cue From Senator's
And Probe GAMBLING
BY the Associated Press

The Senate Crime Investigating
Committee has gone out of busi-
ness-but in Virginia several cities
appear to be accepting its pre-
scriptions for helping cure the Ma
ton of crime.
The committee, in its country
wide inquiry into the underworld's S
life, skipped over Virginia. imply
ing that criminal activities in the
Old Dominion were not sufficient
to warrant investigation.
But the commission recon-
mendations-greater vigilance by
local law authorities, local crime
investigating groups and tighter
laws-apparently are being taken
to, heart in some cities.
HOpewell Probe Under Way.
The following occurrences lend
emphasis to the belief that local
officials have been spurred to
greater effort in putting down
gambling.
/. A grand jury investigation of
the numbers racket in Hopewell.
2. A prospective grand jury in
Quiry into gambling activities in
Newport News.
8. A threat by the Roanoke city
council to disenfranchise Western
Union because of horse race gam
bling.
4. A city council-order inveSti-
cation of the Staunton Police De-
partment after a disclosure that
officers had accepted gifts and
,favors from gambler.
Battle Answers No.
These acts give rise to this
question:
Does Virginia need a State
wide crime investigating commits
sion? Such commissions were rec
commended by the Senate inves-
tigators.
Gov. Battles answer is:
mo, I don't think Virginia
needs a crime investigating COM
mission. Certainly, not at this
time. We have no evidence of or
ganized, big-time crime in Vir-
ginia."
The first local action in the
State came little over a month ago
when grand jury was ordered
to investigate numbers operations
in Hopewell.
The inquiry was touched off af-
ter w. H. Billy Sampson. ad-
mittedly a numbers operator. de-
clared that only the Federal Gov
ernment could put an end to his
activities.
Charge Is Misdemeanor.
So far, as witnesses have testi-
fed before the jury, which has
indicted Sampson for operating a
lottery - charge which, Incl
dentally, is only a misdemeanor
under Virginia law.
The jury has not been confin-
ing its probe to Hopewell. but has
also peered into purported
three-city numbers tie-up involv-
ing Richmond and Petersburg.
AS soon as the grand jury went
into session numbers writer's in
the three cities repeatedly went
on vacation.
commemorative Attorney Will
liam l.. Carlton said he would
exert every effort to break up
the racket"
Preparatory to the jury inquiry,
the Newport News City Council
last week enacted sitter penal
ties for numbers racketeers. in
cluding mandatory jail sentence.
Shadow Cast on Police.
In Staunton last week. the city
council discovered that we'll
known gambler, who recently was
shot to death, had favored the
police department with gifts and
special cut rates at his three res
taurantS.
The council also learned that
three top city officials, including
the police chief, had taken a trip
to Washington with an associate
of the gambler, Elmer Higgins.
The council ordered City Man
ager Seth Burnley to begin an
immediate investigation. of the
police force. Indignant citizens
started circulating petitions for
grand jury investigation.
Commonwealth's Attorney Fitz-
hugh Elder said. however, that
he doesn't intend to ask for an
immediate grand jury investiga-
ton of the police department.
II don't believe we have enough
evidence to warrant a grand jury
at present." he commented.
Death OF Korea Seruednt