Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-13
'Snags' Lewis Called
|S14 Million Numbers
Head al Third Trial

ut IIsbBaVU tVUtlINSb
Head at Third Trial
William (Snags) Lewis was
pictured at his third gambling
trial here today as the principal
operator of a numbers syndicate
with an annual take of $14 mil
lion.
| A jury of five women and seven
men in District Court was told
that Lewis and Is co-defendants
were running the syndicate's big
bank in Bladensburg. Md, when
| it was raided by District deputy
marshals on March Is. 1949.
The Government told the jury
that one of the key witnesses
will be Bernice Franklin. attractive
former waitress here. She was not
called in the previous trial OF
the "A men. which resulted in a
hung jury. but she testified against
Lewis and two others at third
trial in District Court.
Prior Conviction Reversed.
On this occasion, Lewis was con-
victed with Frank Billeci and At
tilio Acalotti, former news stand
operator at Thomas Circle, or
gambling charges. Acalotti was
convicted at a separate trial or
charges of attempting to intimi-
date Miss Franklin while she was
a Government witness.
A higher court later reversed
the gambling convictions against
Lewis and Billeci. but Acalotti did
not appeal his conviction and is
now serving a prison sentence.
Lewis and Billeci probably will
be tried jointly after the present
trial is completed.
Assistant United States Attor-
ney William Hitz told the jury, in
his opening statement yesterday
that $4,000 in cash and a great
quantity Of numbers slips seized in
the raid indicated the syndicate
was taking more than 81 million a
month in bets, mostly originating
| in the District.
Tells of Code Calls.
The Government expects to
prove, he said. that Miss Franklin
was living with Acalotti from jan
uary l, 1948, until some time prior
to the raid, and that she helped
Acalotti clay off" numbers bets
with Lewis syndicate.
Miss Franklin. Mr.. Hitz' said
telephoned the headquarters in
Bladensburg to place the bets
using the code at" for Acalotti
and "31" for Billeci, who answered
her calls in Lewis gambling place
The Government will prove, Mr.
Hitz said. that Billeci gave Miss
Franklin the telephone numbers
to call.
Miss Franklin was brought here
from Florida to testify.
Judge James r. Kirkland yes
terday overruled an attempt by
her attorney to void the summons
Mr.. Hitz said the raiders ar.
rested Lewis on the premises, along
with John R. Mitchell, George P
Scott. Bernard j. Del Negro, Greg
DRY A. Segar. Ellis L. Salet, Ed
ward L. Hinkle. jr.. Sterling D
WEIGH and Dean j. (Greaser) Ken
needy.
Five Others Arrested.
Five others, all colored, were
arrested. Mr.. Hitz declared, as
they delivered numbers slips anG
cash to the headquarters after
taking bets in the District.
These defendants are Frederick
Sutton, Fulton B. Mitchell, Ralph
Spottswood, Lonnie j. Black and
AnniS Weyke.
At still another trial, this one
in Prince Georges County, Lewis
John r. Mitchell and Scott were
acquitted last December on the
grounds that search warrant
was invalid.
Eleven employees of the place
however, were convicted and are
out on bond. pending appeal from
jail sentences ranging from one to
two years.
The trial opened here yesterday
and is expected to last for 10 days
or two weeks. The trial, which re-
suited in a hung jury. ran for SIX
weeks.
Jurors Listed.
The jurors are Walter T. Amos
Is. Of 4403 Fourteenth street NV.
auditor; Franklin H. Babcock, 81
of 2100 Massachusetts, avenue
NV. store superintendent; Mrs
Ruby M. Carter, SO 319 Tenth
street Sc, Government typist
Mrs. Lillian D. Doyle, So. of 1854:
Thirteenth street NV, housewife
Mrs. Eva G. Ehrmantrouv, 81, 81
Gallatin street NV. salesgirl;
Miss Audrey T. Eubank, %, 344 "
street NV. Government clerk
Richard T. Grimes, IS, ga Massa.
chusetts avenue NV, Government
photographer; Harold T. Ham.
bright. so, CLIP Seventh place
NV, carpenter; William A. Kear-
ney, 81, pap Huidekoper place
NV. retired; Hills C. McKera-
han. 81, 5000 Knox street Sc,
Government machinist: Herbert S
King, SO. sos Twenty-f )urth street
NE. porter, and Mrs Sophie D.
Mandell, SO. 1907 Connecticut ave-
nue. NV, housewife.