Evening star., 1951-10-28
Prince Georges
Gaming Inquiry
Called Skinny
Public Figures Are
Critical of Results
In 6-Doy Probe

Critical Of Results
IN 6-Duy Probe
AS Federal grand jury pre-
pared to begin the eleventh week
of its anti-gambling probe in the
District, public figures in Prince
George County were registering
a slow-burn yesterday over the
results of the county's own grand
jury inquiry.
Still going strong after return
ing gambling conspiracy indict-
ments against 16 area residents,
including Charles E. Nelson, the
District jury is. expected to re-
sumo deliberations on Tuesday.
Police Superintendent Robert J.
Barrett, back on duty after a
weeks leave, ois due for recall as
a witness.
Since his last appearance before
the panel, Maj. Barrett has seen
one of his top aides, Inspector Al
bert I. Bullock. and one of his
ace homicide squad detectives,
Sergt. Robert G. Kirby, named in
the conspiracy indictment. A re-
tired policeman, James Lowry.
also was indicted.
Turner Is Disappointed"
In its whirlwind six-day investi-
cation, the Prince Georges Jury
last Wednesday wound up indict-
ing eight of the Is defendants
charged in the District two days
before. Nelson, whose farm is in
Prince Georges, near Ritchie, was
among the eight.
The county panel also submitted
a report in which it concluded. in
part. that although there may be
some (organized gambling) condi-
tions yet to be cleaned up, there
Is little OF 1t at the present time"
William R. Turner, executive
secretary of the Citizens Commit
tee for Good Government, said
yesterday that he was "disap-
pointed" with the report.
William r. "Huck" Hughes.
county delegate to the State legis-
lature termed the report "inade.
quate' and added the jury only
scratched the Surface"
Mrs. William H. Wood, presi-
dent of the county League OF
Women Voters, declared she was
"skeptical' of the jury's appraisal
OF gambling conditions.
Sheriff Sees More Work.
Even County Sheriff Carlton G.
Beall acknowledged last night that
there's still a lot OF work to be
done"
Mr.. Turner, who voluntarily ap-
peared before the county jury dis
playing Photographic fruits of his
own independent investigation.
said he had hoped for a more
thorough" report.
He recalled that other grand
Juries in Prince Georges in recent
years have given the county clean
bills OF health regarding gambling.
The Good Government Commit
tee official, along with others,
agreed with the jury's finding that
the county police force is badly
undermined.
AS Sheriff Beall expressed it,
I'VE have little to work with but
determination"
Police work has become a pro-
fession. You Just can't get a pro-
fessional policeman for $4,000
starting pay. That's not event a
laborer's salary" he said.
Beall Continuing Efforts.
Despite the handicaps, Sheriff
Beall said, his efforts to eliminate
gambling are continuing. "I anne
after every illegal operator, from
the lowest bookie to the biggest
man in the organization"
Mr.. Hughes, who campaigned on
an anti-rackets platform last No
vember, declared There are still
bigger fish than Nelson in the
county"
Mr.. Hughes emphasized that
while the present police, sheriff
and prosecution forces "did as
good a job as they possibly could"
IN the latest investigation, the fact
remains that Prince Georges has
only one-third the force of Mont
gomery County and has greater
population to police.
Nicholas Orem. jr., board mem
Der OF the county Chamber of
Commerce, reserved comment on
the jury'S action.
Arlington Inquiry Urged.
In the view of County Circuit
Judge Charles C. Marbury, the
1ury's report pretty well speaks
Tor itself" He explained that the
panels term does not expire until
next April. At any time in the
it can be called back into
session either by the court or at
its own request, Judge Marbury
said.
In Arlington. meanwhile, Daniel
A. Dugan Of the County Board
yesterday called for the conyening
OF special grand jury to investi-
gate references made to Arlington
law enforcement >in the District
and Prince Georges County gam
bling probes.
Board member Robert W. Coy
commented: Il think we've had
of the sensational wav of
going about things and I think
we ought to go about them in a
way"
The board agreed to hold con.
ference Of law enforcement on
-