Evening star., 1951-04-26
Wire Recording
Charging Bribe
Played at Trial
Phone Conversation
Reproduced for Court
At Dugun Proceedings
By Alex R. Preston


A recorded telephone conversa-
tion in which bribery is charged
was played during a dramatic in
terlude today at the trial of Ar
lington County Board member
Daniel A. Dugan, who faces pos
sible custer for malfeasance in
Office.
Judge John L. 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 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.
2. Names of two leading Demo-
Gratis were brought into the case
by Commemorative 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.
3. 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
1ington. He did so by reading a
statement which he said was made
to him by the former Lano en-
ploye, Francis D. Griffith.
The first witness on the stand
this morning was Joseph Leib,
member of a police investigating
committee appointed by the Coun-
ty Board last May. The entire
morning was spent in a vicious
cross examination by Special
Prosecutor Oren r. Lewis.
The only respite came when the
witness was made to produce a
tape recorder and play back an
alleged conversation between Mr..
Dugan and Mr.. Griffith. The
voices, recorded from a telephone
line, purported to show that Mr..
Griffith related how Common
wealth's Attorney Rucker at
tempted to bribe him for the con-
Spiracy statement.
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 II.
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.
E~xxv;oIr,S Novnaa prnuoht Tn
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
IT 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?"
''I did it all myself" said Mr..
Rucker.
Mr.. R0othe 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?"
ct 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.
Indirectly yes-on a small
scale" came the answer,