Evening star., 1951-09-16
Crothers Advocates
Broadening Inquiry
Into Maryland Crime

The chairman of the Maryland
legislative crime committee de-
clared last night that the State
should probe deeper into the crime
conditions of Prince Georges
County and other parts of south
ern Maryland.
State Senator Omar D. Crothers.
Democrat, of Cecil County. told
The Star he believes the committee
should conduct a thorough in
veStigation in view of recent dis
closures to Federal and State
groups.
But Senator Crothers en-
phasized that he spoke only for
himself. Several other influential
members of his committee have
shown by past comments that
they are unenthusiastic about or
hostile to broadening the inquiry
now underway.
Differs With SherbOw.
Senator Crothers indorsed to a
degree the type of investigation
proposed last week by Judge
Joss sph Sherbow of Baltimore but
he had different ideas as to where
the probe should be pressed. Judge
Sherbow favorS an exhaustive in
vestigation of the gambling situa-
ton in Baltimore and its environs
Baltimore County and Anne
Arundel County.
The Senator supported the Sug-
gestion regarding Baltimore city
but said since his committee has
taken no testimony on Baltimore
County, he has formed no opinion
for the need of State study there.
He thought the probe should be
EXTENDED to southern Maryland.
Gov. McKeldin indorsed the
Sherbow plan and said the State
would appropriate money for the
enlarged inquiry provided the
legislative committee sits with a
special commission of citizens the
Governor intends to appoint for
an investigation of the Baltimore
police department.
Mr. McKeldin also wants the
legislative committee to summon
witnesses suggested by his COM
mission. There has been no indi-
cation of what witnesses he has
in mind but to date the Crothers
committee has heard chiefly from
the law enforcement authorities
of localities and judges of State
courts.
Shift in Authority Opposed.
During hearing at Baltimore
Tuesday. State Senator John G..
Turnbull, Democrat, of Baltimore
County. opposed Judge Sherbow's
suggestion that the committee re-
cess, turn over its work to a small
group of members and hire a staff
iof expert investigators to get to
the bottom of organized gambling
in the area.
Il am opposed to government by
commission" said Senator Turn
bull. II may be an old-fashioned
conservative but I'm getting tired
of committees running the busi-
.nesSes of the State and the locali-
ties. The local governing bodies
can take care of the work them
selves and they should. We have
grand juries and local law enforce
ment officers for Just that pur-
pose -
Lack of Enthusiasm Noted.
BY their questions and occa-
Isional remarks, several other COM
mittee members displayed a lack
of enthusiasm for a more extern
Isive investigation, These included
State Senators Bernard S. Melni-
cove and George w. Della, both
Iof whom are Baltimore Democrats.
Senator D. Kenneth Mclaughlin,
Republican, of Washington Coun-
ty. also was represented as against
extension.
Republican members of the
Prince Georges legislative dele
cation would like to see the State
develop the study of their COM
munity. which came under at
tack during hearings of the
Senate Crime Committee, headed
by Senator O'Connor, Democrat.
of Maryland.
Delegate j. Frank Lillard of Hy-
Iattsville, has urged the Crothers
committee to authorize a local in
.vestigation by appointing the
county legislators to a subcommit-
tee. Chairman CrotherS said he
doubts that such a step would be
legal.
Possible Way Out Proposed.
Mr.. Lillard said that any legal
objections could be met if one
member of the Crothers commit
tee sat with the legislators and
administered oaths to witnesses
issued subpoenas when necessary
and ordered penalties imposed il
the need arose.
If the Prince Georges conditions
are not explored more fully this
year Mr.. Lillard said, the Repub-
lican delegates will endeavor tt
get a special act of the Maryland
General Assembly in 1852, author
izing a crime probe there.
The State study is proposed in
addition to an impending investi-
Igation by the Prince Georges
Georges County grand jury
States Attorney Carlyle j. Lam
easter said he will be ready to press
for action against organized crime
when the grand jury convene:
October /.