Evening star., 1951-08-25
Crothers Urges
Stronger Laws 10
Curb GAMBLING
Stute Senator Moves
To Bolster Maryland
Enforcement

enforcement
A leading Maryland legislator
today advocated changes in State
laws to strengthen the hand Of
local enforcement authorities in
a drive against organized gam-
bling.
This stand was announced by
State Senator Omar D. Crothers,
jr., after a committee of which he
is chairman had completed a one
day study of crime in Southern
Maryland. It came in the wake
of sensational disclosures before
the Senate Crime Committee.
which spurred investigations into
gaming both in the District and
Prince Georges County.
Senator CrotherS said he be-
lieves the Maryland laws can be
modified to help eliminate con-
ditionS that have have put some
Maryland communities in an un-
favorable light. He did not spec
ify what revisions he would sup
port, and he emphasized that he
spoke only for himself, and not
for the committee as whole.
The Senator said, however, that
he had in mind a revision Of the
Bouse Act, which prohibits the
use of evidence obtained as the
result of illegal searches.
Would Indict Nelson.
At a public session yesterday
In Annapolis, the CrotherS COM
mittee was told that Princel
Georges County will ask the in
dictment of Charles E. Nelson onl
charges of attempting to bribeI
three county officials. States At
torney Carlyle j. Lancaster said
this action will be taken before
the October grand jury.
Nelson, who lives in nearby
Ritchie. Md. and operates the
North Beach amusement cenAlSI
known as Uncle Billie's, admitted
to the Senate probers early this
month that he had backed a num-
bers operation. Later. Sheriff
Carleton Beal of Prince Georges
told the Senators that Nelson re-
Gently tried to bribe him in return
for police protection in the county.
The sheriff said Nelson offered him
$4,000 a month. to be split be-
tween himself. the States attor-
ney and Police Chief F. Allen
Richards.
Mr.. Lancaster told the State in
vestigators yesterday that Nelson's
operations in Prince Georges are
a negligible part Of the estimated
$6 million business he is supposed
to conduct in Maryland, the Dis
trict and Virginia.
One Phase Of Investigation.
Mr.. Lancaster also said the in
vestigation Of Nelson and the al
legged bribe constitute but one
phase Of the county's current IN
vestigation. He said the october
grand jury viii, be supplied with
much evidence of gambling.
Senator Crothers explained that.
while his committee wants to un-
cover crime where it exists, the
primary objective is to recommend
legislation that will help to remove
It.
He said his committee is par
ticularly interested in a proposal
made yesterday by Daniel Wise
man, chief of police at the Uni
versity of Maryland. Mr.. Wise
man urged that the State estab-
lish a central bureau Of criminal
records, which would contain in
formation readily available to all
law-enforcement authorities.
Wider Activity Urged.
This was about the only sug-I
gestion made yesterday that had
not been advanced at earlier COM
mittee hearings in other communi-
ties. Among those made before
was one for the Maryland State
police to take more active part in
combating crime. Several wit
nesses said the State police are
concerned principally with traffic
matters.
Mr.. Lancaster proposed the es-
tablishment Of a rowing racket
squad by Maryland State police.
but said the squad should go into
a county only when asked by local
officials.
A surprise appearance was made
Yesterday by Mrs. Anna T. Dolly
Keleher, estranged wife Of John
(Blackjack) Keleher, who has
been identified with gambling ac-
tivities in the Metropolitan area.
She was introduced by Delegate
William r. (F1uck) Hughes OF
Prince Georges as the wife OF "one
of the biggest gamblers in the
country"
Public Disclosure Rejected.
Mr.. Hughes said Mrs. Keleher
could tell the committee just how
her husband had operated in
Maryland.
The legislators declined to hear
her in public session because her
remarks might tip the hand Of po-
Iina II, ciirreY1t investigations and