Evening star., 1951-02-21
sts
Police Quiizzed
BY Grand Jury
On Raid Failure
Arlington Panel Slated
To Hear Additional
Witnesses Wednesday

VVItHS9SCS w V0tbSSA0y
An Arlington grand jury yes
terday questioned police about an
unsuccessful gambling raid last
October and then recessed until
next Wednesday, when it will
hear "some new witnesses"
Circuit Court Judge William D.
Medley agreed to the recess after
the five jurors, in an unusual two
day session, had heard testimony
of a three-man police investigat-
ing committee and had questioned
four members of the department.
Foreman Charles Sher reported
to Judge Medley. after the jury
had been in session for more than
eight hours yesterday. that the
jurors believe they can get in
formation that may help us" next
Wednesday.
Commemorative Attorney Dem
man T. Rucker. who subpenaed
the three investigators, said, IT
have in mind sending some new
witnesses to the grand jury nay
self"
Knew of No Tip-off.
The four policemen who testi-
fed were 1t. Lynn Smith, who is
in charge of one shift of the uni
formed policemen; Detectives Rus
sell L. Runyon and George Cop
page and Pvt. Joseph Kane.
The policemen said, after testi-
flying. that they knew of no tip
off of a raid they conducted last
October on the residence of Vic
Myers in the 1900 block of North
Danville street. ,s..r
Because the raid was unsuccess-
full, the investigating committee
had asked the policemen earlier
whether some one in the DEPART
ment had communicated a warn
ing-or tip-off-telling when the
raid would be made
Earlier, Joseph Lieb, a member
of the investigating committee.
said he told the jurors of several
raids where there apparently were
tip-offs. but I had no direct evi-
dence."
"At their request, I named
names" he added.
Glad Job Is Finished.
Later, Mr.. Lieb issued a state
ment saying: I'm glad the COM
mittee's job is over with. We have
been bitterly criticized for doing
a job the entire County Board
asked us to undertake. job they
should have had the courage TO
undertake themselves
The committee chairman. E. j.
Steger, yesterday concluded testi-
mony he began Monday. MIR.
Steger had told reporters he had
no specific knowledge regarding
gambling in the county.
The third committee member,
Vic GauzZa, jr., told the jurors
that the nine-month investigation
| had revealed the need for a larger
police force. more pay and more
training. He said he knew nothing
of any gambling.
The County Board appointed
the committee last May to con-
duct an investigation of the de-
partment. The committee has
been ordered to cease Junction.
ing and must turn it's records
over to the board by Saturday.
Mr.. Lieb said the committee has
more than 16 hours of recordings
of testimony by Chief Harry L.
woodward and members of the
department. ....
Statement Criticized.
Daniel A. Dugan, who was
chairman of the County Board
when the committee was ap-
pointed. said last night he thinks
Mr. Lieb's comment about the
board lacking courage to under
take" the investigation them
selves is unfair" Mr.. Dugan
added that, "Mr. Lieb didn't have
to accept the job"
1t. Smith said he told the jury
of his duties, mostly on admins
tration." He said he was not asked
about the alleged tip-offs.
Mr.. Runyon told reporters he
had testified that there was no
possibility of a tip-off on the
raids he conducted because II was
the only one who knew our desti-
nation"
Mr.. Coppage said he was asked
whether he knew of any advance
information passed along on the
Vic Myers raid. He said he knew
of none.
Mr. Kane said he told the Jurors
he had been on about Is raids
and three or four of them
were unsuccessful" He added he
testified that "once the members
of raiding party are informed Of
their mission, they are kept to-
gether, so there is no opportunity
for any one to tip off"