Evening star., 1952-01-21

Sd Ex-Nelson EInployeI
1estifies Against Him.
Names 7 Policemen
By w. H. shippen
A third woman adding machinel
operator turned States evidenced
today against Charles e. Nelson,
at the wealthy Marylander's trial
with Is others on charges of con-
spiraey 70 operate a big numbersl
syndicate with the aid Of police
protection.
The latest prosecution witnessl
lis Mrs. Mary Greet Of Alexandria,
who told a jury she worked for|
Mr.. and Mrs. Nelson for Is years,
beginning In 1887. The witnessl
agreed with two women who hadl
proceeded her to the stand that
Ia suspended homicide squad -detec-
tive and q retired precinct detec-
tive worked for the operations.
The accused men are Sergt Rob-
|ert q. Kirby and James e. Lowry,
who retired as a precinct detec-
tive in 1947. Mrs. Creef did mott
mention another police official in
her opening testimony. Inspector
Albert /. Bullock, who was sus-
|pended with Kirby when the mass
indictment was returned October
%.
Phone Was Tapped.
Phone tapping by unknown par
ties was mentioned today by al
previous witness, Mrs. Helen Lor-
|raine Brown. another adding ma
chine operator. Mrs. Brown said
that either Assistant United States
Attorney Alfred Hartman or
Thomas Walden had warned her
that her telephone was tapped"
and she must be careful what she
said over the instrument. Mrs.
Brown said she suspected this
because she had heard unaccus-
toned clicking noises in the re-
ceiver.
The witness insisted under
cross examination she had no idea
who might have tapped her tele-
phone but that she got the inn
preston from Mr.. Hartman that
he meant for me not to discuss
the case over the telephone" be-
cause some unknown party might
be listening in.
Not Sure of Time.
Mrs. Brown could not be sure
wbether the conversation was
heard before or after the syndi-
cate was indicted. |
Mrs. Brown denied she had been
offered immunity to testify for
the prosecution.
She said she may have been
thinking of immunity when she
decided to turn states evidence,
but insisted no one had given her
promises ir intimated that she
might be indicted if she refused to
talk.
Inter State Lottery Charge.
Nelson and Is co-defendantsI
charged with operating the big
Interstate lottery and conspiracy
went on trial last Monday. In
dicted with Nelson are his wife.
Mrs. Virginia Madge Nelson. and
two suspended members Of the
Washington Police force-Inspec-
tor Bullock and Detective Sergt.
Kirby Of the homicide squad.
Other principal defendants are
Robert l.. Nowland Of Alexandria,
described as a principal lieutena1tl
of Nelson; his wife, Mrs. Mary C.l
Nowlard. and the Nelson's daugh-l
ter, Mrs. Bertha N. MacWilliamS,
and her husband, william (Billy)
K. MacWillian1s.
Had Seen Bullock.
Counsel for Inspector Bullock
obtained a statement from Mrs.
Brown that she had seen theI
police official in the yard Of the
Tea Topper Tavern instead of onI
the adjoining premises Of thel
Richardson home in Seat Pleas
ant. one of the principal head
quarters of the syndicate.
Mrs. Brown explained under
cross examination by Attorney
Charles E. Ford that she under
stood the same persons owned
both the tavern and the Richard
son home and she associated them
together in her mind.
Federal prosecutors havel
pointed out, however, that they
had no evidence of any illegal op-
|erations in the tavern.
Can't Recall Details.
Mrs. Brown could not recall If
she had seen Inspector Bullock in
an automobile or standing in the
nearby yard Of the tavern. Al
fence has been put up between the
tavern and the Richardson home,
Mrs. Brown said. She told the
jury she parked her car behind
the tavern and used a gate in the
fence when she went to work at
the numbers headquarters Office.
Mrs. Brown could not recall under
cross-examination at what period
she had noticed Inspector Bullock
LocuI Authorizes Strike
Against Ford in Conudu