Evening star., 1952-01-16
Rise-fo-Ric1es Stoly
Told al Gaming Trial
By Nelson S Ex-Aide
By W. H. Shippen

A $20-a-week salesman who
went into the numbers racket
and made over $4,000 a year was
to continue his testimony today
at the gambling conspiracy trial
OF Charles E. Nelson and is al
legged employees Of his wealthy
lottery syndicate.
Donald Post. who was brouphtl
here from Santa Monica, Calf.
was to amplify his story this after
noon OF his rise to opulence while
managing ~one of Nelson's officest
in Riverdale, Md, from 1899 until
he entered the Navy In 1914.
Post was one Of three former
employees of the Sc million-a-yearI
syndicate who testified for theI
Government yesterday against
Nelson, his so-called helpers andI
two suspended police officials said
to have protected the gambling
operations.
AVN Il 4VACUlCU ON 1TlSls
On trial with Nelson and his
wife. Mrs. Virginia Madge Nelson,
are Inspector Albert I. Bullock
and Detective Sergt. Robert G.l
Kirby OF the Homicide Squad, who'd
were suspended when the grand
jury returned the mass indictment
October %.
Post told the jury Of nine mem
and three women in District Court
that he rented an apartment from
Nelson in 1896 at 3811 SuitlandI
Road Sc. and a year later went
to work for him collecting num-
bers slips and money in the Dis
trict.
In 1889. Post said, Nelson pro-
moted him to manage an office
force OF seven or eight girls in
Riverdale, where numbers slips
were tabulated. money deposited
In a safe and money for winners
dispatched back into the Dis
trict.
rs Per Cent Of Profits. ~z
The witness explained he re-
ceived Is per cent Of the profits,
and his income ranged from $5, 600
to some $31 900 on his best year.
All Of this income, he added
under cross-examination, was re-
ported to the Internal Revenue
Bureau.
If players chit" the syndicate
for more money than he had onl
hand, Post testified. either Nelson
or his wife would let him know j
when and where the extra money
would be delivered to him. |,
At this time, Post said, Robert
L. Nowland, another defendant,
was managing a second Office for
Nelson, although he did not know !
its location.
Post said that one Of five
women defendants, described as {
adding machine operators and h
bookkeepers, worked, for him at11
Riverdale. He identified her as 4
Mrs. Mary T. Hutchinson, ealledE
Flaming Mamie" because Of her +
red hair.
Post declared he had seen
another defendant, Blight II. Lee,f
formerly Of Arlington, Va, and
now of Oxon Hill, Md, turning
in collections. He said he some
times was summoned to the big
stock farm Nelson had bought
at Ritchie, Md, for business con-
ferences with the Nelson's, Now
land and Lee.
Post said Nelson sometimes SUD-
piled him with turkeys to give to
20 or 80 numbers writers" oper-
ating out of his Office. He added |
that he had seen the Nelson's en-
tering and leaving an apartment |
above his on Suitland road, and
that he often heard adding ma
chimes at work there. although he ,
never entered those premises.
Joined Navy in 1914. h
The witness told the jury he
Joined the Navy in 1914 and was
discharged in 1916, returning to {
Washington. Assistant United
States Attorney John Fihelly said
Post had friends operate his num-
bers routes and refund him part
of their take, both while he was &
in the Navy and for a year after
he got back to Washington. {
Post testified that, in 1947, he '
moved to California and set up q
hardware store with the money he ,
made in the racket.
why did you move?" Mr..
Fihelly asked.
II wanted to get into a legiti-
mate bushes and lead a normal
life" Post replied. |,
Under cross-examination by
Attorney T. Edward O'Connell.
who represents the Nelson's, Now
land and the latter's wife. Mrs.
Mary c. Nowland, Post said he
was informed that he was pro-
tected under the statute Of limi-
tations before testifying before
the grand jury here last October. i: