Evening star., 1952-02-09
Appeals 10 Be Filed
by II Given Prison
Terms in Nelson Case
By W. H. shippen

Appeals probably will be filed
next week for Charles e. Nelson,
his wife and nine others. who were
sentenced to prison yesterday aft
ernoon. following their convic-
ton for operating a big numbers
ring here and in nearby Maryland
L Three women among the IA de-
PENDANTS received suspended SEN
tences. The heaviest penalties
were assessed against the Nelson's
20 months to five years in pris-
on, plus $4,000 fines each.
Two other partners in the multi
million dollar syndicate. Robert
L. Nowland and his wife, Mary,
were given 20-month to flve-year
prison terms, and fined $4,000
each. Blight H. Lee, described as
an officer of the ring. who was
found guilty along with the four
partners for conspiracy as well as
gambling, received o prison SEN
tence of from one to four years.
Detective Sentenced.
Detective Sergt. Robert G. Kirby
who was suspended from the
Homicide Squad when he was in
dicted with the others last October
%, was sentenced to one to three
years.
A similar sentence on a gam
bling conviction was meted out to
James E. Lowry. who resigned as
a precinct detective five years ago
In passing the sentences, Judge
James r. kirkland declared Mel
son had run a cheap" operation
despite a business that crossed ur
to $6 million a year.
Nelson was Cheap" the Judge
said, for dipping into the police
department" to ''hire the guns" o1
officers who served as ordinary
torpedoes" in conveying money
deliveries.
He was cheap also because he
did not take the rap" for his en-
ployes, as other gamblers have
done here, and for bringing his
daughter and son-in-law into the
Operations.
Nelson, according to the .udge
also paid cheap" wages to wom-
en- who worked for him and tool
the risk of sentences up to sia
years in prison.
Those released on suspended
sentences included Mrs. Bartha
McWilliams, Nelson's 22-year-old
daughter, and the mother OF two
young children. She was excused
on probation from serving q SEN
tence Of from one to Shree wears
Others Given Suspended Terms
The others given suspended SEN
tences were Mrs. Ruby Gary, IS
mother of paratrooper sergeant
with combat service in Korea, and
Mrs. Shirley Mccoy. mother Of
two small children and wife Of a
former Marine with combat duty
in the last war.
Other sentences were: Mrs.
Elizabeth %, Brady, one to 10
months in prison: Mrs. Mary T,
Hutchinson. three to nine months
in prison, and Miss Efie Lou
Trent, three to nine months In
prison. Mrs. MacWilliams' hus-
band, william tBilly) &. Mac
Williams, was sentenced to eight
months to two years In prison and
fined 81, 900.
All Of the defendants spent .
week in District Jail following
their conviction BY q jury In Dis
trict Court. All were released on
bond yesterday afternoon pending
appeal. The bonds ranged from
81, 500 for the four partners. to
81 500 for the lesser offenders.
Meanwhile, States Attorney
Carlyle Lancaster of Prince
Georges County said he probably
would not attempt to bring Nelson
and seven others under indict-
ments there to trial until District
Court had disposed Of the appeals
Indicted with Nelson and his
wife in the nearby county. are Mr..
and Mrs. Nowland. Kirby Lowry,
Mrs. Gary and Miss TrenI