Evening star., 1952-02-08
Nelson
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motions to set aside the jury's
verdict before passing sentence.
The judge ordered the five
principals, consisting Of the Mel
sons, the Nowlands and Lee, to
stand before the bench.
Their attorney, E. Edward
O'Connell, declared that Nelson
had led a "clean" life and had
hurt nobody" He pointed out
Nelson had quit school after the
fourth grade and the judge twas
asked to remember that IAN un-
educated person might be tempted
to make a few extra dollars. in
the numbers" He declared,
"these defendants throw them
selves on the mercy Of the court. !"
Hits "Cheap Tactics"
Judge Kirkland said. Il note this
illegal operation began as far back
as the 1930s." The judge said the
racket was built up into an opera
ton which wrote bets in the Dis
trict and Maryland totalling as
much as Sc million a year.
"Yet this whole thing has
seemed a very cheap case." the
Judge declared. "It was rather
cheap to take q man like Lowry
from the Police Department whose
worst fault appears to have been
his good nature.
"It was cheap also to hire O
guard from the homicide squad. a
man very much in debt. and the
father of five children" The
Judge was referring to former De-
tective Sergt. Kirby.
Broken From Inside.
#at~It was cheap, too. to; involve
the women In this operation
Judge Kirkland added. = 'They
were paid from SIT to $33 a week, +"
the Judge said, while being sub
jected to possible penalties Of up
to six years In prison.
This Is one Of the few cases
which epSF, broke here from the
inside. and the loyalty of the en-
ployes could not have been very
Deep" the judge said. adding
that in such a case IT look for
character" +
He pointed out that only q year
ago, "Snags" Lewis was before
him in a similar case involving
himself and the employees of his
syndicate in ! the District and
Prince Georges County.
Lewis and his principal lieu
tenants. the judge said, had the
fortitude to take the rap" for
their employees. Lewis and his
lieutenants pleaded guilty, the
judge pointed out. and the en-
ployes of the syndicate were freed.
Mr.. O'Connell protested that
he had made similar offer in be-
half Of Nelson.
"You did mot make such an Of
fer to me-" the judge declared.
This offer was not made to
u.s." interposed Assistant United
States Attorney Thomas Walden.
Dispute Over Offer.
Mr.. O'Connell responded heat
edly that IT talked to the law clerk
Of this court and I swear before
God Almighty that I did make
the offer.".. E=
Mr.. O'Connell said he believed
Mr.. Walden was present when he
made the offer. along with AS
sistant United States Attorneys
John w. Fihelly and Alfred Hant-
man. --
He asked that the two prosecu-
tors be summoned to confirm his
words, but the judge declined to
do this.
The judge said. "You say you
told Mr.. Walden of this offer and
he says he received no such offer.
IF you hadn't told me your
client was an honorable and up
right man I would never had said
what I have about him"
The new-trial plea for the five
principals contended the Govern
ment's case was based largely on
records seized from Nelson's stock
farm at Ritchie, Md, and used
Illegally against him and the other
defendants.
The defense insisted the records
turned over by Nelson to q Sem
ate investigator were part of his
testimony before the Senate