Evening star., 1953-09-16
Nelson's Fined
With 7 Others
In Calvert
Penalties Totul
$1,000; Jail Terms
Are Suspended
By q stoff Correspondent Of The stur

terday took it's crack at Charles
E. Nelson. former Washington
area gambling kingpin.
Nelson, his wife and two other
defendants were given suspended
prison terms and fines totaling
$1,000 in Circuit Court here by
Chief Judge John B. Gray, jr.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nelson and their
son-in-law. William MacWil-
liams of North Beach, Md, en-
tered guilty pleas to a November,
1851, indictment alleging con-
spiracy to violate Maryland
gambling laws.
The other defendant was Mac
Williams father, Heber Mac
Williams, who operated the
Ranchhouse night club near
North Beach, where Nelson al
legedly made his headquarters
In late 1850.
Mrs. Brady Cleared.
Charges of conspiracy and
operating a lottery against a
fifth defendant, Mrs. Patrick
Brady, wife of Nelson's former
horse trainer, were dismissed.
Also dismissed was a second
lottery indictment against the
Nelson's and MacWilliamS.
Judge Gray imposed a three
year sentence in the State House
of Corrections on Nelson, one
year in the same institution for
William MacWilliams. and gave
Mrs. Nelson an indefinite term
not to exceed one year in the
State Reformatory for Women.
Heber MacWilliams drew a one
year term in the House of Cor
rections.
However, the court then sus-
pended all the sentences.
Heber MacWilliamS was fined
$1,000, and the other defendants
$4,000 each.
Counsel Cites Publicity.
A. Gwynn Bowie, attorney for
the Nelson's. pleaded with the
court to levy fines instead of jail
sentences on the defendants. He
referred to the ''haraSsment and
agony" the Nelson's have gone
through and the "unwanted pub
licity" they have received.
David Harkness, Prince Fred
erick attorney representing the
MacWilliamses, said his clients
enjoyed a high reputation in CAL
vert County. He contended there
is no moral turpitude in what
the defendants had done. 1.-THE
only wrongdoing in this matter. "
he added. ''is that the State has
decided to make it So"
This brought later comment
from Judge Gray, who said the
courts are resolved to implement
the acts of the General Assem-
bly,.
Judge Gray in imposing SEN
tence also referred to Mr.. Bowie s
remark about "unWanted public
ity," observed that when per-
sons hout the law they must ex-
pect the full glare of publicity
Procedure Explained.
To a defense contention that
the Nelson's were being tried fol
the same crime in various juris-
dictionS, the jurist commented
''If the activities are spread
over different jurisdictions, it is
proper that the defendants be
prosecuted in the different juris-
dictionS."
The judge continued:
1--WE do recognize the ex-
cellent esteem in which the
MesSrS. MacWilliams are held in
Calvert County. I am surprised
and shocked to find that these
two as we'll as Mr.. Nelson were
engaged in such a type of busi-
ness"
Noting that he had imposed
q heavier suspended prison
sentence on Nelson, Judge Gray
declared, "This was primarily
Mr.. Nelson's enterprise"
Evidence insufficient.
Arthur w. Dowell, Calvert
County States attorney, said he
had nolle pressed the charges
against Mrs. Brady because I'VE
have not sufficient evidence to
convict her."
In explaining why he had
dropped lottery charges against
the Nelson's and William Mac
Williams, Mr.. Dowell told the
court:
"In view Of the filing of the
plea Of guilty for the serious
charge. the State is ready to
nolle PROSE- the charge of op-
Grating a lottery"
Second Series of Fines.
On Monday, Mr.. and Mrs.
Nelson and five other persons
were fined $4,000 each and given
suspended prison sentences on
charges of conspiring to gamble
in Prince Georges County. Gam
bling convictions previously had
been obtained against the Mel
sons in the District, but they
were thrown out by the Court of
Appeals.
Testimony in the District trial
showed that Nelson operated a
$6-million-a-year gambling ring
from his home in Ritchie. Md.
in Prince Georges County. His
operations reputedly covered the
District and nearby Maryland
and Virginia.
Testimony in that trial also
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