Evening star., 1954-04-22
Fulton Lewis
Case Is Given
Change.
Court Sees Difficulty
Of Fair TriuI;; Shifts
To Howard County
By }. L. Michael
Star Staff cerrasnendani

LEoNARDToWN, Md, April
%. - Perjury and criminal
libel indictments returned here
against Fulton Lewis, jr., are on
their way to Howard County
under a change of venue order.
Circuit Judges John B. Gray,
jr.. and J. Dudley Digges yester-
day granted the radio COM
mentator's request for a shift of
jurisdiction. after imposing fines
and conditionally suspended
prison terms on four st. Marys
County tavern keepers, one a
woman, convicted of furnishing
liquor to minors.
Two other tavern operators,
indicted on similar charges,
were acquitted by juries. and a
seventh escaped trial on a tech
nicality.
Judge Digges, who pronounced
the sentences, denounced those
convicted. He indicated in some
cases that the court expects the
County Liquor Board to revoke
their licenses or order long sus-
pensions.
No Ruling on Weiners.
The court did not rule yester-
day on motions to quash true
bills alleging that Joseph D.
Weiner and his cousin, Abe
Weiner, both officials of the
county's Republican administra-
ton, conspired to violate State
gambling and bawdy house laws.
Mr.. Lewis was represented by
Attorneys William NJ. Loker, jr.,
of Leonardtown and Charles B.
Murray, one of his Washington
counsel.
Heated public discussion of
grand jury probes, indictments
and trials growing out of Mr..
Lewis protracted feud with local
politicians and his nationally
broadcast charges of lax law en-
forcement in st. Marys County
have engendered doubt. Mr..
Loker declared, as to whether his
client could obtain a fair trial
here.
States Attorney Joseph A.
Mattingly and special prosecutor
John H. T. Briscoe vigorously
opposed change of venue.
This mess started here" Mr..
Mattingly shouted. Lets finish
it here"
Warns Tavern Keepers.
Before sentencing the con-
victed tavern keepers, Judge
Digges warned all county liquor
licensees that law violations will
not be tolerated, particularly
those relating to sales to minors.
The. number of juveniles ap-
pearing in court exceeds the
count of adults and this condi-
ton, he declared, is caused in
some degree by indiscriminate
liquor sales to children.
"You have assisted in break
ing down homes" he told the
defendants, land you must be
dealt with in stern manner"
Charles p. Grabille. 61-year-
old owner of Greenland Gardens,
near Hollywood, was fined $500
and was given six-month House
of Correction sentence. Evidence
in the case showed that Mr..
Grabille had transferred his in
terests in the dance hall-tavern
to Edward A. Thomas, the pres
ent operator. Mr.. Thomas was
indicted, but was not tried be-
cause the tavern's liquor license
was In Mr.. Grabille'S name at
the time of the alleged offenSe.
Judge Gigges scored as "unde-
sirable" practices at Greenland
Gardens and suspended confine-
ment for Mr.. Grabille on con-
dition that he GUST Mr.. Thomas
from the premises when his lease
expires. He further directed Mr..
Grabille not to lease the place
to Mr.. Thomas within the next
five years.
Proprietor Is Fined.
Frank Sinner, A. proprietor
of the Country Club at Valley
Lee, was fined $500 and sentenced
to the House of Correction for
six months.
Mr.. Sinner told the court he
was financially embarrassed just
now because he has closed up
his place and surrendered his
permit.
His confinement was suspended
on condition he pay the fine
within 80 days and not apply
for another liquor license in the
county for the next two years.
Also sentenced were Charles
w. Holden, SO, operator of Tall
Timbers Tavern, and his wife,
Ruth v. Holden, who managed
the White Fleet tavern, Piney
Point.
Lectured by Judge.
Mr.. Holden drew a one-year
House of Correction term, a $3.50
fine and particularly stinging
rebuke. Referring to the fact
that Tall Timbers Tavern has
been a popular rendezvous for
youthful dancers, Judge Digges
said:
This court won't permit you
to hide behind instructions to
mattresses not to serve liquor to
persons under 81. Your tavern is
no place for children to hang
around until l or 2 o'clock in
the morning"
Judge DiggeS suspended Mr.
Holden's confinement and placed
him on probation for two years
but made the suspension condi-
tional on his strict observance of
all criminal laws and "above re-
proach" operation of his tavern.
Mrs. Holden. who has two chill
dren, informed the court she has
given up her license and closed
her tavern. The court let her off
with <050 fine whan Mr. Mat.