Evening star., 1954-11-15
Judge Orders
Charles County
Vote Probe
Jury to Investigate
Report Thot Voters
Were Given Money
BY q s.er staff Correspondents

~ q StGAt Sf0ft SotsSsPotoOf'
LA PLATA. Nd, Nov. 15.-
Chief Judge Charles B. Gray, jr..
of Maryland's 7th Judicial Cir
cult today ordered q newly EN-.
paneled Charles County grand
jury to investigate allegations Of
money-passing In the November
2 election.
Judge Gray on the bench with
Associate Judges Charles C.
Marbury and j. Dudley Digges,
said in his charge to the 23-
member panel headed by Clifford
j. McAllister:
"The court feels that one Of
the matters that should be in
vestigated by your body are news
paper stories alleging violations
of the election laws. The foun-
dation of our Government"
Judge Gray said, "is free and
untrammeled elections"
Free Elections Vital.
"If the voice Of the people Is
to direct the kind Of Govern
ment we have, it is vital that
elections be free of intimidation
or use Of money" the Judge said.
Judge Gray added that news
paper stories indicated money.
passing and he remarked, ANY
such activity is a violation Of
election laws and merits your
consideration. If you find that
facts warrant it, you are justi-
fed in bringing indictments"
The newspaper stories said
that State Senator James c.
Monroe of Charles County
and three other Republican
politicians whose names have
not been disclosed were reported
to have given 81 or 50 to several
persons after they voted at
White Plains.
Eight Sign Statements.
The accusations were made in
statements signed by eight
colored persons Of the Waldorf
area.
Senator Monroe had refused to
discuss the matter further than
10 say he is ready and willing"
to give a complete account Of
his election day conduct to any
proper authority.
An investigation Of the allega-
tions has been started by States
Attorney Robert T. Barbour and
Attorney General Brownell has
said the FBI will join the probe
because names Of congressional
candidates were on the ballot.
State Attorney General Ed
ward D. Rollins told reporters his
Office would comply with a re-
quest for a procedural opinion,
but that any action that may
ensue must originate in Charles
County.
Hicks Probe Continued.
The court also directed a con-
tinuing probe of the unsolved
Hicks murder case and referred
to what he called the social
problems of slot-machine opera
ton and liquor sales.
The court was referring to the
death>last March % of Louis A.
Hicks. partly paralyzed war
veteran, whose body was found
in his wrecked car after it
crashed into his home near here.
Judge Gray asked States At
torney Barbour to continue his
study of the Hicks case after
leaving Office because we feel
he has gained knowledge in
many months" of painstaking
work that would be difficult for
any one else to duplicate.
This is not to be construed
as meaning that his successor is
not qualified" the court added.
Mr.. Barbour. 9 Republican, did
not seek reelection and the
States Attorney-elect, George w.
Bowling, jr., was unopposed. The
Office will change hands next
month.
Slot Machines and Liquor.
There are two social problems
In Charles County the court
thinks should be mentioned,
Judge Gray said to the panel of
81 men and two women.
He added: First, the court
makes it clear that it takes no
position one way or the other to
the county's exception to State
policy against slot machines. We
do say. however, that operation
of slot machines and sale Of
liquor present problems which
require careful policing"
"Your predecessors made con.
siderable study of slot machines
and 1t is a matter that can prop
erly be investigated by you, and
one that will be reviewed each
six months when new grand
juries are impaneled."
. Two AIexundrions Get