Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-15
Money Was Passed
In Charles County
Election, Jury Finds
BY J. |. Michoei
Stof Stnn carsespendeni

LA PLATA, Md. Dec. 15.-A
Charles County grand jury has
determined that money was
passed here during the Novem-
Der 2 election and says that Zap
parently members of both par
ties used TO do It," but Maryland
law is so written it is almost i'm
possible to return indictments.
In its interim report to Circuit
Judge j. Dudley Digges before
recessing until January ii. the
jury recommended that the Leg
islature correct election law
abuses brought to light in our
investigation"
Four Were Accused.
The report thus refused to in
dict State Senator James B..
Monroe and three other Re-
publicans who were accused Of
money passing in connection
with. last months voting.
The jurors, also refused to re-
turn true bills In the case Of a
prisoner freed from jail on cleo
ton day, but they called his
release a mystery" and scored
"laxities" in the Trial Magistrate
and Sheriff's Offices. S
While apparently disposing Of
alleged election irregularities so
far presented, the Jury kept the
door open for possible action by
declaring that 1t intends to
continue matters so far brought
to Its attention under further
surveillance"
Eight Make Accusations.
Senator Monroe and the other
politicians. whose names have
been withheld. were accused in
statements signed by eight col
,ored persons of the Waldorf area
who said they received 81 or 81
after voting at White Plains.
The legislator. in his campaign
expense report. said he gave 50
to one Of his accusers for trans
porting voters to the polls,
All Of the Waldorf area state
ments were obtained by en-
ployes of the Washington Post
and Times Herald. In this con-
nection. the report said:
THE situation was further.
complicated by the existence of
an obvious animus in the case,
apparently designed to see to it
that a specific group of political
figures in the White Plains area
be made to answer for what
seemed questionable activities on
election day"
When asked for comment to-
day, Senator Monroe said:
THE grand jurors who ex-
sarnined these matters are INTEL
Sligent, representative citizens Of
sCharles County. Since their i'm
esquiry began have been COM
spletely confident of their capa-
sbility and fairness. Their report
justif1es my confidence. : Twill
make a formal statement laterx"s.
L After publication of the ,accu-.
stations. the coait5 directed the
grand Jury tos Investigate, and
FBI agents were called IN be-
cause names Of congressional
candidates were on the ballot.
FBI conclusions have not been
made known. tsf#
AZ witnesses Questioned.
A total of At witnesses were
questioned Id a To-day exariina~
ton of election allegations. the
jury said in report, signed by
Clifford j. McAllister, foreman,
and Agnes L. Matthews, clerk.
THAT it has long been the
custom to pass money in Charles
County on election day is clear
from the evidence heard" the
report said. Apparently men,
bers of both parties used to do
1t. That money was passed this
year at White Plains is also clear.
However, the Maryland cleo
ton law is so written that it
was almost impossible to bring
an indictment for the passage
of money in the cases before the
grand jury. and it would be far
more difficult in the opinion OF
advisers considered competent
to obtain a conviction. In lay
language, the law seems to re-
quire that an agreement or
understanding must be reached
before voting to influence the
voter in recording his vote. and