Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-06
GultyP|easEnd
Trial Of Nelson
And Rowland
z Await Sentencing;
Charges Dropped
Against a Others
By William 6. Pollard

CQaTJcS r. NelSOH, wealthy
Maryland farmer, and Robert L.
Rowland await sentence in the
U. S. District Court for the
District of Columbia on charge
of operating a numbers lottery.
The 1851 gambling case against
them and four other defendants
came to a sudden end late yes
terday. when the two men
pleaded guilty to the one count
before Judge James w. Morris.
Charges against the four re-
naming defendants in the case
were promptly dismissed. Those
cleared by the dismissal include
Nelson's wife, Mrs. Virginia
Madge Nelson; Nowland's wife.
Mrs. Mary C. Rowland, and
Blight H. Lee, who had been
charged both with conspiracy to
violate gambling law and Of
operating a lottery. The other
defendant cleared is retired Po-
liceman James E. Lowry, who
was on trial on the single count
of operating a lottery.
A conspiracy count against the
two men. Nelson and Rowland,
also is scheduled to be dropped
at the time Of sentencing on the
single charge of operating q
lottery.
To Drop Perjury Charge.
Justice Department Attorney
James w. Knapp announced
that a perjury indictment against
Nelson also will be dropped.
That indictment accused Nelson
of lying before the Senate Crime
Investigating Committee while it
was investigating gambling OPP
erationS here.
Judge Morris, in accepting the
plea of the two men on the sim
gle count of operating a lottery,
set no date for sentencing. He
allowed the two to remain free
under bond pending sentence
and ordered a pre-sentence in
vestigation made by the proba-
ton officer. The maximum pos
sible penalty for operating lot
terry is a prison term of from
/ to 3 years and $1,000 fine.
Mr.. Knapp told the court.
after the two had entered the
guilty pleas:
"In view of the fact that
Charles E. Nelson and Robert
L. Rowland have entered a plea
the Government feels that,
in view of the unusual circum-
stances of this case. that the
ends of justice have been served
and that no useful purpose will
be served in continuing the trial
against the remaining de-
PENDANTS.
Evidence Not Substantial.
I'm view of the opinion of the
Court of Appeals and the imple-
mentation of that opinion, the
Government feels that the evil
dence against the remaining de-
PENDANTS is not substantial
enough to justify continuance
of this trial"
The U. S. Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia. in
reversing an earlier conviction
of defendants in the gambling
case, ruled that evidence OBJ
taned as a result of Nelson's rec
ords being turned over to the
Senate Crime Investigating Com
mittee in 1851 was illegal.
In line with that ruling. it has
been held that prosecution evil
dence obtained either directly
or indirectly as a result of the
Nelson records could not be used
at the trial.
Little Progress at Trial.
The two pleas yesterday came
as a sudden climax to the trial.
which began more than two
weeks ago. Very little progress
had been made in the way Of
testimony before the trial jury.
The jurors had went over rec
ords and discussed before Judge
Morris the admissibility of evil
dehce.
During the early part of the
trial there were II defendants
in the case. Last week, however.
Judge Morris granted a motion
to dismiss the indictment as to
five of them who were accused
on the single count of operating
lottery.
With Mr.. Knapp in prosecute
ing the case was Justice Depart
ment Attorney j. Frank Cum
bingham.
Attorney Edward Bennett Will
liams represented Mr.. and Mrs.
Nelson. Mr.. and Mrs. Rowland
were represented by Attorney
MurGaugh Madden. Attorney
Charles K. Ford represented
Lowry, and John London was
counsel for Lee