Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-10
Prince Georges
Indicts TWoon
Road Charges
Ben Du Pre- Named
With Gus BusiIiko;
Probe to Continue

TIOOS 10 SOUtII1uS
A Prince Georges County grand
fury has indicted two men or
charges of conspiracy to defrauo
the Maryland State Roads Com
mission and called for continu-
ing investigation of alleged
fraudulent land speculation"
Indicted late yesterday on foui
counts each of conspiracy were
Ben Du Pre-, former road COM
mission assistant right-of way
engineer, and Constas Gus
Basiliko, Washington real estate
man.
Both already are under indict-
ment on eight counts of con-
spiracy in Montgomery County
Basiliko is expected to appear
at the courthouse in Upper Marl-
boro Monday to post bond on
the charges. Du Pre-, who for
merly lived in Bethesda, is re-
ported to be in his native Mexico
Further Probe Urged
The grand jury, in its report
to the court, said it had heard
extensive testimony relating to
land acquisitions in the county
by the roads commission.
"The evidence received does
not at this time warrant the re-
turn of indictments on all parties
involved in local transactions,
the grand jury said.
The grand jury. however. rec
commended that the States at
torney "delve deeper into alleged
fraudulent land speculation" and
then present the information to
a special session of the grand
jury or to the April term grand
jury.
Chief Judge Charles c. Mar
bury. noting that the grand
jurors apparently anticipated
being called back. said they would
be notified when the States at
torney was ready with addi-
tional evidence.
Investigation to Resume
States Attorney Blair H.
Smith said late yesterday he
would put his special investi-
gator, Detective Sergt. E. F. G.
Gray. back to work on the in
vestigation Monday morning.
Mr.. Smith. who earlier had
conceded some of his evidence
was flimsy, said he felt there
was need for a thorough investi-
CATION of land dealings along
new road projects.
Basiliko and Du Pre-, accord
ing to Prince Georges County
land records. were the joint own
ers of land in Spaulding Heights
from 1851 to 1853 in the area
Of the new Route 4 project.
Gutenberg Mortgage Noted
Land records also indicated
that Max Gutenberg. Washing
ton real estate man. held a
mortgage on this property that
was released only last May. Of
fenberg was among seven men
indicated in Montgomery on
conspiracy charges.
During its two days Of inquiry
into the land transactions, the
grand jury heard six witnesses.
including three employees of the
roads commission.
Also before the grand jury was
A. Slater Clarke, attorney for
George Basiliko. who is under
indictment in Montgomery. Mr.
Clarke said he was there repre-
senting the interests of Mr.. Ba-
siliko and the Gale Realty Co.
he heads.
The company was the owner
Of a piece of land in Bladensburg
acquired for $4,000 by the roads
commission for the relocation of
River road or Kenilworth avenue.
Examiner Testifies
Yesterdays final witness was
John E. Hentschel, roads COM
mission right-of-way examiner
who apparently was called to
clarity conflicting testimony
concerning the Gale Realty
transaction.
The grand jury also recon-
mended a study Of roads COM
mission condemnation laws to
assure that public agencies
acquiring land for public pur-
poses do not pay more for the
land than it is worth and, at
the same time. adequately pro-
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