Alabama Gambling Trial Offers Peek Inside Politics

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The public will get a graphic, behind-the-scenes look at state government when a trial begins Monday in the biggest government corruption case to come out of the Alabama Legislature.

Among the nine defendants are four present and former legislators, two influential lobbyists, and the owner of what used to be Alabama's largest electronic bingo casino, VictoryLand's
Milton McGregor.

Legislative historians say they can't recall another case with a greater number of Alabama legislators indicted by a grand jury at one time.

The jury will get to hear many hours of wiretaps and secret recordings. The retired chairman of the University of Alabama's political science department, William Stewart, says it's an
opportunity for the public to learn more about how public business gets done in Montgomery.