New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-29
'CASSIDY,FFREED,
MAY 'COME BACK
Ex-Boss, Release Near,
Will Obey Friends Wish
Bears No Malice.
POLITICAL RE-BIRTH
STIRS QUEENS MEN
Move to Settle Old Scores An
ticipated-Wife and Daughter
Visiting at Prison.

tFrom s;a- Correspondent q Th- TriouncJ
Comstock, y. Y, Dec. 2s.-"Curly
joe Cassidy, the former Democratic
boss of Queens County. convicted Of
selling nomination for a Supreme
Court justiceship for 100000. init
mated to-day in Comstock prison that
after his release he would reenter poll
tics. To Queens politicians this means
mat Cassidy, twice elected president of
the borough, will go back to settle some
old scores.
whether will 20 back into politics
IS question have not come to yet"
said Cassidy, cheerful and healthy as
ever. Il didn't enter politics to make A
living out of it. | was in business with
my brother and father when politics
lured me. Before that had charge Of
the fur department If Arnold Con-
stable e. Co. only remained in poll
ties, once having entered IL, because
my friends urged me-"
"Will you go back into politics if
your friends urge you"
Cassidy thought a moment before
answering. Then he SAID:
81 have never yet refused to hearken
to my friends. Let me add this. when
was IN politics | never appointed TO
office or nominated 10 office. or sug-
Sested for nomination, any mar who
could not serve the state properly. or
who was not a friend of mine. or
vouched for by some friend or some
man OF responsibility. That was my
political code"
Cassidy, who was seated in chair
IN Warden HOmer's Office, lightly struck
a desk in front Of him to emphasize
what he said.
Foes Blamed for Conviction.
"The story that | sold a nomination
for Supreme Court iusticeship to
Wlllett was inspired by my political
enemies he continued. referring TO
the affair that stirred the state i'm the
1911 election. and sent William Will
lett to prison for no, less than one
year and not more than two years and
six months my friends never doubt
ed my innocence, and many of those
who believed me guilty have since
changed their minds and signed petit
tons for my pardon. | know that to-
day | am stronger in Queens County
than before my conviction, but | do
not harbor any ill-wl, toward any one
connected with my case"
Cassidy laughed .ra5n asked if he
would take a little vacation when re-
leased on parole January II.
81 have 2 big real estate business
that will have me sitting at my desk
for a long time after / am free.
am not planning anything but hard
work now"
1t was a criminal libel charge against
William Berri. owner Of THE Brook
lyn Standard Union" for charging
Cassidy with selling the justiceship
that resulted in the conviction Of Cas-
sidy and Wllctt.
When this phase of it was touched
on, Cassidy said: 81 never suggested
bringing a libel charge against any
one. That was the work Of one of the
lawyers"
Having in mind advice of Big
Tim'?" was suggested. laughingly.
NO" laughed Cassidy. How was 1t
Big Tim put il? Let me see. Oh, yes.
Never sue newspaper for libel. They
may prove it. No, | had too much to
attend to without looking for trobule.'
Cassidy has been employed as a
trusty since he was transferred from
Sing Sing. He has charge Of the big
farming industry Of the prison. This
afternoon he was down at the depot,
ungarded, inquiring about an overdue
shipment of feed.
Cassidy wife and niece arc spend
ing the holidays here They visit him
daily. The parole board will parole
Cassidy when his minimum sentence
expires on January -. District Attor-
ney Cropsey has questioned Cassidys
parole on the ground that he is dis
barred from the provisions OF the
parole law because he was fined $1,000.
Several state attorneys have held IN
similar cases that the fine is not bar.
The question will be threshed out IN
the Supreme Court, in Syracuse, If the
prosecuting attorney presses his point.