The sun., 1917-05-14
TAMMANY IS ACCUSED
District Attorney, He Says,
Sought to Avert Election
Fraud Expose.
TELLS OF "HUSH MONEY
Prosecutor Says Charges Are
"MaliciOusly False in
Every Particular"

Michael A. Rofrano, formerly Deputy
Commissioner OF the Street Cleaning De-
partment. who on November 12 last was
acquitted of a charge OF instigating the
murder of Michael Gaimari. has filed
with Gov. Charles S. Whitman at AL
tany formal charges against District At
torney Edward Swami, asking his re-
moval from office and alleging intimida-
ton of witnesses and attempted SUBJ
ornation OF perjury in connection with
the Rofrano trial. gross abuse OF the
processes OF court and Grand Jury and
general malfea sance in office.
The charges were made public last
night by order of the Governor. who at
the same time directed that copies be
served on District Attorney Swami and
Justice George L. Ingraham Of the Su-
preme Court, who is now sitting as a
special commissioner to hear other
charges brought against Mr. Swami by
the City Club of New York.
With the formal and sworn copy Of
his charges Mr. Rofrano submitted to
a
declared that his trial was a direct re-
suit Of a conspiracy conceived and en-
g!neered by corrupt political forces
within Tammany Hall. forces so 'cor-
rupt and so powerful as to draw within
the web Of their conspiracy the District
Attorneys Office. through which tho plot
ssainst my life was carried out under
-
Feared Election Fraud Expose.
The motive forming the background
OF the conspiracy. Mr.. Rofrano de-
clares, was due to his knowledge OF cleo
ton frauds perpetrated throughout Man.
haitian in the interest OF Tammany cam
didates and his expressed determination
10 employ this knowledge in n full and
public exposure of the facts" involving
men high in the councils OF Tammany
Hall He further charges that he has
been proffered large financial induce
ments to abandon the purpose which Is
revealed in the charges" The persons
who offered the monfyIAre not named.
The evidence to ~ submitted by me, -
says the Rofrano statement, will clear
ly reveal the fact that the administration
Of the criminal law in this great city Is
now in hands directed and controlled by
corrupt political influences. and further.
more that no man Is safe in his rights
or even in his life. who is marked for
destruction by the secret power that
dominates the District Attorneys of.
nee, making mockery alike OF the Law
Ard the common humarities.'
AIR. kofrano then refers " his iefusd,
Of Gov. Whitman's tender of his tRo-
frano'sl appointments as Superintendent
OF Elections for the metropolitan dis
trict, and continues: From the moment
OF your offer my doom was sealed. so far
as Conspiracy could fix it, and a decision
to es,roy me was quickly reached.
Tells OF Illegal Voting scheme.
For twelve years I was closely as
Isolated with the political leader OF ar
Assembly district in the Borough o.
Manhattan which is the city's great re
erUting ground for Illegal voters Ir
ms district is housed the elaborate ma
"hlnery for fraud that makes or break.
political leaders. according to tho will
OF the controlling power, and gives ma
pEites on election days at point!
throughout the city where defeats woult
otherwise be inevitable. Through under
ground channels this machine is closel!
connected with kindred machines in th
large cities OF neighboring States, ant
repeaters are borrowed and loaned be
reen the partners to this criminal In
"rstdte compact to meet the politica
needs Of each
" further desire to call your atten
Von 70 the fact that although tn
original indictment against me wa
FOUND under the administration Of Dis
rict Attorney Swann's predecessor tn
sid District Attorney Swami. with full
knowledge OF my innocence. devised
new set Of facts in furtherance OF tn
political conspiracy against me, upol
which was brought to trial"
In his charges that District Attorne
Swami attempted subornation OF per
Jury and did in fact compel witnesses t
testify falsely against him Mr.. Rofran
specifies James Knox. for many years
city employee and a principal witnes
during the Rofrano trial. and Salvador
curica,
Mr.. swami Denounces Charges.
From his office in the Criminal Court
Building last night Mr.. Swami issued
statement denouncing Rofrano's charge
ss "maliciously false In every partict
lar"
AT the trial Rofrano claimed he ra
away because he could not get fa
trial under District Attorney Perkins
said Mr.. Swami. "IIe testified at III
trial, after Judge Swami took Office tn;
he could get fair trial. that Juda
Swami was very square and uprigi
man who wouIc gladly listen to an
mans complaint and do Justice TO ii
poorest as we'll as to the richest"
Tho statement also declares that r
witness was either intimidated or SUI
lrcted 10 improper examination and ths
the record Of the trial will show thi
many witnesses of respectability wei
called by the prosecution.
Eofrano's charge OF being the victi'
VI political conspiracy Is not ne
SIAM for him." says the statement III
made the same charge when he was a.
eised OF shooting the eye out of htt
gEl few years ago. At his trial
claimed that every dihaculty he ever g
Int" was due 10 the plots Of his polite