The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-28
A In GAMBLING
PLOT RELEASED
ON $4,000 BOND
Nassau County Officials
Plead Not Guilty to Con-
spiracy.
CHARGE TIP ON RAID
Curly joe Cassidy, For
mer Democratic Boss,
Fails to Appear.
POLITICAL MOVE ALLEGED
Asscmblyman McWhinney De-
tends Conduct and Questions
Motives in Case.
POLITICAL MOVE ALLEGED

-Four of the five public officials
named in connection with an alleged
conspiracy to protect gambling in
Nassau county, and who were in
dicted before Justice Townsend Scud-
der In the Supreme Court. Mineola.
Tuesday, pleaded not guilty yesterday
to the charges against them. The only
defendant who did not appear was
Curly Joe" Cassidy, former Demo
cratic boss of Queens.
Thomas j. O'Keefe. former State
Senator and at present Postmaster at
Oyster Bay. appeared in person, ac-
ecnnpanied by his Attorney. Thomas j.
Essff Thomas a McWhinney. AS
semi yman from the Second District;
S5ecrga w. DoughtSs Supervisor of the
town OF fIenpstea6 and Charles w.
Smith, Sheriff Of Nassau county, en-
tered pleas of not guilty through their
attorney, Russell Sprague. All were
released under $4,000 bail each.
McWhfnney Defends Record.
Assemblyman Mcwhinney issued
formal statement in which he defended
his own record and attacked that of
Justice Scudder and District Attorney
Charles II. Weeks. who Is prosecuting
the charges. McWhinney intimated
strongly in the charges he brought
, against the Supreme Court Justice that
the Indictment had political ramifica-
tions.
The indictment against the FIVE men
was made public yesterday. 1t charges
.<x.A AZ L. @lu4 H.. l.nt -
fDouEhfy, Sherln Smith gave advance
znrtste tc Charles ~ stuckey. described
~ 1epecr 81 a gafling house at
14rbrocls. that the place was to be
rRideG and that this wns a conspiracy
Fr 1etestfhc Law wllien The sheriff was
pcntaf BY cath . Sa1olce.
AS to the part alleged to have been
played in the gambling operations by
the other defendants. nothing is said in
tho Indictment except in general terms.
10 me effect that tl-aY acted with Sheriff
smith In tipping of propritors of gam
biirg houses prior to raids which they
knew were coming.
The indictment limits the alleged &C.
tfvities of the five officials in giving SUD-
port TO gamblers to tho period from
January l, 1917, to September OF this
year. 1t charges that the defendants
during THAT period combined to procure
omit and violate his duties enjolned by
law upon him. and to cause his subor-
dinates TO omit. neglect and violate their
duties"
Postmaster OKeefe's attorney. Mr..
Cuff. said the indictments had been n
complete surprise to his client .Inas-
much as he was not a county office
holder" said Mr.. Cuff, "and as there
were no Democrats In office in the
county. j can't see how Mr.. OKeefe
could be in position to deliver protec-
ton 10 any one. l don't understand
how any one could come TO him to seek
protection. O'Keefe himself said he
didn't know what 1t was all about.
don't believe could get in with the big
gamblers even IL wanted 70. / GER
tainly don't know how they got me
mixed UP in this thing"
Curly Joe" Cassidy was said TO be
away on a hunting trip. and 1t was ex-
pected that he would present himself as
soon as he returned. Doughty said that
lat the proper time" he would make o
statement.
Opposed Gambling.
There is no question" declared Nc
Whitney in his statement. but what
there was gambling I'm Nassau county.
but there was no more than in any other
county. Let na say that over a year
ago. when the question OF the District
Attorneys denomination was being con-
sdered visited his office in company
with Mr.. Doughty and there we assured
him OF our suppocs for his renomina-
tion and that we would support him to
the limit in eliminating gambling in
Nassau county.
I'VE advised him TO place guards be-
fore known gambling hN-iges. and he re-
piled that the funds H. Ad available
were too low bought assured him
- A..
ask the board TO appropriate what
money was necessary 70 clean up the
situation. And Doughty got I'm touch
with the members of the board and got
their assurance OF support
Before the raid by the Nassau County
Association on the so-called Gideon
place ! heard a rumor that gambling
was going on there and visited both
Sheriff Smith and the District Attorney
and said that we shouldn't permit n civic
organization 20 carry out a necessary
raid.
Il wish 20 state that have never had
hny dealings with any OF the gamblers in
Nassau county. I have never been in a
gambling house in my life and have
no excuses or apologies 70 make"
Mcwhinney reviewed his record IN
public life. stating that he had been
thirty years in the political life OF Mas
aau county. twenty years chief OF the
Lawrcnce-Cedarhurst Fire Department
and seven years in the Assembly, and
that during those seven years his entire
expenses had amounted to less than
s1sS.
II 60 into this" nc said. because
want to ask the public II n man who
has served the public interest as have
rerved Il would stoop 10 a conspiracy
with common gamblers7"
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