The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-07
MAY INDICT FOUR
NASSAU OFFICIALS
Grand Jury Expected to Act
This Week in It's Investiga-
ton Into Gambling.
ATTELL DODGES HEARING
Ex-Fighter Disappoints Two
District Attorneys-Three
Witnesses Heard.

The ubiquitous Abe Attsl. who was to
have gone to Mineola to testify In the
John Doe proceedings which is being
conducted there with view of ascertain
ing If Nassau county officials have been
paid by professional gamblers and other
lawbreakers for the privilege of operat-
ing in the county, failed to materialize
at the court house yesterday. and rep
resentative of District Attorney Swami
of this county who went out on purpose
to see Attell spent his day watching aero
planes and studying the falling leaves.
Some person. who was so sure of him
self that he said his promise was tan
tamount TO Attells appearance. told Dis
trict Attorney Charles r. Weeks Of Mas
sau on Tuesday that Attell would surely
be there and Mr.. Weeks, knowing that
District Attorney Swami was anxious TO
ask Attell various questions about base
ball and gambling generally, invited Mr..
Swami to have representative meet
him. And District Attorney Weeks,
since Attell is closely associated with
Arnold Rothstein. wanted to ask MIN IL
Rothstein was the owner and proprietor
of Nassau countys most pretentious
gambling house. which Is located at
Long Beach. But Attell did not go to
Mineola, and he alone knows whether he
intends ever to go there at all.
Three Witnesses mt Hearing.
Three witnesses, whose testimony is
regarded as important, were heard at
the hearing yesterday. One was John
Powell, who is In the automobile bust
ness at Hampstead; another was Maui
rice Bandler. the importer Of this coun-
", who has testified before, and the
third was T.. z. Smathers. the horse
man What Mr.. Smathers's testimony
was could not be learned outside the
room where he testified. Bandler added
further details to the account he has
given of the money he lost gambling
Mt the house in Long Beach which Is
believed to be Rothsteins
According to his testimony, play ran
into big figures there all last summer
and it was stated yesterday that scouts
from different Nassau county gambling
houses have for years haunted the big
hotels of Manhattan and sought the
acquaintance of men who were desired
as customers of the establishments
which sent the runners out.
Powell testified that a barn which he
owns in Hampstead had been rented last
summer by a mar who said he wanted
to keep cars in II on dead storage.
Powell after renting 1t heard there was
a band of automobile thieves working
in Nassau county, and mentioned the
fact TO his tenant. Almost Immediately
afterward the cars stored In the barn
were taken away, and the barn remaine'
unused until the tenants lease was up.
It has been asserted that certain county
officials have been taking money from
automobile thieves and leaving them I'M
molested.
Confidence In Grand Jury.
Tho Grand Jury, which began its de-
lberations Monday, has been hearing
from day to day testimony which has
previously been heard in John Doe hear
ings. and It was said yesterday that
sufficient evidence has been placed be-
fore ii practically to assure the indict-
ment of four county officials by the end
of this week. The indictments when
handed up viii charge the defendants
with receiving brides from professional
gamblers.
Justice Townsend Scudder. who is pre-
siding at the John Doe hearings. has
every confidence in the Grand Jury.
which was selected with great care and
which is composed of men who are
known not to have any affiliations or
sympathy with the county officials who
are under suspicion of wrongdoing.
Nevertheless. It was stated that in
case this jury fails to return certain
expected indictments an application
would be made to Gov. Smith for the
empanelihg Of an extraordinary Grand
Jury to sit at Mineola and consider only
testimony which bears on the conduct of