The New York herald., 1920-12-23
RAID AMT FAIR,'--
GAMBLER IN NASSAU
SHERIFF Gave Us Is Minutes,
and You Crash In in s. Was
Stuckey's Reported Plant.
sLEUTH TELLS OF TRIP
County Officials in Defence
VIII Say They Warned
Gamesters to Close Up.

! Ii will be the defence of the Nassau
county officials being tried in the Su-
preme Court at Mineola on the charge
that they conspired to protect gamblers
from the law. that while they knew the
gamblers and had various conversations
and transactions with them, they warned
them often to close up their establish
ments and in most communications with
them only repeated warnings given be-
fore.
This defence was outlined yesterday
after the prosecution rested it's case and
counsel for the defendants told the jury
where each man stood and what evil
dence would be offered to clear him.
Henry A. Uterhart, chief counsel for the
accused officials, said he would show
that practically all communications had
with the gamblers were in plain speech
and in public and by way of assistance
to Charles r. Weeks, District Attorney.
OF the original five men indicted only
three remain on trial. Joseph Cassidy,
one-time Borough President of Queens
and former Democratic boss there. died
little more than month ago. Yes
terday the indictment against Postma ster
Thomas II. O'Keefe of Oyster Bay was
dismissed. District Attorney Weeks
consented to its dismissal because no
testimony had been presented involving
O'keefe There remain on trial only
Assemblyman Thomas A. ATcWhinney,
Supervisor G.. Wilbur Doughty and Sher-
if Charles w. Smith.
The States main witness yesterday
was Allen o. Meyers, a detective en-
ployed by the William j. Burns Agency.
Meyers contended that when a raiding
party went to John Stuckey's gambling
house in East Roclxaway Sheriff Smith
detached himself from it long enough to
enter a drug store and telephone to
StucSey.
Meyers told how the Sheriff COM
planned of a severe attack of cramps
just before the raiders automobile
reached Stuckey's. His malady. Meyers
said, seized him just after the informa-
ton had been given to him that
| Stuckey's was to be visited
las soon as he heard the name"
Meyers insisted. "he exclaimed, My
God, not that place. and few minutes
later insisted that he was i'll and had
the car stop at a drug store. He came
out in a few minutes and we proceeded.
When we entered Stuckeys the first
thing Stuckey said was:
"'Say, this amt fair. The Sheriff
said We could have fifteen minutes 80
get our stuff under cover and then YOU
crash in inside of five"
! The cross examination brought out
that Meyers has lived in many cities
and has met all sorts and conditions
of men. He admitted that he had
gathered local color in the saloon of
Paddy the Pig in this city, and that
he knew Big Bill Haywood and one
John Stiner "a safe blower and yegg,"
and Red Leary and Red Dillon and
Butch Mulligan. "But." as Meyers told
the court, "a working detective does
/ not spend his whole time in drawing
| rooms"
! Meyers was confronted with five
| former policemen of Wilkesbarre. Pa,
who averred that. they would be un-
able to believe him on oath. All ad-
mitted afterward that he had invesu-
gated them as q detective on behalf of
the wilkesbarre Chamber of Commerce.
Justice j. Addison Young. presiding
at the trial. said that il the case is
not concluded by tomorrow night he
will adjourn it until Monday.