Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-03
TUFTS OUS!ED FROM OFFICE
IN SUPREME COURT FINDINGS
REMOVAL FOR. PUBLIC Good"

Boston, Oct. 1.-The supreme court
of Massachusetts today announced
the removal from office of Nathan A
Tufts, district attorney of Middlesex
county. It's finding. it was stated,
was for the public good
The courts ruling was on charges
by Attorney General j. Weston AL
len, alleging multiple instances of
misuse of his Office by the district at
torney for his personal gain or in
terest
Attorney General Weston J. Allen
in petitioning the supreme court for
the removal of Tufts, cited more
than 30 instances of action or in ac-
ton by the district attorney to sup
port charges of "malfeasance, mis-
feasance and nonfeasance in Office
The most sensational of these
specific charges had to- do with the
settlement of litigation growing out
of a midnight party in 1917 at Mis-
tawum Manor, a Woburn roadhouse
conducted by a woman known as
Brownie Kennedy. Several promi-
nent New York motion picture pro
ducers were involved. The attor-
ney general charged that Tufts was
concerned in a conspiracy by which
they were induced to pay approx
mately 100000 to Daniel II. Coakley
and other attorneys under threat of
prosecution. Payment of the money
as admitted by the movie men, but
Tufts denied he had shared in it, had
taken any action to prompt the pay
ments or had any knowledge of
them.
The prosecution introduced records
of bank deposits by Tufts at about
tho time in 1917 that Coakley vas dis
bursting large sums in settlement OF
the threatened suits The Tufts de
posits were all in cash and he was
asked to explain their source and thu
fact that they We're in bills instead OF
checks. The district attorney and his
mother testified in support of his ex-
PLANTATION, how his father had given
him the money from bureau drawer
at various times as an ante-mortem
settlement of his estate
In connection with a charge by the
attorney general that Tufts had used
his office to serve private purposes
the prosecution introduced testimony
that he had promised Mrs Charles i
Stearns that he would obtain a divorce
for her and if necessary would fur
niSh woman who could involve Car
tain StearnS. IT was the contention
of the attorney general that such a
woman was obtained. The defense
contended that the woman was a
friend of Stearns In rebuttal tra
prosecution presented testimony that
a Mr.. Sughrue of Coakleys office had
guaranteed the woman's bills at an
apartment and at a garage
An allegation that Tufts acted from
improper motives when he brought
about the return to state prison Of
Herman l.. Barney, convict who had
made his escape while serving a life
term for killing a Boston policeman
'''''N
sides. Barney was in hiding at North
ampton, outside of Tufts jurisdiction
Tufts admitted having made several
trips there for conferences with thu
mans attorney. prior to the time that
ne met Barney and brought him back
Other specifications charged the dis
trict attorney with a failure to pros
ecute in numerous cases in which
It was alleged he had sufficient evi-
dence to secure conviction. and with
mol pressing cases from improper mo-
tives.
Tufts denied all the charges against
him and in addition to testifying az
length himself, called many witnesses
in defense of his actions. The trial
before FIVE justices of the supreme
court. opened on July II and contin-
ned for month. the court taking tn"
matter under Amusement on Aug. !.
Mr.. Tufts. who has long been prom
nent as a football coach and official.
irst took office as district attorney Iii
1917 and was reelected three years
alter. His present term would have
expired in January. 1923.
While the supreme court was still
considering its verdict on the charges
against District Attorney Tufts the
Boston Bar Association filed with il
petition for the disbarment Of At
orney Coakley William ]. Corcoran,
Who was Mr.. Tufts predecessor in of
ice. and Daniel V. McIsaac. The spe
fications had to do with items in the
,harge against Mr.. Tufts.
Attorney Generally Allen. announced
he appointment of Charles Raymond
cabot of Newton as successor 10
Tufts. Cabot is now an assistant to
he attorney general.