Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-29
TUFTS DEFENSE
OFFERS SERIES
OF DISPOSITIONS
In Custer Proceedings
Before Bay S t a tie
Supreme Court
Tufts Side of Monroe Case
Told by New York Attorney
$4,000 Deposited in Bank
by Accused Was Money from
His Father, District Attor-
ney Explains

Boston, July oS-Dcpositions Of
Charles Conner. a New York attor-
ney; Mrs. Florence Abrams, wife of
Hiram Abrams, a motion picture pro-
Queer, and Mrs. Helen Sewalt former
wife of Captain Charles Z. Stearns,
were read today in the removal pro-
ceedings which Attorney General ].
Weston Allen has brought against
District Attorney Nathan A. Tufts of
MiddleseX county before the full
bench Of the supreme court 'All the
dispositions which related to incidents
mentioned in the allegations against
Mr.. Tufts were taken in New York.
Mr.. Connor's statement dealt with
his connection with James Il. Mem
roe, against whom the district attor-
ney in 1917 placed a serious charge
after raid upon an apartment in
Cambridge. Mr.. Connor said he went
to see Tufts about the case ana told
Elm that he believed q "gricyous mis-
take had bech made in the charges
against Monroe and that he believed he
could prove it. The deposition said
Tufts then assented TO Connor's re-
quest that nothing further be done in
the case until q full investigation had
been made. COnnor said he believed
he told Tufts at that time that he be-
lieved the case a frame up"
Before an indictment was returned
against Monroe, Conner said he had
several interviews with Tufts who as
Sufed MIN thai no grand jury action
would be taken against Monroe How
ever, when he learned that Tufts had
changed his attitude on this point.
Conner said he made several unsuc-
ccsstul efforts to see the district at
torney. Before the case was present
ed to the grand jury, Connol. asserted,
Tufts did not furnish him with the
names of any women making charges
nor did he ask to SEQ Monroe.
p After Monroc's arraignment in su-
perlor court Daniel Fl. Ccakley was
called into the ease. Conner said. and
q month later The indictment was mol
pressed. Coallley was counsel for
New York motion picture men present
at a midnight dinner at Mishawum
Manor Woburn, in F'arch, 1917. Earlier
IN inc trial he testified to thn recent
and distribution Of $4,000 IN behalf
or the producers to settle legal pro-
ceedings threatened as an aftermath
Of the dinner.
Mrs. SeWall in her deposition de-
nled testimony offered BY the prose :
cutlon that Tufts had told her he
could make for her divorce case
against Captain StearnS. She first
consulted the district attorney rcla :
i've to divorce in April, 1918. she
said After she had shown him Ger
tam letters which she regarded as
evidence, Tufts told her he would lool,
them over and give her a decision. the
deposition asserted.
At second interview she said
Tufts did not tell her she had no case
but that he would make one for ba,
nor did he say he would have to GET
a woman to entrap her husband. as
was alleged in previous Testimony.
When this interview was finished
Mr.. Tufts said II can not handle
your case" Mrs. Small asserted and
gave her back the letters
MIS-. Abrams, whose husband has
been named as one OF the men nres-
cnt at the Mishawum Manor affair
deposed that on Nav 10 1912 eha
received newspaper clippings telling
OF the dinner in which it was stated
that Abrams gave a check for 81 050
Judge Frederick w. FosdiCk of the
superior court who testified TODAY re
Sardlng cases he handled as IN as
Slstant to Tufts, asserted that during
the time of this connection he had
never known an art of maIfea samoa
or nonfeasance on Tufts part
Earlier int he s1ay under cross-ex-
ANIMATION Tufts said that not unit,
June 1920 did he learn that the Nov,
ORR morton picture men had maid
100000 in attorneys fees. He said
ne was surprised when he learned
mat any such money had been snant
TO settle claims resulting from the
dinner and that he was "indirnant"
when he learned his name had been
used IN connection with the money.
he SAID Mr.. Oakley told him that the
story was merely "propaganda" on
the part of the Boston Bar Associo
tons grievance committee in an Of
fort to get him" Tufts said he was
prepared to 90 before the association
If there had been a hearing.
The district attorney also asserted
today that bank deposits of $4,000
made by him during the period in
1917 when payments were being made
by the producers, had come from his
father. Judge Fosdick testified that
Mr.. Tufts in 1917 told him his father
was turning over his property to him
Tufts asked Judge Fosdick to be an
associate executor of trust fund he
was planning to establish for his
family, the witness said.
Mr.. Tufts will take the stand in
his own defense from time to time
as different phases Of the attorney
generals allegations are brought
I.