New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-10-02
Tufts Removed
For Actions i'm
Film Scandal
Bay State Supreme Court
Rules Cambridge Prose
cutor's Conduct Units
Him to Hold Office
Big Shake-Down Charged
Case Grew Out of Picture
Mems ''Party" Leading
to 100000 Extortion

BOSTON. Oct. t.--Nathan A. Tufts
Was removed from office as District At
torney of Middlesex County in de-
cision handed down to-day by the full
bench of the Supreme Judicial Court of
Massachusetts,.
The court found Tufts guilty of a
number Of the charges preferred by
Attorney General ]. Weston Allen, who
alleged nonfeasance, misfeasance end
malfeasance in office. The court as
serted that the public good required
Tuftss removal.
The decision was unanimous. and not
subject to review or revision, the court
announced. Attorney General Allen
designated Charles r. Cabot. an AS
eistant Attorney General, to act as Dis
trict Attorney OF Middlesex County
until a successor to Tufts shall be ap
pointed by the Governor.
In rendering it's decision the court
said t. It while full weight was given
to the fact that district attorney is
constantly prosecuting criminals and
IS conspicuous mark for attack by
the vicious, the depraved and the men,
daclous, it was constrained "by the
compelling nature of the evidence" to
make its findings.
"These findings of fact" the court
continued, make clear beyond doubt
that the character and official conduct
Of the respondent render him unfit to
hold longer the Office of District At
torney."
The most spectacular of the charges
against Tufts had to do with a mid
night party at Mishawum Manor, a
Woburn roadhouse, after which sew
eral motion picture producers who
participated were shaken down" for
100000 under threats of indictment.
Tufts, the court found, failed to make
any investigation at all adequate to
enable him to form sound judgment
on the question whether the motion
for which they ought to be indicted.
In finding Tufts guilty of willful
misconduct in connection with tho af-
air the court said:
'The course of conduct Of the re-
spondent throughout this transaction
was that which would have been
adopted by an astute and cunning Dis
trict Attorney who was an accomplice
in a conspiracy designed to separate
this great sum of money from men of
great wealth, timid about further noto-
disreputable affair. Whether he was
guilty need not be determined in the
present case"
Another charge had to do with Tufts
connection with the return to state
prison of Herman L. Barney, who
escaped while serving term for kill
ing Boston policeman. The court de-
clared it was breach of duty "to per-
nit the escaped convict after having
come :nto his (TuftsD automobile for
a considerable period again to depart
in freedom with every opportunity to
escape"
A statement regarding Barney's cap
ture given to the press, in which Tufts
said that he met the convict just out
side of Brattleboro, VI. was branded
as "unoualfiedly false" "The false
hoods voluntf~ily, Intentionally, IN
diligently and deliberately told by the
respondent concerning the apprehen-
sion OF Barney reveal lamenta bic
want of appreciation OF moral values"
the decision continued.
Tufts's conduct in connection with