The New York herald., 1922-06-29
WAITED MJAL
AMONTHFOR STRONG
Justice Too Busy to Ar
raign Prisoners, He
Wrote to Weeks. 4
BOTH-WESTON CASE UP
Holding Over of December
Grand Jury to March
Recalled.
FIRMS BOOKS PROTECTED
Thompson Investigation Grew
Out Of Talk With Harry
Lee, Is Indication.
FIRMS BOOKS PROTECTED

Four defendants were kept in the
Mineola jail for month between IN
dictment and arraignment on account
of the absence of Justice Selah u.
Strong on other court matters. ac-
cording to records produced yesterday
at the hearing before the jerks Legis-
lative Committee inquiring into the
official acts Of Justice Strong as pre-
siding Justice in Nassau county.
The Grand Jury empanelled by
Judge Strong in December, 1921. was
held over nearly four months. over
tapping the January and March Grand
Juries. It finally indicted the firm OF
Both G. Weston, road contractors, az
ter the evidence had been resubmitted
several times. The indictment was dis
missed later.
The Both & Weston matter again
proved a point of contention. and the
question of whether or not the firm
records could be examined by the oe-
fendant's counsel resulted in strenu-
Gus controversy between Edgar 1.
Brackett. counsel for Justice Strong, and
Harry C. Perkins. prosecuting for the
Nassau County Bar Association.
FIRMS Papers Kept Out.
Mr.. Perkins objected to the impound-
ing of the firms papers on the GROUND
that the two men were not on trial ana
their guilt or innocense had nothing to
do with the charges against Justice
Strong. Mr.. Bracket said:
I'VE intend to show that Both e. Wes-
ton did present fraudulent claims
against the county, and that Judge
Strong carried out his sacred duty to the
county in investigating the road con-
tracts. Civilization in Nassau county
will cry out If we are not permitted
to show this"
The prosecution accused ex-senator
Bracket Of trying to divert attention
from Justice Strong's actions by drag
ging in the road graft charges and re-
opening a scandal that had been In
yesttxated and dismissed. Chairman
Jenks after a conference with the COM
mittee decided in favor Of the Bar Asso-
citation and refused to allow the firm
records to be placed at the disposal Of
the defense.
McWhinney TO BE Heard To-day.
Assemblyman Thomas A. McWhinney,
who called Justice Strong liar and
threatened him with a legislative investi-
cation, according to his own testimony
at the last hearing. is to be recalled
to the stand to-day and cross-exam-
ined by Senator Bracket regarding
letter alleged to have been written to
Both & Weston. asking for a loan of
500.
Andrew Weston produced the letter
at the close Of the days hearing. AT
the request of Senator Brackett he LETT
II in the possession of the committee.
Assemblyman McWhinney has proved
loquacious and aggressive witness, and
his appearance heretofore has furnished
the most interecSing .interludes in the
sessions.
District Attorney Charles r. Weeks
testified that both he and his assistant,
Charles Wood. wrote to Justice Strong
asking him to hasten the disposition OF
the cases OF the four prisoners In the
Mineola Jail. and the Justice replied that
he was busy In other parts of Long
Island and could not be running down"
to Mineola unless some developments OF
the road contract cases demanded his