The New York herald., 1922-02-22
MRS. PARKINS TURNS
ON WHISKY PLOTTERS
who MADE FORTUNE
Woman Indicted in Three
Cities Is Grilled on Dry
Office Betrayals.
MONEY USED LAvISHLY
So, 200 Is Paid for Stolen Tele-
grams-O'COnnor's Rubber
Stamp in a Saloon.

Mrs. Mary E. Parkins, under indict-
ment here. in Washington and in
Pittsburgh in connection with liquor
scandals, turned Government witness
yesterday at the trial before Federal
Judge Webb of Edward Donegan and
Miss Regina Sassone, who are charged
with conspiracy in stealing valuable
records from prohibition headquarters
in this city and violation Of the Vol
stead act.
Mrs. Parkins ard Miss SEASONS were
employed as clerks in the office OF
Charles r. O'Connor, former director
of prohibition, when they were ar
rested in suite of rooms in the Nc
Alpin with Donegan and Sigmund
CBeansy') Rosenfeld, gambler, who
died recently Mrs. Parkins was in
dicted Jointly with the other defend
ants and in taking the stand against
her former associates and alleged con-
spirators caused sensation.
At the time of her arrest Mrs. Par
kins was released in $4,000 bail fur
nished by the National Surety Com
pany with Donegan as cash indemni :
tor. Soon after she began to testify
the surety company at the request of
Donegan Cancelled the bond, but when
court adjourned Judge Webb released
the woman in custody of her counsel,
Thomas j. Spellacy.
,~-t..
V. Cahill, Assistant United States At
torney, the witness said she had intro
duced Donegan to Harold r. Stephenson,
Secret Service agent, who was sent
here from Washington to trap the al
legged conspirators in December, 1920.
Mrs. Parkins told of conversation be-
tween Donegan and Stephenson in which
the latter said he was handling permits
for the release of large quantities of
liquor and spoke of paying the Govern
ment agent 500 for every barrel he
could get out of storage.
Always Had Rolls of Money.
did Donegan ever show YOU any
money in the McAlpin Hotel?" asked
Mr.. Cahill.
He always had rolls OF money" re-
piled the witness. with a smile.
Did Miss Sassone ever tell you that
Donegan had ever given her anything p
'She spoke to me about Donegan Civ
ing her money and taking it home and
also that he had given her presents of
jewelry."
Did Donegan ever give you any
money. and what for?'
yes. he gave me $1,000 for introduce
ing him to people"
Under cross-examination by william
j. Fallon. chief counsel for the defence,
the witness admitted that while en-
ployed as trusted clerk in Mr.. O'Con-
nor's Office she had knowledge that IL
legal transactions were going on. not
only here but in other cities, but did
nothing to prevent them. She said she
had charge of card index files with the
names of applicants Tor the withdrawal
Of liquor.
The witness said she began, her work
as a clerk in prohibition headquarters in
June. 1920, and received s133 month
and went to live at the McAlpin with n
Miss Mcdaniel. In room 1.725, for which
she paid $3.50 a day. which caused
laughter in the courtroom. She said che
was introduced to Donegan as a Mr..
Joyce and that he hired an adjoining
room in the hotel
Long before you ever met Donegan
did you not know a. man by the name of
Martin. counsel for liquor dealers in The
Bronx and also his partner. a Mr.. Houli-
ham" Mr.. Fallon asked.
"Yes, both men came to see me at the
McAlpin," the witness replied. But I
did not know Mr.. Martin was attorney
for liqvor interests"
Witness was asked IL she had not
turned over Government papers to Mr..
Martin and Mr.. Houihan or had had
monetary transactions with them. to
which Mrs. Parl<ins refused to answer on
the ground that 1t might tend to incrim-
mate her.
II want TO show that this witness was
the handspring In the whole transaction
and was involved with many others long
Caxa4lx.uod paxz Nina