Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-04
CORCORAN AND
C0AKLEY ACQUITTED
EXTORTION CHARGE

Cambridge, Mass. July s-A YER
dict Of not guilty on every count OF
the indictments against them was
returned shortly after 9 o'clock to-
night by the jury trying William j..
Corcoran, former district attorney OF
Middlesex County, and Daniel Fl.
Coakley, disbarred Boston attorney.
on charges OF extortion. The jury
had deliberated nearly - hours.
The verdict. rendered by a jury
which appeared nearly exhausted by
its lengthy deliberations, ended n
trial which was begun on May 81 in
superior court, involving various
charges of conspiracy to extort. At
ter the defendants had shaken hands
with the jurors, Coaklcy was lifted
to the shoulders OF friends In the
corridor and carried TO the court
yard where a crowd OF zoo cheered
him as he announced that he never
feared the outcome.
Late today a Gordon of state police
We're thrown around the courthouse
when District Attorney Arthur X.
Reading said that persons in the
street were signalling TO the jury.
| Crowds had assembled about the
building throughout the day.
Testimony recalling the cases of
Nathan a. Tufts and the late Joseph
G. Pelletier. removed several years
ago as district attorneys of Middle
sex and Suffolk counties. respective
| ly, for misconduct in office. was Civ
en- in the trial. The state had charged
that so-called "blaCkmail ring
composed OF lawyers had by threats
of prosecution and promises OF i'm
munity extorted or attempted TO eX-
tort, large sums from various per-
| sons.
Edmond D. Barbour. an aged china
merchant of Boston. told of paying
| 1887 900 to settle claims as n result
| OF "petting party" in MS Office with
. young woman in l9l6.The raid on
| Mishawaum Manor, roadhouse in
| Woburn, in which several motion
| picture magnates were found. is
mentioned in the testimony. These,
according to, witnesses. paid $S5, 900
/ to have the case settled.
Early tonight District Attorney
Reading issued a statement in which
he said:
my attention as we'll as the at
tention OF the court was called to the
! crowds outside the courthouse and
to groups standing opposite the win
| dow Of the room where the jury is
celebrating. We received informa :
ton that signals were being made
| from persons outside the building to
| the jurors within.
! I'VE intend to keep all crowds
! h. Nv
will be permitted to stand outside the
building tonight. We have given
ample warning. We will not tolerate
! such signalling"
The district attorney personally
! supervised the placing of police SEN
tries at points visible from the win
dows of the jury room. Several au-
| tomobies parked in the street ad-
! joining the building were ordered re-
moved.
The state had charged that Coakley
| and Corcoran conspred with others
| to eXtort money from various per-
sons by threats of prosecution and
| exposure. One Of the witnesses for
the state OF the trial was Harry r..
! Ievenson. Boston Lawyer. who said
| that he. was formerly a member OF n
group of attorneys engaged in ex-
| tortion, but who turned states evil
dence when he was on trial with
| Corcoran in Suffolk County on black
mail charged. On that occasion Lev
enson testified that the jury trying
the case had been tempered with by
| Coakley and a mistrial was declared.
Judge Whiting remained in the
courthouse all day awaiting the re-
| suit of the jury's deliberations.
Twice the jurors filed into the court
room and asked for further instruc-
| tions.