Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-10-05
BY PAUL HARRISON
< Service Writer

NEW YORK, Oct. 4-Trying
times have come upon Tamnany
Hall and the city administration
IL has controlled for ten years.
Almost daily disclosures are adding
fuel TO a judiciary scandal that Is
unprecedented in New York's his
tory. And q number Of the boys"
have been so careless in their extra
political activities that there now
are under way. or r pending. no
less than 80 Investigations into the
conduct OF certain officials, ex-of-
ficials and municipal departments.
Individual cases among jurists
alone include removals from office,
hasty designations. prosecution for
graft. the mysterious disappearance
Of q supreme court justice. a suspi-
cion OF murder. a liaison with
gangland. and the purchase Of ap-
pointments TO benches.
SO general have been charges OF
maifeasance against men whose
jobs are supposed TO consist of adj
ministering justice that an inquiry
mas been started into the suitable
AbJ AOA O4llCe OF Ill city magistrates.
Mayor Asks Aid
Mayor Jimmy Walker has adj
mitted, through his appeals for aid
TO l22 civic organizations, that
graft Is In evidence in Gotham.
Though widely criticized as being
reluctant to act, he has started six
Investigations into city depart
ments and boards. and three others
into a survey OF new styles in
racketeering. Meanwhile, petty NAL
efactors are s%currying for cover
under barrages Of counter charges
involving high officials and Tam
many leaders.
All these things revolve around
Tammany Hall because Tammany
Is the dominating party. 1t holds a
virtual monopoly on the city gov
eminent, sets the city's political
standards, selects. dominates and
appoints the city's judges.
Enemies and critics OF Tam
many are BY no mea restricted
70 minority Republicans. Many a
Democrat has denounced the Ii
gers tactics. Democratic Governor
Franklin d. Roosevelt started state
Investigations into the alleged sale
and purchase of George r. Fwald's
magistracy. and into all Manhattan
and Bronx Judgeships. The latter
quiz Is being conducted BY Justice
Samuel Seabury, a Democrat. but
a Tammany foe.
Tammany Defies Quiz
The Ewald case. which cot un-
der way the other day before an
extraordinary grand jury. was fur
Their obscured IN its network OF
scandal BY the action OF John r.
Curry, Tammany Hall chieftain.
and a number OF his district lead
ers. They refused to sign waivers
Of immunity, and thus were excused
from testifying. This automatic
placing of themselves under sus-
picion' constitutes. II is widely
declared. one OF the worst blows
ever dealt to Tammany prestige
and good faith.
Ewald himself. who NAV or NAV
not profit from Curry's bold move.
has been indicted on evidence that
A4Ao VIC 4OdA4tQ SAu,OtU " MAI
tin j. Healy. leader OF a district
Tammany organization. simultane-
ously for an appointment as magis-
trate- But that vas not the first
scandal In which Ewald had been
involved He previously had been
Indicted for his connection with a
copper mining" company in which
many persons lost their savings.
The spotlight of sensationalism.
though IL has disclosed no proof
Of official misconduct. Is playing
largely on the mystery Of Supreme
Court Justice Joseph Force Crater,
who vanished on August 6. There
are few. however. who are not
convinced that Crater's disappear
ance. whether voluntary or other
wise. Is closely linked with some
phase Of political skullduggery.
A Friend Of Fwaid
The lost nudge was president n