davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
ATTORNEY RALPH COPPETO

Age 37. Practlclng attorney ana businessman. A resident of Wa terbury. Free on bonds of $10,000 posted by Mrs. Carmella Coppeto. Represented by Attorney Sidney s. Cassel.
 Following the reference to Phil Coppeto in the jury's report was the notation: Engaged in this enterprise with him was his brother, Ralph Coppeto, an attor- ney, who apparently shared in these payments from the city"
 In the bench warrant, Ralph Coppeto is accused of counselling and aiding his brother to remain out of the state during the grand jury's investigation.
 JOHN H. CRARY
 Age 63. A resident of Water bury. Free on bonds of $5,000 posted by Attorney Irving W. Pas ternak. Represented by Attorney Patrick Healey.
 A member of the board of as- sessors Chairman of the Dem- ocratic town committee . .. a for mer member of the Democratic state central committee.
 Concerning Crary the jury re- ported, "In each year from 1892 to 1898 the Tax Commissioners Department was charged with $45O received quarterly by .. John H. Crary ;, in excess of regular salary fixed by charter, and therefore, also in violation of statute. This extra compensation was charged to "Revaluation." There was no such appropriation.
 MARTIN J. DUNN
 Age 43. A resident of Water bury. Free on bonds of $l0,000 posted by Attorney Francis Mc- Donald and Joseph Mulville. Rep resented by Attorney William J. Wholean of Hartford. An employe of the controllers office even before election of Leary. Was purchasing agent for city until Rowland took office. At present is local selecting agent for the WPA.
 Is accused of colnplicity in the destruction of the city's records for l931-1938. Allegedly locked storage room so no other persons could have access to the records. By profession, Dunn is lawyer. THOMAS J. FLEMING Age 4s. A resident of Water bury. Free on bonds of $l0,000 | posted by pr. Michael J. Lawlor. Represented by Attorney Patrick Healey.
 Superintendent of Streets, Wa ter and Sewer Departments. Regarding Fleming the jury re-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
JOHN G. PURDIE

Age 50. A resident of New York. Free on bonds of $10,000 posted by bonding company. Represented by Attorney Harold Ashworth.
 Was also known as Jack Con- way. Operates as private detec- tive under the trade name of Un- derwriters' Investigation Bureau.
 Claimed to have "duckedp grand jury subpoena as witness. At the time of the grand jury investiga- tion he claims he was working for Senator Bridges on investigation work in connection with the IVA.
 Said to have been employed by the mayor and comptroller in 1885 and 1887. According to the jury, "he occupied the position, it seems, of official snooper for the mayor and comptroller, for which services he was paid, so far as existing records reveal, in excess of $10,000." His employment by the city officials was violation of law, according to the jury. FRANK J. BURNs) .sANTALUCIA
 sl #
 Age 40. A resident of Water bury. Free on bonds of $25 900 posted by Nicholas Maiorano, Wil- liam Gumpper and Nick DeNicola. Represented by Attorneys John 1T. Cassidy. ,ia
 One of the alIegedly favored contractors.
 Prom available records it ap- pears that between 1881 and 1935 he received at least $83, GOATS and during the year 1887 alone he re- ceived $85,OOO from the city. Dur- ing a portion of this time sSan- talucia was doing business as the Connecticut Supply Company
 sThe records in the office Of the assessors reveal that most oe the
 (Contlnueds 6n Next Page)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
JAMES P. HEALEY

Age 48. A resident of Waterbury. Free on bond of $10,000. Repre- sented by Attorney John H. Cas- sidy.
 An officer of the H. W. Conner Trucking Company. Resides at 108 Cooke street. Went to England May g when grand jury sub- poenaed him as witness. Returned after report was issued.
 One of the favored trucking firms listed in the report: James P. Healey, whose business is known as the H. w. Conner Com pany, received so far as is known $38, POSTS from the City of Wa terbury between 1884 and 1937," the report states.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

as one Of the "key men" in the conspiracy. Blamed for complicity in the destruction of the city's records.
 The grand jury claimed Kelly introduced Edward G. Levy of New Haven to Comptroller Leary. c.. fifty per cent of each check or each payment made under the terms of the Gevy) contract was to be retained by Thomas P. Kelly :. for division by him with others"
 Between 1880 and 1888 out of the total of $126,7 ,707 paid to the order of Edward G. Levy on the checks which he indorsed, the Grand Jury has reason to believe that Levy received in fact less than $20,000 and that the balance of over $100,000 was retained by the Mayors secretary, Thomas P. Kelly, for distribution by him to himself and others"
 ".. total of 5000 in cash re- ceived by Levy from Thomas P. Kelly in the space of four or five days during the early stages of his investigation was for the ob- vious purpose of insuring silence on the part of Levy"
 GEORGE H. KINGSLEY
 Age 47. A resident of New York. Free on bonds of SIG, ,000 posted by a bonding company. Represented by Attorney Benjamin Slade of New Haven.
 A partner in the firm of Kings ley & Company which had charge of auditing the city's books from 1881.
 The jury's commentary includ- ed: Had the auditors employed by the city made a conscientious and honest examination of the records and transactions of any given year, this condition could not possibly have escaped their !, attention, and it was of sufficient importance to have demanded caustic comment by them in their reports. In none of the audi tors annual reports, however, has the Grand Jury discovered any direct comment upon the situ- ation, warranting the inference, therefore, that the omission was deliberate"
 ''The reports of audits as ren- dered by them and certified to by George H. Kingsley & Com pany are shamefully lacking in detail. They minimize rather than emphasize the increasing irregu- larities in the administration of the city's financial affairs.
 "The audit costs have increased from $3.587.58 paid during the year 1881 for the audit covering the year 1930 to $26, ,981. .79 paid to the Kingsley Company during the year 1887.
 Sometime in 1881 the firm of George H. Kingsley & Company took over the auditing work of the Miller, Franklin Company"
 DANIEL J. LEARY
 Age 46. A resident of Water bury. Free on bonds of $25.000
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

& Go. and the balance to Borg naeS.
 Was first declared missing" April IS when sought as a wit ness.
 PHILIP COPPETO
 Age 33. Operator of the Abriga- dor Diggers. A resident of Water bury. Free on bonds of $25,000 posted by Mrs. Carmella Coppeto. Represented by Attorney Sidney s. Cassel.
 Was declared missing" when sought as a jury witness March - 25. Returned to Waterbury and arrested June 3. Was variously re- ported at Florida, Atlantic City, Mexico and even Italy.
 Reference to Coppeto in the jury's report is brief and as fol- lows: Between the years 1892 and 1885 the city paid, according to available records, at least $21, 754.00 to Philip Coppeto. During the same years Coppeto also did business as the Abrigador Diggers and under this name he received, according to available records, at least $62l ,237.47."
 The jury referred to Coppeto as one of a favored group of con- tractors and truckers"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
TIMOTHY MORGAN

Age 59. Free on bond of $5,000 posted by MT. and Mrs. John Fitzmaurice, ST. Represented by Attorney John F. McDonough.
 The only one of the accused who has elected to be tried by the court.
 The only reference to him in the jury's report is regarding de- struction of the city records. He is superintendent of the city hall.
 JOHN S. JOHNSTON:
 Age 48. A resident of New York. Free on bond of $10,000 posted by bonding company. Represented by Attorney Patrick Healey.
 A broker by profession. Secre- tary- Treasurer of the Electric Steam Sterilizer Company.
 "The Grand Jury has reason to believe that throughout the period from 1880 to July, 1887, Johns- ton devoted slightly over two weeks in the aggregate of actual time in performing these alleged services, for which he was paid $191, ,747.06 by the City of Water bury.". assisted in obtaining city loan "the exact nature of his services has not been satis- factorily explained to the Grand Jury and Johnston has no record which indicates what, if anything, he actually did in return for this money" the jury reported. The jury expressed the belief .. "that in the Johnston case, a substan- tial portion of the $191, ,747.06 paid by the city, presumably to him. was split with certain city of ficials who were responsible for his employment in these matters"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

ported: Equally corrupt and working in complete harmony with Comptroller's office was the street department under the su- pervision of Thomas J. Fleming, superintendent of streets.
 ". records covering the period 1930 to 1888 were destroyed some- time between the fall election in 1897 and the early part of Janu- ary, 1888. These records were de- stroyed upon the specific orders of Thomas J. Fleming, superin- tendent of streets, in the knowl- edge that they would not justify the exorbitant payments made by the city for truck hire during the Hayes Leary administration nor check with the records of such payments in the Comptroller's of- flee"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
DoNATo PIETRARoIA

Age 66. A resident of Bristol. Free on bond of $l0.000 posted by a bonding company. Represented by Attorney John H. Cassidy.
 Operator of a grill in Bristol.
 About him the jury said. "Do- nato Pietraroia, alias Dan Peters of Bristol, to whom reference has already been made, received be- tween 1892 and 1895, according to available records, approximately $75,000 from the City of Water bury for rental of trucks. al- though he in fact owned no trucks of any description and rendered no services of any na- ture whatever to the City of Wa terbury.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

LODD1ed TOT the EleCCr1c steam Sterilizer Bill in 1895 and received $2,O00.
 JOHN w. MEANEY
 Age fl. Free on Bonds of $10,OO0 posted by a bonding company. Represented by Attorney Benja- min Slade of New Haven. A resi- dent of New York.
 A partner in the firm of George H. Kingsley & Company, who had charge of the city's books from 1881.
 About him the jury said, At various times from 1881 to 1888, John W. Meaney, partner in the firm of George H. Kingsley & Company, and Enoch E. Borgnaes, a certified public accountant in the employ of the firm, have been personally in charge of the Wa terbury audits. Largely through deceptive, if not actually dishon- est, audits on their part was it possible for the Hayes-Leary ad- ministration to conceal from the taxpayers and the public for such a length of time the rampant cor ruption in the city government"
 HENRY w. MINOR
 Age 63. Free on bond of $10,00O posted by Mrs. Ellen Hayes. Rep- resented by Attorney Patrick Healey. A resident of Waterbury.
 An attorney by profession. Chairman of the board of police commissioners and a member of the board of fire commissioners. A director of the Electric Steam Sterilizer Company.
 The grand jury describes him as a personal friend of Mayor Hayes. Though a member of the bar, he has maintained no law office and has not been engaged in the active practice of the law for many years. However, in 1886 and 1897 he received approxi- mately $12,000 from the City of Waterbury purportedly for cer- tain services, the exact nature of which has not been satisfactorily explained"
 He was the only man in whose case Judge Ernest A. Inglis or- dered more specific statement of charges filed by Special Pros ecutor Alcorn.
 The jury surmised that little, if any of the $12,000 was retained by Minor, "but that a substantial portion, if not all of it, was dis tributed among certain officials of the city who were in 8 position to make possible his designation as special counsel for these pur- nnSeSn
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

800 in connection with the ex- pense of preparing the city char ter,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

posted by MT. and Mrs. Harry J. Carroll. Represented by Attorneys Josiah H. Peck and Frederick Wa terhouse of Hartford.
 Comptroller of Waterbury from 1930 to 1888. Succeeded by Sher- wood L. Rowland, who defeated him at the polls by B votes. Head of several businesses.
 Another of the so-called ''key- men" as designated by the Grand Jury in the conspiracy. Alleged to have undertaken !. "the syste- matic removal and destruction of all records covering the period from January l, 1880 to January l, 1888 which might contain in- formation of an discriminating nature -"
 throughout their administra- tion, the Mayor and the Comp troller have from time to time, according to available records, been the recipients of other funds from the city for which the Grand Jury has been able to find no legal or reasonable justifica- tion."
 ''His ready access to the funds of the city by virtue of his office made him a valuable and indis- pensable member of the group. Largely through his dishonest conduct of the duties of his of- flee has the corruption hereinaf- ter detailed flourished. ="
 The jury further charged that Leary "doctored" the warrants payable registers after they had been approved by the board of finance.
 EDWARD G. LEVY
 Age 39. A. resident of New Haven. Free on bonds of $10,000 posted by Israel Gordon of New Haven. Representing by Attorney William Hadden of New Haven.
 A New Haven lawyer and al- legged expert on utilities rates and conditions. Former director of a New Haven bank. One of most frequent witnesses during inves- tigation by grand jury.
 Without question the most fla- grant case involving the illegal employment of special counsel and the disbursement to him of large sums of the city's money is the case of Edward c. Levy New Haven Attorney. Between June, 1881 and July, 1887, avail able records show he received $126,707 from the City of Water bury. Of this sum, however he re- tained only a relatively small portion Qess than $20,000)." The jury said that the balance was di- vided by Kelly and others.
 The jury also said that Levy had experienced minor successes in securing reductions in light and power rates for various the aters. He became associated with George Browning & Co.,, Inc. in 1930, and this way came into the employ of the city of Waterbury. Browning may have been ignor- ant of the arrangement for the so-called split.
 Shortly after the jury investi- gation opened, Levy received $8,- 900 cash from Kelly "for the ob- vious purpose of insuring silence" according to the jury report.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
CHARLES s. O'CONNOR

Age 54. "A resident or WaterDury. Free on bonds of $10,000 posted by Attorney Francis Mcdonald. Represented by Attorney John H. Cassidy.
 Corporation Counsel for the past 14 years, but affiliated with the city's legal department for more than 25 years. He was the first city officer called as a witt ness before the grand jury.
 Implicated by the jury in the destruction of the city's records.
 ".. not only neglected his du- ties but has surrendered his pre- negatives also.
 ''In spite of the expensive array of special counsel who were em- ployed in violation of the terms of the charter, the Corporation Counsel himself received from the city at least $7.979.25 in excess of his salary as fixed by the char ter.
 During these eight years. Cor poration Counsel O'Connor has hadaE his disposal a so-called pet ty-cash account, through which medium 1t seems, thousands of dollars of the city's money have been expended. At no time has
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
Months or Planning
 Reaches Clin1ax Today

any accounting of the sums dis bursed through this account been rendered to anyone. he has de- stroyed all the cancelled checks and check stubs which might now be of value in disclosing how this large fund was used."
 CARL D. OLSEN
 Age 38. A resident of Waterbury. Free on bonds of $25, 900 posted by Carl T. Olsen, Rocco Diorio and John Barry. Represented by Att torney John H. Cassidy.
 Another of the so-called four 'Key-men" to the conspiracy. A former bank official, former mem Der of the finance, police and fire boards of commissioners.
 without the active and will- ing assistance of Olsen, an activi- ty of which the other officers of the bank claimed to be unaware, this corruption could not have assumed such proportions nor continued for such 8 length of time," the jury said.
 Was a candidate for city trea- surer in 1929 on the Republican ticket. Was unsuccessful.
 According to the jury was the contact man in numerous illegal payments to contractors, attor- neys and lobbyists. Without the cooperation of Olsen these corrupt operations could not have contin- ued or assumed such proportions" the jury said.
 "Olsen was the recipient of cer- tain benefits in return for his ser- vices, partially in the form of dis tribution of cash to him :. and partially in the form of profits taken from transactions under taken with money given him for that purpose by Comptroller Leary." Olsen was a frequent grand jury witness.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29
WILLIAM B. MURRAY
JOHN W. MEANEY

Age 39. A resident of New York. Free on bonds of $l0,000 posted by a bonding company. Represen- ted by Attorney Benjamin Slade of New Haven.
 A partner of the George H. Kingsley auditing concern which handled the city's books from 1881.
 Linked with Borgnaes in "de- captive if not dishonest reports"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

Comptroller Leary, Williamson and Mackenzie.
 Lobbied for the Electric Steam Sterilizer Bill in 1885 and received $2,000.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

Age 46. A resident of Water bury. Free on bonds of $25.00O
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-29

lContlnueds on Next Rage)
Evening star., 1938-09-18
WEDNESDAY-The Berkshire String

WEDNEsDAY-The Berkshire String
Quartet opens the Berkshire Fes-
tival Of Chamber Music playing
Beethoven's e Flat Major Quartet,
Opus 1877" (WJSV, 81: Jacques Offen-
bach's THE Daughter of the Drum
Major" continues the N. B. c. Seldom
Heard Opera Series (WMAL., 81; DR..
George Gallup, head of the Institute
of Public Opinion, will discuss indi-
cations for the November elections and
the possible effects of "purges" (WRC,
S:45); Hollace-Shaw will turn the mu-
sic tables by singing Swing. Swing
Your Mother-in-Law." in the manner
Of Mozart (WJSV, $500: DR.. Carroll
Lane Fenton will be the guest speaker
OF the Science on the March program
Evening star., 1938-09-18

land, during the Magic Key" pro-
gram on the N. B. c. blue network
Sunday, September 25 Only once has
the Polish master ever been heard
on the radio anyWhere-and that was
IN London during the early days of
broadcasting. He described the ex-
perlence of playing in the close quar-
tiers Of studio, without an audience,
as so narrowing that he has consist
emily refused to broadcast ever since.
With Paderewski finally making his
radio debut, only two of the great
concert figures remain who still re-
fuse to be heard on the air (al-
though recordings of their works are
sometimes played. They are Fritz
Kreisler and Sergei Rachmaninoff,
who have never broadcast q personal
appearance-the former admittedly
because of his conviction that it would
affect his concert appearances and
the latter because he simply won't.
HARDLY a day passes without the
debut Of freshly conceived
radio program. but changes in radio
styles fail to bulge the secure places
that large numbers Of veteran favor
ties hold with their loudspeaker fol-
lowers. This autumn, more than ever,
Is good one both for tried and true
performers and for habit forming
listeners who want to enjoy their old
radio friends.
OF course, some of the emeritus
members Of the radio entertainment
faculty will be appearing under new
auspices, or their background casts
may be changed considerably. but
the stars themselves can be counted
on to display about the same sort
of technique. Not that radio stars
are content to ignore the march of
kilocycle progress rather a hesitancy
to change a successful formula in
midair is the reason generally cited
for the sameness that marks many
old-time performers.
When Eddie Cantor, for example.
returns to the air October he will be
the same old Eddie to millions OF fans.
Whether he's the mayor Of a mythical
Texas community or a candidate for
head man at the White House, Eddie
uses the same basic tactics in feeding
gags and handling hilarious situations.
Yet Eddie is regarded as a close stu
| dent of both audience habits and sales
manship and he is always trying out
new wrinkles without radically alter
ing his formula
Jack Benny will be back October Z,
and Jack can be counted on to use
his familiar style of verbal chastising
as we'll as to be at the receiving end
OF good share Of wisecracks Nearly
decade ago Jack discovered that
he could get more laughs by bearing
the brunt of joke or situation than
by actual mouthing the punch lines
himself. That is the reason all mem
bers of his cast have a chance to pull
the gags and come out on top of en-
barrassing situations
| The old reliable Fred Allen, back
at his old stand October 5, takes a
little more of the spotlight and less
of the credit than Benny. but he also
gives his cast ample opportunity to
| grab of the chuckles. Al Pearce
lets himself come out on the bottom
| in his Elmer Blurp house toulouse
canvassing act, but Al really is more
Of a master-of- ceremonies performer.
Al will be back Tuesday nights, start
ing October 10.
Evening star., 1938-09-18

(WMAL. 6:45); Anthony Eden will
discuss the situation in Central Eu-
rope tWJSV, 1907: COL Stoopnagle
will give his own preview OF the Jack
Benny and Fred Allen shows for those
who can't wait for their return
(WRC, 81.
THURSDAY-N. B. c. picks up part
of the concert Of the Toronto
Promenade Symphony Orchestra, di-
rected by Reginald Stewart (WMAL
81; Ann de Ohla, continental singer,
whose voice covers all the ranges. from
coloratura to bass. will be the Music
Halls guest tWRC. 81; Frank Morgan
and Fanny Brice will bring comedy,
Judy Garland songs, to the Good News
program (WRC, 81: Margaret Baum
sporano. and Fritz Lechner, baritone
will Join In an all-Brahms program
for the last of the seasons STORY Of
Song" broadcasts (WJSV, 7:30):
Alan Mowbray and Patsy Kelley will
visit George Mccall (WJSV. 6:l5);
Judy Canova and her brother and
sister are to be Rudy Vallee's head
liners tWRC, y: music by Mozart
Schubert, Rachmaninoff and Brahms
will be featured by Henry Weber's
concert orchestra (WOL, $500.
FR1DAY-Joan Bennett tand Thomas
Mitchell are the Hollywood Hotel"
guests (WJSV, 81; Postmaster Gen.
eral James A. Farley speaks before the
annual convention of the National
Association of Postmasters tWMAL, 81;
Frank Black features his own arrange
ment of Elgar's "Salut d'Amour'
CWRC, -; Jack Berch begins new
song program, with Leith Stevens
Orchestra accompanying (WJSV,
800; Mary Pickford Is one of the
people who will let her hair down on
the If Had the Chance" broadcast
(WMAL, 7:30; Ernst Toch, COM
poser pianist, will play his new Quin-
tet for Piano and String Quartet on
the final broadcast from the Berk-
shire Festival of Chamber Music
(WJSV, 81; N B. c. presents the first
Of two broadcasts observing impressive
Jewish holidays, a Rosh Hashonah
program marking the Jewish New
Year (WMAL, 81.
GATURDAY-Ted Husing starts the
radio football season rolling with
the Minnesota Washington contest
(WJSV. 2:45): Helen Olheim, Met
ropolitan Opera star, will be the Hit
Parade guest (WJSV. 81; the Blue net
work of N. B. C. also will have the
Washington Minnesota game (WMAL,
2:45), while the Red chain goes to the
coast for the Alabama-Southern Cali
fornia tilt CWRC, 81; Campus Capers
will have college sports editors at
tempting to. predict the outcome of
the afternoons gridiron battles (WRC,
1880.