The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-28

During the ensuing months, the City of Waterbury has been the scene of an intensive and thor otUt investigation-which not only involved conditions within the bounds of this municipality, but extended to Hartford, and implica- ted men of rank and ofhce from all oyer the state.
 The investigation, first by states attorney and later by an extraor- djnary grand jury; has resulted to date, in the arrest of g men-27 on charges of conspiracy to defraud the City of Waterbury; and i've on charges of corrupt lobbying.
 Spiro Fined $500
 Of the g cases, only one has been disposed of, that being the case of Senator Nathan Spiro of Dan- bury, who pleaded guilty to the cor rupt lobbying charge and paid a fine of $1 800 imposed in the Hart ford superior court. Thirty of the 31 remaining accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges prefer red and are awaiting trial. One is @ fugitive from justice.
 Politicial dynasties have tottered- state leaders have been ruined so- cially and politically-men of high standing in various cities and conn., munities have been disgraced-all by a scathing 74-page report which was filed in superior court by the extraordinary grand jury.
 Charges of grating on a million dollar basis: charges of corruption in public oface; charges of failure to properly adminiStrate offices; charge of wide-open theft and bribery-of corruption without par allel are hurled against the B pub lie officials, attorneys, accountants, lobbyists, contractors, and brokers who are involved.
 Interest of fever height by the populace has been attracted to the investigation, which was in progress simultaneously with the Merritt Parkway investigation at Bridge port. The latter resulted in the in- dictment of nine persons on charges of fraudulent land sales.
 New law was apparently created by the two investigations. and su-, preme court arguments on the final stages of the cases will be the method of determining the legality or illegality of it all.
 For the first time in the history of grand juries in Connecticut, a prosecutor or states attorney was allowed to enter the grand jury room and direct the questioning of witnesses. Oaths of strict secrecy were administered to witnesses in the Waterbury investigation.
 Precedents
 Numerous other legal precedents have been established in order that the juries might have an. uncon- trolled hand in their probings. Di- recting the local proceedings has been Special Prosecutor Hugh M. Alcorn of Hartford, for more than 30 years the states attorney of that county.
 State, county and city ofiices have been greatly affected by furry of resignations which accompanied and followed the grand jury's investiga- tion. Some resignations were sub- mitted voluntarily by those whose names were mentioned unfavorably by the grand jury. In other .n- stances. where individuals were charged with conspiracy, resigna- tions were demanded and presented.
 The Waterbury and Merritt Park way grand jury probes and prose- cutions were used as wedges by the Socialist party in the recent elec- ton campaign. History was made as a result.
 Jasper McLevy, socialist candidate for governor, accomplished the in- possible in Waterbury when he over-fode Democrats and Republi- pans alike to capture the city's vote hy majority of about AO0 The kolling by him Of an slnprecedented high socialist vote is considered as the stumbling block which caused the Democrats to be swept out of tl