Evening star., 1938-09-01

the political "frer" for New York's
numbers rdcketeers. noD beino
tried. form the basis for a climar
chapter in the story OF District At
torney Thomas E. Deuey's proSecu-
ton Of the citys racketeers. DR..
Dewey has scores OF gang conuic-
hons to his credit, but Arrays he
teit there Uds "higller up uhose
political influence ,uas largely nul-
HfWng his efforts. The trial OF
Hines is the result of this belief.
Py the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Sept. Cool and
unshaken, j. Richard Dixie Davis.
star State witness in the racket
conspiracy trial of Political Boss James
j. Hines. matched wits with Defense
Counsel Lloyd Paul Stryker today.
Davis sWore that he did everything
in my power to protect Hines before
finally-and reluctantly, he said
agreeing to turn States evidence and
testify against the Tammany district
leader.
He said that when George Weinberg,
former business manager of the Dutch
Schultz policy racket syndicate. tried
to get him to testify for the State. he
told Weinberg:
L won't do it. I would have to
involve everybody I'm going to pro-
tect Hines. I knew 1 was sunk any,
how he added, but wanted to help
MIR Hines"
Mr.. Stryker accused Davis of at
tempting to LAY a trap for Hines
when Davis personally argued in Su-
preme Court last July for dismissal
Of the racket conspiracy indictment
after Davis had already made sworn
confession and agreed to plead guilty
Taking deep breath, Davis almost
shouted his denial.
His signed confession was in the
hands of the district attorney on May
81. he admitted.
The erstwhile kid Mouthpiece" of
the old Dutch Schultz mob planted his
feet upon the top of the witness box,
knees level with waist. and grinningly
rebutted Stryker's redfaced attempts
to elicit fiat yes or no" answers.
Only once did the witness drop his
voice from a cocksure briskness, par
rying Mr.. Stryker's questions with
answers that extended simple queries
to many hundreds of words.
The diSbarred lawyer, ousted from
the New York State bar when his con-
nections with the Schultz policy en-
pire" became known Softened his voice
when he admitted that his conscience
finally bothered him about taking
Schultz ''triggermen" and strong-arm
mobsters into his mothers home
Didn't Know How to Break Away.
Did it bother you?" demanded
Stryker
Yes" Davis replied solemly. After
while it did"
Davis further testified that he "didn't t
know how to get out" of his association
with the mob overload
Il was bothered all during my deal
ings with Schultz" he said. Il was
in fear of my life"
Mr.. Stryker Immediately after Davis
took. the stand called on District At
torney Thomas E. Dewey for copy of
the prosecutors report to Justice
Ferdinand Pecora on the much-dis-
cusSed excursions of Davis from the
Tombs Prison-interludes when he
visited Hope Dare, his sweetheart, a
red-haired former Broadway showgirl,
at her apartment.
Contents of the report were not
made public
Lays Friendship to Politics.
Mr.. Stryker suggested through a
series of questions that Davis naturally
wished to make the acquaintance of a
prominent man like Hines-countering
Davis own story that he had been
ordered by Dutch Schultz to develop
his friendship with Hines in the hope
that the Tammany chieftain would
help the racket mob.
Davis has already testified that he
paid Hines at least $4,000 from Octo-
Der. 1888 to July. 1935,-Hines, the
accused political "fixer" for the Schultz
syndicate.
Ana, Mr.. Stryker continued, you
had political aspirations or wished to
help some member Of your family who
was ambitious politically?"
And you had feeling of affection
for Mr.. Hines?"
YES" Davis acknowledged.
When Davis a college graduate who
became in turn an underworld prince
ling, disbarred lawyer and an in