The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-08
Attorney Cassidy Has Made eStartling Charges
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stand ar witnesses, Healey contin- ued, as he referred to the claims of the state that the board had signed warrants payable sheets which were later augmented.
 Strong Evidence Said Healey
 'The fact hat they still retain their appointments on the board ot finance is the strongest possible ev- idence of that high regard" Healey added.
 Concentrating on the defenses Of Assessors Shanahan and Crary he said that the only charge against them was that they were paid in sums in excess of their salaries and without the approval or knowledge of the board of finance.
 Raising his voice to a loud roar he said that the board of finance actually appropriated or transferred $i2,iol .63 which was the exact sum paid to assessors for revaluation work in 1892. The motion for the transfer was made, he said, on mo- ton of Lewis s. Reed, president Of the Citizens and Manufacturers Ma tional bank.
 Where Alcorn Failed
 Particular attention of the jury was called, during Healey's brief but effective argument, to the fact that Alcorn had not charged that the ex- tra pay given Crary and Shanahan was not for extra work. "He did not say that the extra pay was for reg ular duties" cried Healey.
 In the same trend of argument, Healey contended that Alcorn had not shown just what the duties Of the assessors were, although the testimony of James P. Purcell was to the effect that former Controller Daniel J. Leary said that the extra pay was for extra work and that there was a legal opinion supporting 1t.
 Did Work of Five
 From l932, Healey pounded, three assessors, Crary, Shanahan and the late William Sandland, did the work of five, which is the number required by charter.
 By doing that they saved the city of Waterbury $6200 year, almost $l000 more than he says they defrauded," he continued. Healey said there were two $l a year men appointed to sign the tax lists so the charter requirements would be met, and one of these men was the rascally, villianous Charles 8. OConnor, who is on tgial."
 "It's a mighty funny way for peo- raR to act-who were out to cheat and defraud the city of Waterbury" he added.
 Where Extra Pay Came In Tho work of revaluation, which was the basis of the extra pay to t;rary and Shanahan started be- fore l930. Healey said. He said that two Bridgeport experts were hired fy the city until 1882 at the rate o2 sl5O a week each. The city in 1929 and 1930 made appropriations for the revaluation of personal property as well as for real prop erty.
 Bronson and Nelson (two former Republican assessors) did the same work as Crsry and Shanahan, and received the same money, but they are not here" claimed Healey. Not One Cent To Fleming
 In defense of Thomas J. Fleming, superintendent of streets, Attorney Heaiey pointed out that Acorn had not charged him with the receipt of a single cent.
 But the state would have you in- fer that he is party to defraud the city. It doesn't make sense,' he continued. Healey cried that al- though the state had included 20 specific charges against Fleming in U information not one had been proved. He called attention to the detail included on the invoices in evidence containing the notation "OK-TJT." Any one of Alcorns as- sistants could have checked on the jobs to see If they were not done, ,' Healey said.
 Not With Fleming
 The defense lawyer pointed out that the state would have them be- lieve that the Peters payments were sanctioned by Fleming. He called upon the jury to remember that the Transactions were with the welfare department.
 Summing up in the defense of ' Fleming, Healey asked, "1f anyone { had an idea to be a crook-why should he be crook 50 others could get unimaginable sums and he not 1 get a cent?"
 The special prosecutor forgot about Henry W. Minor, after men, tioning him briefly in the original information. Healey said. But the court ordered him to file a bill of particulars and in that bill he put in Everything under the sun."
 "Read 1t line by line" he asked the jury, land against each line he has proven put a check mark, and your margin will be lily white" Only Thing Against Minor
 The only evidence against Minor he said, is that he rendered Serv- ices, rendered bills and received pay. ments. Unless you consider that he went out to lunch with someone"
 All treasurers' checks in evidence in the case of Minor, he added, art made payable to Henry w. Minor, and this despite the attempts o the state to have the jury believe that all treasurers' checks are tht .aadevice of the devil"
 x Minor was paid $l2,890, Heale. said, for labor work and If as a re- suit of the services of Minor tn city, city of industry, was savet from a strike for a single day, thu rity is incomparably better off"
 Johnston Rendered Service In the defense of John s. John ston, the defense attorney said tha the state hoped that the large sum paid to Johnston would carry Suggestion of criminality. But bi services were rendered" he said -'and big bills were rendered an' paid"
 Tn the eight years in question, h aaid. s28. 900 900 was borrowed, an'