The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-24
Fearless o. John Rogge Pushes Louisiana Probe Despite SetbackS, Threats of Death
Young Attorney RelisheS Big
 Game Hunting
BY MASON DIXON

NEA Service Special COrreSpOnoent
 New Orleans, La,--In the face of two setbacks,, O. John Rogge is battling on in Louisiana, leading Uncle Sam,s probe to the bottom of graft and corruption.
 Suicide of Dr. J. A. Shaw Of the state conservation department robs him of a star witness in prosecution of political monarchs. His "hot oil" investigation is stymied by refusal of a Dallas, Tex, court to sign an order for removal of Freeman W. Eurford, oil millionaire, to Louisi- ana. But Rogge hasn't given up the fight.
 Assistant United States attorney general in charge of criminal prosecutions for the Department of Justice, he signs his name o. John Rogge, because so few people know that Oetje is pro- nounced something like "Otcha."
 More than six feet tall, weigh ing 200 pounds. bespectacled, he is a terror to crooks. And he par ticularly likes "big game" hunting.
 Louisiana got a taste of his courage recently when one days mail brought him two death threats, one of them containing two cartridges and the news that the underworld had put up $l8,- 900 for a gunman to kill him. 1n- stantly Rogge announced that, though his plans had been to leave New Orleans for a couple of weeks on other government business, he now was staying right here.
 PRODUCT OF
 ILLINOIS
 Frank Murphy, United States at torney-general, who picked Rogge to spearhead the attack on Louisi- ana's graft, vice and crime, never saw the man, never even heard his name, until five months ago.
 O. John Rogge came out of Cass County, near Springfield, Ill. He grew up on the farm, attended the state university.
 At 18, he was the youngest graduate in his class. At 21, he was the youngest Harvard Law School graduate, with an honor record. He is only 35 now.
 He started practice of civil law in Chicago, made success of 1t. He shifted to Washington, was even more successful. He became an authority on taxes.
 The government first sought his help in untangling a post-crash mess in the Reconstruction Fi- nance Corporation. The REC, un- der Hoover, had loaned millions to Charles Dawes bank in Chi eago. Rogge was asked to collect from stockholders for the benefit of bank depositors. He and his associates ran down 4000 of 5000 stockholders, filed thousands of suits, got judgments for $10,000,- 900 and $8,250,00 cash.
 Then a congressional committee, probing income tax evasion schemes by the wealthy, got Rogge to help them. He dug into what he calls incorporated pocketbooks. He ex- posed such tricks as incorporating yachts, companies formed in the disguise of country estates, many other shifty pieces of footwork.
 The Securities and Exchange Commission grabbed Rogge for its great Transamerica bank case. This led to a conference among SEC, De- partment of Justice, and Treasury Department officials. Frank Murphy at at that conference, listened while Rogge drove home a point later sent for him.
 T like your slant on things" Mur- phy said as he offered Rogge job as his assistant. He took the oath of office last June. On July IS, he was ordered to lead federal forces into the Louisiana mess.
 A PRACTICAL
 LEADER
 Mrs. Rogge and the children Genevieve and Herman-came tc New Orleans with him. The family now occupies an apartment in the New Orleans garden district.
 Rogge Is a practical, fearless, en- ergetic man. He has checked or the reports of FBI men, has picked those he can trust His confidence hasn't been violated yet.
 He has welcomed information from the humblest citizen to the highest. He has dispatched vet eran investigators to follow every clew. Nobody knows exactly how great a force he has at his com mand-but 1t is large.
 "It's beautiful indictment!" he exclaimed, as he handed to news paper reporters the indictment o1 Richard w. Leche who, up to June 26, was governor of Louisiana.
 Rogge makes many plane dashes from New Orleans to Washington for huddles with Attorney General Murphy. On a recent return trip he was met at the New Orleans airport by squad of reporters. They asked him about the newest development-from Washingto n.
 "Decency, honesty, clean govern ment have the green light in Louisi- ana," said Rogge. That's the news from Washington"
 It begins to look as If they had. And o. John Rogge is the cop who has turned the red light against the forces of corruption.