Evening star., 1939-01-31
-Four Probes Pushed
On Business Affairs
Of Resigned Judge
Monton CotegoricoIly
Denies Charge Of Toking
100000 in Loans
BY the Associated Press.

by tlS hSSOCldtco Hlccs.
NEW YORK, Jan. 3l-Two Fed
eral and two State inquiries were
pushed today into the involved busi-
ness affairs of Martin T. Manton,
resigned senior judge of the United
States Circuit Court OF Appeals.
The investigations were under
taken by the Department of Justice,
United States District Attorney
Gregory F.. Noonan, the State tax
department and District Attorney
Thomas E. Dewey.
The 58-year-old, white-haired
jurist-youngest Federal judge in
the Nation when he was appointed
to the bench in 1916 after a brilliant
law career-gave up his post yes
terday while categorically denying
charges that he had accepted more
than $400 900 in loans from persons
interested in affairs before his court.
In q statement announcing his
resignation, Judge Manton said he
preferred to step down rather than
become "the central figure in a con-
troversy" which might weaken pub
lie confidence in the administration
of justice"
Makes Jibes at Dewey.
In letter to President Roosevelt,
the $12,500-a-year judge, highest
ranking jurist next to the nine Su-
preme Court justices, asked to be
relieved Of his duties not later than
March /.
Later Judge Manton during an
interview made two sarcastic jibes
at District Attorney Dewey, who
charged in letter to the House
Judiciary Committee that Mr.. Man
ton had accepted personally or
through corporations controlled by
him six loans totaling S439 ,48l-of
which only $4,000 was repaid.
Mr.. Dewey asserted four loans
were made by persons or corpora
tions that later won cases pending
in the Appeals Court, and the other
two came from persons who had
benefited or hoped to benefit from
Mr.. Manton's judicial position.
Asked question concerning books
of one corporation, the judge re-
sponded grimly:
You ask Dewey He wants the
publicity"
Replying to queries as to whether
the Investigations were in connec-
ton with State or Federal income
tax returns, he said shortly:
I'm connection with Mr.. Dewey S
ambitions"
Prosecution Likely.
Mr.. Dewey, who lost by narrow
margin last fall his attempt to de-
feat Democratic Gov. Herbert H
Lehman for reelection. has beer
mentioned by some Republican lead
ers as possible presidential candi-
date in 1910.
Although his resignation appar.
emily ended all possibility of i'm.
parchment proceedings against tn.
jurist, Attorney General Frank
Murphy said in Washington that 9
thorough investigation" by his de-
partment would continue
Attorney Noonan said any evi.
dence found by his Office of Grim.
inal violation Of Federal statute.
would be placed before a granc
jury Immediately.
Commissioner Sanford E. Bate;
Of the State tax departments spe.
cial investigation bureau disclosed
he had turned over personal State
income tax returns of Judge Man.
ton to the district attorneys office
Mr.. Bates said the bureau also wa!
investigating tax returns of more
than 25 corporations in which Mr.
Manton was reported to hold in.
terests.
Manton Defends Self.
Defending the administration oi
his business affairs. Judge Mantor
said in the statement announcing
his resignation:
80 There is nothing in any
business transaction in which
haye ever been engaged Of which
I am in any way ashamed or which
to any candid mind could cast re.
Election upon my personal or my
off1cial conduct, whatever might be
said of my success or lack of sue.
cess as an investor"
He explained that upon his ap-
pointment % years ago he owned
a substantial amount of stock in
corporations controlling New York
real estate.
This property no law and nc
canon of judicial conduct called on
me to surrender, sacrifice or neg
| lect," he added
In common with every one else
the depression and the fall in real
estate values entailed heavy losses
on me and such debts as I have
incurred have been chiefly due to
my efforts to meet the situation
thus brought about"