The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-08-05

ers have been convicted of ir-
regularities as q result, either
directly or indirectly, of the
meager disclosures contained In
the death notes Of q woman
scorned.
Within . year Of Mrs. McDon-
AIDS death, q special one-man
grand jury returned indictments
charging 203 defendants with
participating In the collection or
payment Of graft estimated At
100000 The grand jury ques-
toned more than 2,6c0 witnesses
during that period and has pre-
pared Is separate cases for trial
yet 1t is not through with its
work.
The principal indictments
charged public officials conspir-
ed with the underworld to pro-
tect outlawed gambling estab-
lishments and vice resorts, hand
books, policy rackets and . COM
mercial baseball pool said to
have had . $500, 000-a-year take.
McCREA CONVICTED
The first involved Wayne
county officials charged with
law enforcement in the Detroit
metropolitan area, outside the
city proper, and official Of sub
urban communities. It resulted
in the conviction Of Duncan G.
McCrea, deposed prosecutor,
Former Sheriff Thomas c., Will
cox and 26 others.
The states star witness and
McCrea's chief investigator, Har-
ry Colburn, pleaded guilty and
testified that he gave the former
prosecutor 100000 in graft
money which he had collected
from pay-on men o. The samb-
ling and vice interests. Colburn
has not yet been sentenced.
FRAHM CONVICTED
McCrea also was accused, with
Fred w. Frahi ousted sCperin-
tendent Of Detroit Police, and
three former DetrC it detectives
Of conspiring to protect tho base
ball pool. They were convicted
and sentenced To prison terms
ranging upward to five years.
The handbook anc policy pro-
lection cases involved Detroit's
Former Mayor Richard w. Read
ing; his son and secretary, Rich
ard w. Reading, Jr.; pL-ice off,
Gals by the dozen, from Super
intendent Frahm down through
the ranks Of inspectors, lieuten-
ants and sergeants; and scores
of alleged operators and r.ay-oH
men.
BOETTCHER Talks
Raymond w. Boettcher, q for
mer police inspector who refer
red to himself a. the depart
ment's BROKER" testified 1t q
preliminary circuit court hear
ing Of monthly cash payments
to the mayor, the mayors son.
the superintendent and others.
The. pay-oH from go-betweens
for bookies md numbers opera
tors amounted to thousands Of
dollars every month, he said.
Boettcher also testified police
officers were required 70 con-
tribute to the graft pot for pro-
motion 70 higher ranks. This
money, he said, was divided
along with the protection pay
offs.
The vice and baseball pool
cases were appealed 70 the state
supreme court, which has not
yet announced . decision. The
handbook and policy craft cases
still are pending before q lower
tribunal, set for trial next fall.
PARALLEL NvISTI0AIION
While the special grand Jury
was investigating Mrs. McDon-
AIDS expose, q regular federal
grand jury was CONDUCTING q
parallel inquiry 20 determine
whether there had been any vio-
latiou Of the laws Of the United
States IN connection with The %
called eraft rings operations. :
The federal grand Jury indict-
Cd Former Mayor Roo6ing and
Frahm, the oustsd polieu 0upsr.
intendent, Tor income I'm eva
sion and Reading 1ue -nail fraud.
Reading pleaded guilty . tts
mail fraud charge, admitting h
made no mention of hidden tank
accounts n . sworn statomeut
Of assets which was a. boGls 1oe.
. compromiDs paymsnt of a q.
lgatjon q III roceivuEyhip g .
defunct bonk, and ~ Og0oUu0
- pay . o1oDoo -.
~ lDgono ~ oo1nD 1nyD ~