Evening star., 1945-12-30

No. would never be taken by q casual
observer for the political power that he
Is. Sometimes, Mr.. Curley steps out
into the courthouse lobby and transacts
a bit Of business as the future Mayor of
Boston. He has issued press releases to
Boston newpapermen covering" the
trial.
Representative Curley is deemed fine
administrator with brilliant mind. He
likes to be entertained and is quite
mimic himself, his intimates say. He
has the reputation of getting things
done-whether 1t be widening Bostons
ancient streets or building a tunnel to
East Boston to speed traffic. He is a
great proponent Of Boston as mari
time and aviation center.
At one time he is sending baskets to
feed the poor and at another he for
wards flowers to the mother of stricken
one.
What his opponents say about him
would be the foundation of a potential
libel suit. For Mr.. Curley is no stranger
to the courts. He unsuccessfully sued
the Saturday Evening Post for $500,ooO
libel in February, 1914 when a Boston
Federal Court jury failed to see things
his way.
Republicans have been known to sup
port Representative Curleys political
aspirations and one wealthy Bostonian
carried the Curley message in paid
newspaper ads.
A man Of great personal power, stocky,
around s feet tall, Representative Cur
ley has been in the real estate, bank
ing and insurance business. He holds
a number of foreign decorations and
turned down the chance to be Ambas-
sador to Poland. He was born No
vember 20, 1874-and the District Court
trial began just week after his list
birthday.
"The Human Touch"
Adept at practical politics, Representa-
tive Curley has been defeated for Office by
the socially prominent Senator Leverett
Saltonstall and by young Henry Cabot
Lodge. He is a great reader and has
won some of his political struggles in
the face of overwhelming newspaper
opposition. His friends say that he has
"the human touch,' that he is calm,
a hard worker and audacious He has
been power IN Democratic politics
for half a century.
Representative Curley came out for
Franklin D. Roosevelt In the early days
of the boom despite predominant Al
fred e. Smith sentiment In Massachu-
sets. Denied a seat at the Chicago
Democratic convention from the Bay
State. he was found among the delega-
tion from Puerto Rico.
"Curley never loses-it is the people
who lose" Is the chant of his friends.
Seated at the defense counsel table
in District Court is his old friend and
legal adviser, Joseph Scolponetti, who
is slated to. be Boston's corporation
counsel in the new Curley regime.
A number of political henchmen are
attending the trial with Representative
Curley and at least on two occasions,
House Majority Leader John w, Nc
Cormack has sat with him at the trial
to give his old friend moral support.
Originally an indictment was returned
September 16, 1943, but this was thrown
out on technicality and the District
grand Jury reindicted the defendants
in January, 1914. Then came long
period Of legal maneuvering, but the
Government successfully defended as
saults upon the indictment and efforts
to halt the proceedings. At one time,
Representative Curley went to the
Naval Hospital at Bethesda, Nd, and
the case was stalled again.
Representative Curley wears in his
lapel an emblem with four service stars.
Two Of his sons, Its. Leo and George
Curley Of the Navy, have been sitting
with him in the courtroom, prior to the
Christmas adjournment.
Donald Smith
Another defendant, Donald Wake
field Smith, was the storm hub of
labor controversy. William Green,
president of the American Federation
Of Labor. opposed his reappointment
to the National Labor Relations Board,
contending that he was too friendly to
John L. Lewis and the CIO. His re-
appointment lapsed, due to strong SEN
ate opposition. Another fight arose
when he was retained as attorney for
the Ford Motor Co. in Dallas, Texas.
in a case involving the National Labor
Relations Board, but this blew over,
Mr.. Smith Is now In private practice
here.
Sitting in the courtroom. dressed in
brown suit, Mr.. Smith follows pro-
ceedings with dificulty, for he is hard
Of hearing. His wife, Is faithful at
tendant at the trial.
James Fuller
A self-admitted long criminal record
stands against another defendant.
James G. Fuller, who was executive
vice president Of the group. Described
as high-pressure promoter, who en-
visioned an industrial empire, Mr.. Full
Ter is now serving five-year term for
sending fraudulent securities through
the mails-bad checks.
A short. sharp-nosed, balding, gray
haired man, Mr.. Fuller wears gray
suit, has the solicitude of the Federal
Government when he moves about, for
a vigilant deputy United States marshal
accompanies him in and out of court and
sits near him, and follows the case
eagerly. At times the accused writes
furiously on yellow pad and jots hasty
notes to defense attorneys to suggest
pertinent question to stump Govern
ment witness. At one time Mr.. Fuller
was an encyclopedias salesman.