Evening star., 1945-12-04
Justice Proctor Acts
To Speed Up Trial
OF Mail Fraud Case
Star Staff Photo.

siding in District Court at the mail
fraud trial of Representative James
M. Curley, Democrat, of Massachu-
sets and four defendants connected
with Engineers Group, Inc, today
made efforts to speed up the case.
Il am going to assume a little
responsibility myself in getting this
case on its way" he said.
Government counsel attempted to
have identified in evidence two suit
cases of records of corporations with
which Anthony La Rocca was con-
nected. Mr.. La Rocca, a New York
contractoS, was recalled to the wit
ness stand. The records previously
had been requested by defense
counsel, but Justice Proctor had
directed that they be examined by
the defense during recess rather
than at court sessions. Justice Proc
tor said he was not disposed to
permit attorneys to go into collateral
matters.
Declined Post.
Mr.. La Rocca testified James G..
Fuller, executive vice president of
Engineers Group, Inc, in February,
1912, had urged him to become
treasurer of that corporation but
that he had declined.
Mr.. La Rocca brought along to-
day a statement of enterprises with
which he has been identified since
1918, and which he said involved
many millions of dollars worth of
construction work in New York.
However, he was not permitted to
read the statement. The contrac-
tor seemed incensed at this, since
the defense had previously said he
was identified with mere paper cor
porations, without assets and re-
sponsibilities and lacking sufficient
employees to do a construction Job.
Defense counsel raised a chorus OF
objections when Mr. La Rocca start.
ed to read the statement. Justice
Proctor sustained the objections.
George E. Rocheford, civil en-.
gineer for the United States En-
gineer Office Of the War Depart.
ment at Syracuse. N. Y, and for
mer vice president of his fathers
firm, L. Rocheford & Son, Inc, OF
Worcester. Mass, now inactive, tes-
titled that $3.50 given to Engineers
Group, Inc. had been returned later
after numerous demands had been
made. Mr.. Rocheford said he had
met Representative Curley and Mr.
Fuller, who had interested him in a
housing project, known as Cole
brooke, at Silver Hill, near Suitland
Md. He said that his firm finally
had been repaid the $3.50.
! Signed Contract.
John w. Powers, contractor, OF
Cambridge, Mass, told Justice
Proctor and the jury yesterday
afternoon that he had signed a con.
tract with Engineers Group to be
prime contractor" for a new build
ing for the American Road Builders
Association at Twentieth street and
Pennsylvania avenue NV. He sent
check for $2,50O to Engineers Group
here, he testified, as part payment
toward $50, 900 fee" for the group.
He later decided to cancel the con-
tract and asked for his money back.
His bank at Cambridge made q
mistake" and had failed to stop pay
ment on his check, he said, and the
bank later reimbursed him." He
testified, however, demand he had
made on the corporation to repay
the bank had been refused. His
bank has been assigned his claim, he
said.
Frank M. Clifford, president of j.
w. Bishop Co., of Worcester, Mass,
testified yesterday he had been re-
paid $2,500 he had previously turned
over to Engineers Group as part pay
ment of a fee in connection with the
Road Builders Building.