Evening star., 1947-11-26
CurIey

year term at Ossining, N. Y, on a
grand larceny charge. On compile
ton of this sentence, he still has
before him a sentence of from 16
months to years on his mail fraud
conviction.
Curley, former Massachusetts, Gov
ernor and member OF the House,
would be eligible for parole on De-
cember 26, so the Communication
which was recommended by Attor-
ney General Clark, gives him his
liberty month early.
Smith would have been required
to serve some time yet as the denial
of parole would have required him
to serve out his full sentence minus
whatever time he might have gotten
off for good behavior.
Asked the basis for the commuta-
tions Mr.. Ross said many petitions
were received from both political
parties in behalf of Mayor Curley.
He added that the Bostonian's age,
70 and his physical condition were
other factors considered.
Retains Civil Rights.
Mr.. Ross explained that the
prison physicians reported that
Curley is suffering from. heart
condition and diabetes.
Curley, Smith and Fuller were
convicted on charges that through
fantastic lies" firm known as
Engineers Group, Inc with which
they were connected, obtained more
than 100000 from clients by repre-
senting that it could obtain wartime
Government contracts for them.
Curley was indicted January ;,
1942, on charges of using the mails
to defraud. Trial was delayed sew
eral times by Curley's illness and
consumed weeks of testimony before
his conviction.
Two appeals for Supreme Court
review were turned down and a
final effort to persuade Justice
James M. Proctor of District Court
here to suspend the jail sentence
on grounds of age and illness also
failed.
Made Unsuccessful Plea.
Curley unsuccessfully pleaded with
Justice Proctor that he was the
victim of a professional confidence
man whose professions of honesty
deceived me and others" He refer
red to Fuller.
Justice Proctor replied that in his
opinion "the ends of justice and
the public interest would be poorly
served by letting Curley go free.
THE case has been pending for
many years" the Justice said. THE
defendant has been ably repre-
sented. He has had fair trial.
He has lost"
Curley, who passed his 73d birth
day in Jail last Thursday, started
his political career as Boston
alderman in 1900.
Served in Congress.
He was a United States Repre-
sentative in 19l1-1914 and was
elected to four-year terms as Mayor
Of Boston in 1914, 1922 and 1880.
He was Governor of Massachusetts
in 1856, became his States Demo-
cratic national committeeman in
1941, and was elected to Congress
from the Boston district for the
third and fourth times in 1912 and
1914.
While in Jail. Curley continued to
represent his State on the Demo-
cratic National Committee, although
his name did not appear on the list.
of delegates at meeting of the
group earlier this month
No alternate showed up either.
Senator Johnston. Democrat, of
South Carolina, chairman Of the
Credentials Committee, explained
this by saying the members were
not able to get in touch" with Cur
ley to receive his instructions.
The Jail sentence was the second
of Curley's long career. At the out
set of his political life he served
two months for impersonating
another man in civil service ex-
animation.
From Jail, that time, he conducted
a vigorous campaign and easily won
reelection as alderman.
Probation Denied Smith.
Smith entered District Jail last
July 7 after Justice Proctor denied
a petition for proba ton. His con-
viction was affirmed by the United
States Court Of Appeal last January.
In his petition for probation,