Evening star., 1951-03-26
Continuation Of Crime Inquiry
Urged by McGroth and Hoover
ODwyer's Protege Is Indicted.
Moran Is Accused
OfLying About Visits
Made by Bookmoker
By the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Mar. 26.-James
j. Moran, resigned New. York City
water commissioner, was indicted
on perjury charges today growing
out of testimony before Senate
crime investigators.
Also indicted on charges of lying
under oath to the Senate commit
tee was Louis Weber, acknowledged
numbers bookmaker. The
indictments were returned by a
Federal grand jury.
Moran. a long time political
protege of ex-mayor William
O'Dwyer, was accused of falsely
telling the committee that Weber
visited his office no more than six
times between 1946 and 1850.
Got Lifetime Post.
Moran was then deputy fire COM
missioner.
He was elevated to a lifetime
SIS, ,000-a-year job as water COM
by Mr.. O'Dwyer shortly
before Mr.. ODwyer quit to become
Ambassador to Mexico.
Just last week, Moran was
forced to resign the water COM
post after he was ac-
cused before the Senate commit
tee of accepting $55,000 in good
will" gifts from the head of a
association. His resig-
nation was demanded by Mayor
Vincent Impellitteri.
The perjury indictment stemmed
from the Senate committee S
March 16 hearing in New York.
Conflict in Testimony.
United States Attorney Irving
H. Saypol said that There was
contradictory testimony during
the hearing as to both defendants,
showing that Weber had visited
Moran at his Offices at least so
times"
Weber. in dramatic face-to-
face meeting with Moran before
the Senators, had sworn he didn't
even know Moran, and had never
seen him before.
The three counts against Moran
charged that he knew and be-
Iieved" that his testimony was
untrue" when he CD denied
Weber was a frequent visitor,
(2 said Weber had not visited
him more than four times each
year while Moran was a fire COM
and 80 said in another
instance that Weber had visited
him no more than six times.
Called For Arraignment.
The 49-year-old Moran, right
hand man of Mr.. O'Dwyer
throughout the latter's rise from
district attorney to Mayor of New
York, was directed to appear for
this afternoon in
Federal Court.
In his resignation as water COM
last week, he blamed the
pressure against him on his lack
of political sponsorship" and ac-
cused Mayor Impellitteri of hav-
ing a grudge against him.
He said he could mo longer di-
gest the hypocrisies of so-called
politicians"
The indictment charged that
Moran in fact did see Weber at
his office no less than approx
mately SO times"
The one-count charge against
Weber accused him of falsely
swearing he didn't know Moran.
Could Get Is Years.
Moran faces a possible 15-year
prison sentence and $4,000 fine if
convicted of the three perjury
charges.
Weber could get a maximum
five-year term and $4,000 fine if
convicted on the one count.
Before Weber was called into
the crime committee hearing
room, Moran had admitted know
ing the numbers bookie for 20 or
80 years, and that Weber had Wis
tied him possibly three times
but mot much more often"
Contradicting both of them, a
firemen's receptionist testified
that Weber visited Moran regu-
larly, approximately SO times over
a period of years.
Weber has been held in $4,000
bail since the Senate committee
session, where he was arrested,
pending grand jury action on the
perjury charge.
First Criminal Actions.
The indictments are the first
criminal actions arising from the
committees eight-day New York
hearings, which saw a motley
parade of politicians and rack
eteers put on the carpet.
Mr.. 'O'Dwyer figured with Mo-
ran in the testimony about alleged
good will" donations by John P.
Crane, head of the Uniformed
Association.
Mr.. Crance said he gave Moran
the money to keep him ION our
side" and gave Mr.. ODWyer
$4,000 as evidence of our sup
port"