Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-01-31
Fight
5hakedoWn Alleged
By Probe Witness
Byfhe As.oeiessd Prsss


NEW YORK, Jan. 31.-The
closing page Of New York States
probe, of waterfront crime to-
day contained former magis-
trate's story of an alleged $81 500
shakedown on the Dempsey
Firpo fight by. a millionaire
shipping industrialist.
The account, given yesterday
by former Magistrate Francis
x. McQuade. represented a clear
contradiction Of statements made
the previous day by the in
dustrialist. William Mccormack,
who denied the alleged extortion.
Mr.. McQuade's testimony
rivaled in interest that Of Joseph
P. Ryan, president of the AFL
International Longshoremen's
Association (ILA), one of the
chief centers around which the
monthS-long State inquiry re-
volved
Mr.. Ryan wound up his own
appearance with a statement,
among many other assertions.
that it is possible that 80 per
cent Of his unions officials have
police records.
Public Hearings Adjourned.
After Mr.. Ryan and then Mr..
McQuade concluded their. testi-
mony yesterday. the State COM
mission adjourned its public
hearings seeking to bring into
the open rackets which alleged
ly take $3.50 million a year from
the 81 billion shipping industry
here.
The commissions primary aim
is to expose conditions to pub
lie scrutiny and to make legis-
lative recommendations.
Mr.. McQuade. 75-year-old for
mer treasurer of the New York
Giants. left a sickbed to go be-
fore the commission and swear
he forced Mr.. Mccormack to
return the $81, 500 allegedly ex-
torted from the late fight pro-
moter, Tex Richard.
The memorable heavyweight
championship fight in 1923 was
held at the Polo Grounds, ball
park Of the New York Giants.
Jack Dempsey was knocked out
of the ring but came back to
knock out Louis Firpo.
Denies Receipt Of Money.
Mr.. Mccormack, who then was
State Athletic License Commits
Sioner, testified on Thursday and
denied ever receiving the money
from Rickard.
In his testimony yesterday, Mr..
McQuade quoted the Giants late
owner, Charles A. Stonehar11, as
saying the fight would not be
licensed unless Mr.. Rickard
turned over $81,500 to Mr.. Nc
Cormack. The witness asserted
that Mr.. Stoneham said Mr.. Nc
Cormack had no right to do this.
After the bout, Mr.. McQuade
went on, he called Mr.. McCor-
mack into his magistrates cham
bers and demanded that he re-
turn to me within two hours the
$81, 500 which he received from
Tex Richard" 49, -s.s
Mr. McQuade testified that Mr..
Mccormack said nothing, left the
room, and returned in two hours
with the money.
Resigned in Four Months.
Mr.. McQuade asserted that he
gave the money to Mr.. Stone
ham. Mr.. Mccormack resigned
from the State Athletic Commits
sion about four months later.
Legal authorities said last
night that the statute of limita-
tons would prevent any prose-
cution in the alleged extortion.
However, the Manhattan District
Attorneys Office was reported
checking into the possibilities of
perjury in the contradictory tes-
timony Of Mr.. McQuade and Mr..
McCormack.
lila President Ryan, So, in
sisted that waterfront crime is
greatly exaggerated" and that
there is no more of it along the
docks than elsewhere in New
York.
While conceding that it is pos
sible 80 per cent Of his lila Of
ficers have police records. Mr..
Ryan said he was not aware of
any wholesale infiltration of the
LILA by hoodlums. gangsters and
ex-convictS.
Admits Lack of Power.
However, Mr.. Ryan earlier had
admitted that he was powerless
to bring about the custer in 1910
Of mobsterS who took over three
Brooklyn lila locals. The hood
lums allegedly were members Of
the notorious kill-for-hire gang,
Murder, Inc.
Mr.. Ryan also was questioned
about $241.097 which the COM
mission said he collected from
various lila sources in the five
years ended last September. His
regular LILA salary during that
thine was 100000 of the total.
The LILA president said the
figure included expenes of his
fight on communism on the
piers, a fight which he said was
financed by donations from
shipping Arms.
HBHn A a