Evening star., 1953-10-03
Dewey Demands Aide
Explain Prison Visit
To Labor Racketeer
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
ALBANY, N. Y, Oct. 3.-Po-
litical and labor circles in New
York and New Jersey reverber-
ated today to echoes of an Off
cial disclosure that government
and union officials visited labor
Racketeer Joseph S. (Joey) Fay
in prison.
The bombshell came yester-
day in the form of a list of
Fay's visitors at Sing Sing Pris-
on released by the New York
State Department of Correction.
Among the more than 80 names
was that of Arthur H. Wicks,
acting Lieutenant Governor of
New York.
The disclosure prompted a de-
mand from Republican Gov.
Thomas E. Dewey for a "com-
plete and satisfactory explana-
ton"
Mr.. Wicks countered with a
statement that his calls on Fay
in Sing Sing were "a public serv-
ice to avoid labor troubles"
in his State senatorial district.
He said II personally resent any
implication Of wrongdoing on
my part"
TrOast Asked Clemency.
Meanwhile, Paul L. Troast.
Republican candidate for Gov
ernor of New Jersey, conceded
he wrote letter in 1851 to Gov.
Dewey asking executive Glenn
ency for Fay. But he told a
news conference he knew the
one-time construction labor boss
only as a business connection
and never socially" Mr.. Troast
said he saw nothing improper"
in the letter.
Mr.. TroaSt said he had not
seen Fay since he entered prison.
His name was not on the list of
visitors.
Mr.. Troast's Democratic oppo-
nent, Robert B. Meyner, said in
a statement: "It is shocking to
learn that the man who seeks
the highest position of trust in
New Jersey should try to
use his influence with the Re-
publican Governor of another
State to free a racketeer."
Fay, former vice president of
the AFL international Operat-
ing Engineers Union, was con-
victed in 1945 of extortion and
attempting to extort $368,000
from the Delaware aqueduct
project. The aqueduct is part
of the New York City water sys-
tenn.
He entered Sing Sing Febru-
ary %, 1948, for 712 to IS years,
after having served one year in
a New York City jail.
Well Known Names on List.
The list of Fay's visitors was
dotted with names Of persons
prominent in political and labor
circles in this State and New
Jersey.
The Dewey -Wicks crossf1re
stirred queries as to whether the
Governor would call for the
resignation of his second-in-
command.
Harry O'Donnell, the Cover
nor's press secretary, said late
yesterday the Governor would
have no further comment at this
time.
Mr.. Wicks, 65-year-old leader
of the Republican majority in
the State Senate, assumed the
duties of Lieutenant Governor
Thursday when Frank c. Moore
resigned to head a private re-
search foundation.
Other New York political fig
ures listed among Fay's visitors
included William r. Bleakley.
former State Supreme Court
justice, and William F. Condor.
Republican State Senator from
Westchester County. Both reside
in Yonkers. Also listed was
George Morton Levy, who op-
crates Roosevelt Raceway.
Prominent New Jersey person.
ages listed included William
Egan of Newark, chairman of the
Essex County Democratic Com
mittee and Fay's lawyer: Demo-
cratic Mayor John v. Kenny OF
Jersey City, John Milton of Jer-
sey City, a former United States
Senator, and former Mayor Mey-
er Ellenstein of Newark.
Labor Leaders Included.
Among the labor leaders ap-
pearing on the list were William
de Koning, sr., Of Hampstead,
chief of an AFL union local at
Roosevelt Raceway; Louis Mar
ciante, president of the New Jer-
sey Federation of Labor. Sal
Maso, head of the AFL Building