Daley aides indicted

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 15

Daley aides indicted

< N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

CHICAGO. April 22

Members of the Democratic Party and aides of the Mayor of Chicago (Mr Richard Daley), one of the most powerful Democrats in the United States, are being indicted in an investigation into corruption.

The prosecutor, Mr James [ Thompson, a Republican who is expected to oppose Mr ; Daley in the election fm ■ mayor next year, has an- ■ nounced indictments against i i a former state governor, an ; [aiderman and two forme.) aidermen, two former aides ; to the Mayor and other Daley 1 stalwarts. I Members of the United States Attorney’s Office, ; headed by Mr Thompson, sav I more indictments can be expected as the investigation ; into official corruption con ; tinue. Mr Daley maintains that ’ the affair is a vendetta. Mi Thompson dismisses such i claims as “political bunk.” i No-one has accused the : Mayor, who is 71, of any I wrongdoing, but the Right- i [wing “Chicago Tribune” said in an editorial: "The filing of ■ Democratic kingpins into the Federal dock has become a ; procession . . . the list is long .and getting longer. It is also i getting nearer to the centre h lot power."

The independent "Chicago l

Daily News” said: "The plain fact is that the odour of corruption is far too strong and enduring to permit any conclusion but that there is an uncommon lot of it around, and that the corruption, or a lot of it, originates in the political system administered by the local Democratic organisation.” The latest in the line of accused is Mr Matthew Danaher, aged 47, Mr Daley s former administrative assistant and a long time friend and neighbour of the Mayor Mr Danaher is charged with conspiring to defraud the United States Government, to receive illegal profits and to evade income tax payments in connection with an alleged SUS4OO,OOO bribery scheme concerning building projects He is a circuit court clerK, but the charges relate <o when Mr Danaher was working for the Mayor. Seven other promnient Democrats have been named i during the two years and five 'months Mr Thompson has

'been United States Attorney