U.S. At War: Hague Frame-Up

John R. Longo is a shrill, splenetic young New Jersey citizen who hates arrogant Boss Frank Hague to the point of doing something about it. He once served seven months in jail when he got too enthusiastic about collecting signatures of voters (some of them nonexistent) in a primary fight against Hague. Fortnight ago he was convicted again—in Hudson County, where Mayor Hague appoints the judges—this time for altering his voting record. The evidence, as presented in court, was all against him. But New Jersey’s Hague-hating Governor Charles Edison cried: “Persecution . . . outrage!” Then Governor Edison set about to prove his charge. To his 24-room Llewellyn Park home one night he invited a group of investigators. He took them to a paneled, second-floor study lined with books and pictures of his inventor-father.

Also present was one August Hartkorn, a venerable, white-goateed Manhattan handwriting expert, summoned by a Governor’s subpoena. Expert Hartkorn, who looks like a character from Life With Father, was a not-too-willing guest; he did not want to get involved in politics, he said. The Governor handed him a Bible, swore him in, commanded him to talk.

Expert Hartkorn’s story: The charge against Longo was that he had had his registration changed from Republican to Democratic, in the hope of getting a job from Democratic Governor Edison. Expert Hartkorn had been hired by the prosecutor—a Hague stooge—to provide proof. But diligent examination showed that, although the record had been tampered with, such a change had never been made. Expert Hartkorn duly reported these findings to the prosecution. Not unnaturally, he was never called as a witness.

At the trial, the prosecution relied on five other men, who swore they saw the change made.

When Expert Hartkorn had finished, the Governor, now fully relaxed, entertained his visitors with his favorite diversion—playing the piano by rolling an apple swiftly and deftly across the keyboard. The meeting broke up at 3:30 a.m.

Last week Longo’s attorney broke the sensational story in court. The prosecution stammered “Foul.” The judge adjourned court hastily and took a week’s vacation, beginning at once. But John Longo, denied bail, still languished in jail.