Curry's Backers Allege City Charter Violations

Supporters of John J. Curry '19 found a new weapon to defend the suspended city manager last week by taking steps to have three anti-Curry Councillors charged with criminal infractions of the City charter.

Applications for criminal complaints were filed against the three -- Thomas Coates, Bernard Goldberg, and William G. Maher -- in East Cambridge District Court last week. Preliminary hearings on the applications have been set for next week.

Two of the councillors involved, Maher and Goldberg, denounced Curry for "political blackmail" -- trying to use criminal charges to make them change their votes.

Only one of the criminal complaints was brought directly by Curry, but Curry's lawyers appeared at court with the man making at least one other complaint. These specific charges are expected to be made at the hearings:

* That Goldberg illegally tried to influence Curry into selecting Goldberg's father as city solicitor, Cambridge's chief legal officer.

* That Coates illegally influenced Curry into dismissing Ralph W. Ward from a City job. (Ward, who, like Coates, is a Negro, ran unsuccessfully for the Council last November).

* That Maher illegally accepted political contributions from City workers in his unsuccessful council campaign in 1963.

If convicted, the three councillors would face a fine of up to $500 and would automatically be forced to vacate their seats.

Delay Urged

Robert J. DeGiacomo, an attorney for Curry, urged Saturday that the Council suspend Curry's hearing until the criminal questions had been resolved. Barring this, he said, the three councillors ought to disqualify themselves. "If these charges are proven, all these proceedings would be void," he declared.

Neither suggestion was accepted, however, and the Council, which had heard Curry on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday continued its Saturday session until early afternoon. Mayor Daniel J. Hayes Jr. said then that he hoped Curry's presentation would be completed by tonight. Testimony resumes at 7:30 p.m.