Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Where I Stand: Hank Greenspun, June 1, 1954: Sheriff Jones tied to illegal prostitution in county

LEST WE FORGET.

The Wednesday, April 15, 1953 copy of the afternoon paper is before me now. A story headlined "Ask Felony Libel Count Filing Here," reads: "Roger Foley, Clark County District Attorney, has been asked to file a criminal libel complaint against H.H. Greenspun, which City Commissioner Bill Peccole claimed will place the publisher behind bars for five years, it was learned today."

The story then goes on to tell the public what a great fellow Peccole is and the kind of snake I am, and anyone reading the Review-Journal of that date would almost be forced to agree that I am a menace to good government because I maligned this fine, upright, decent city commissioner.

I suppose everyone knows the aftermath of this story. Foley refused to issue a complaint against me, but asked that a Grand Jury be convened. Evidence against me was presented and I am still walking around a free man, so the proof of criminal libel against me couldn't have been too conclusive. The Grand Jury then considered evidence against Mr. Peccole and he was indicted of the very charges of which I accused him, and he now faces trial.

Reading the afternoon paper for the past few weeks strikes a similar chord in the reader's mind. Glen Jones is the maligned Sheriff who seeks criminal libel action against me and I have once more become a real bad hombre, while Glen, according to the Review-Journal, is an honest, sincere law enforcement agent.

Information which the Sun possesses and which we eventually hope to prove to a Grand Jury, shows that Jones is even more corrupt than was Peccole. We intend to show that Glen made frequent trips to the Roxie to confer with Eddie Clippinger, and that Clippinger made regular payments to him. There will be ample testimony to show that the Sheriff was tied up with prostitution in other spots around the county and that payments were also made to him for permission to run.

A Grand Jury investigation into the Sheriff's activities will unearth the worst type of correction. The sheriff's office is permeated with graft and illegal law enforcement practices.

It has always been one of the mysteries of this community why the Review-Journal is always found on the side of corruption in public office. The large ad in yesterday's paper and the stories depicting me in the role of a "kingmaker" who is out to control or destroy, is identical with stories in last year's paper in which Peccole charged that I was "trying to control the city, state and even nation" through this news paper.

In answer to Peccole and the Review-Journal, I wrote on April 24, 1953, that: "If it is the last thing I do, it will be to prove to the people how rotten, shameful and untruthful the afternoon paper really is. It may not be until after election because all signs point to a convening of a Grand Jury on May 4, when the truth will be brought out, but uncovered it will be. And if Peccole is re-elected city commissioner, this newspaper will not stop but will renew its efforts to unseat this unscrupulous person..."

At that time, I also wrote: "Next to having a crook as a public official, the thing which burns me up most is the lethargy of some of the people towards the pilfering of their funds."

The Grand Jury just concluded, brought out evidence of misuse of public funds in the administering of the sheriff's deputies and the Sheriff himself staying at the finest hotels and dining at the most expensive restaurants when trips were made out of the county.

The Grand Jury did not get a chance to go into the real corrupt phases of the Sheriff's administration of his office. They failed to call Clippinger and put him under oath. There are dozens of witnesses who should be called and who can give testimony of payoffs to the Sheriff. A definite link exists between Jones and Clippinger and many witnesses can corroborate this phase of the tie-up.

If the people want to elect a thief, it is their business. But the attempt on the part of a newspaper to mislead the people is even worse than a crooked politician robbing the public treasury.

Last year, I asked: "Does the Review-Journal stand behind everything which Peccole has done in the past four years and are therefore pushing his re-election?

"Would the Messrs. Cahlan be willing to share the consequences of any possible Grand Jury action in the same manner in which I am accepting full responsibility? Or will they crawl for cover in an attempt to be held blameless for foisting this crooked politician upon the people?"

I also asked Al Cahlan how far he intended to go with Peccole; whether he was with him all the way or if he intended to jump off at the sign of a striped suit.

The same thing is true today. How far is the Review-Journal willing to go with Jones? Cahlan got him into the mess and Glen fell for the law suit.

If Glen Jones is re-nominated by the Democratic party, he will eventually bring shame upon this political group who are a two and one-half to one majority in Southern Nevada. If he is the best candidate who can be offered to the people, the party will indeed be in bad shape.

Subsequent events will prove Glen Jones guilty of the worst kind of governmental corruption. His filing for office is an affront to the decent citizens of Clark County.

archive