See the article in its original context from February 1, 1998 Section Page Buy Reprints View on timesmachine TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Samuel D. Wright, a former City Councilman from Brooklyn and a former New York State Assemblyman who was chairman of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus in both legislative bodies, died on Jan. 20 at his home in Hilton Head, S.C., where he lived in retirement. He was 73. The cause was Parkinson's disease, said a niece, Jeannette Gadson. As chairman of Ocean Hill-Brownsville school district, Mr. Wright was credited with returning stability to schools in an area that was a focus of citywide strife over community control in the late 1960's. But his career was marred in 1978 when he was convicted of soliciting a $5,000 payment from a California producer of educational materials in return for using his influence as chairman of the school board to obtain a contract for the company. … [Read more...] about Samuel D. Wright, 73, Former Assemblyman
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Trump attorneys seek recusal of judge in New York criminal case
Attorneys for Donald Trump have filed a motion seeking to have a judge recuse himself from the Manhattan criminal case against the former president. Trump’s campaign website posted a statement from his lawyers Wednesday evening that accused Judge Juan Merchan of having conflicts, which the statement says are detailed in the motion. The motion seeks to have Merchan, who presided over Trump’s arraignment on 34 counts of falsifying business records in Manhattan, step aside in the case, Trump's lawyers said. “President Trump, like all Americans, is entitled under the Constitution to an impartial judge and fair legal process," his lawyers said in the statement, adding that the motion alleges Merchan has "significant conflicts." The motion is not yet public and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office was making redactions, lawyers involved in the process said. A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney's office said they would review the motion and respond in court … [Read more...] about Trump attorneys seek recusal of judge in New York criminal case
Gustave Newman, Defense Lawyer in Sensational Cases, Dies at 90
Gustave Newman, a goateed criminal defense lawyer in a host of headline-grabbing cases who genially cajoled skeptical juries and cowed hostile witnesses with his booming baritone, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 90. His death was confirmed by his son, Eric. A lion of New York’s white-collar criminal defense bar, Mr. Newman achieved one of his greatest courtroom successes in 1993, when, after a contentious five-month trial, he managed to win the acquittal of Robert A. Altman, a Washington lawyer who, with Clark M. Clifford, a former defense secretary, had been accused in a scandal involving global money-laundering and illegal transfer of capital. The episode, involving the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, cost depositors an estimated $12 million. His legal strategies also led the federal government in 1991 to drop its fraud and embezzlement case against Representative Floyd H. Flake, a Queens Democrat. He persuaded a jury to acquit Dov Hikind, a Democratic state … [Read more...] about Gustave Newman, Defense Lawyer in Sensational Cases, Dies at 90
Shakespeare Festival’s Boss: Idealistic, Romantic and Busy
See the article in its original context from March 22, 1993 Section Page Buy Reprints View on timesmachine TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. About the Archive This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. It was about a month ago, George C. Wolfe recalled, that he was asked by the executive committee of the New York Shakespeare Festival's board if he'd be interested in taking over the reins of the institution from JoAnne Akalaitis. He was. Then they asked him what he'd do with it. "I told them what I'm passionate about," he said in an interview. "I said you can't create an oasis for … [Read more...] about Shakespeare Festival’s Boss: Idealistic, Romantic and Busy
Past Into Present: 4 Journeys That Changed Us
An African-American resort town in Michigan, circa 1970; a raucous family road trip from Kansas City, Mo., to New York state; a bittersweet return to Hyderabad, India; and a college student’s self-discovery in Australia: Four New York Times Travel contributors share their memories of trips that still impart a sense of wonder and hope. Lost in Time on the Shores of Lake Idlewild By Ron Stodghill At some point, even as I began racking up frequent-flier miles, I came to accept a simple truth: I’d find no sleep as peaceful as I found on Lake Idlewild. My slumbers in Michigan’s densely wooded, all-black resort started as a kid. Belly full of fried catfish, Jones Homemade Ice Cream and ZotZ penny candy from Lee-John’s Novelty and Soda Bar, I would curl up on a lounge chair by the lake and snooze for hours to the sound of waves gurgling along the shore, the purring of fishing boats motoring by, the crackling of the Detroit Tigers radio broadcast wafting … [Read more...] about Past Into Present: 4 Journeys That Changed Us
Mystery Boston serial rapist identified as New Jersey attorney 15 years later through DNA analysis: FBI
close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for May 30 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Boston authorities say an alleged serial rapist and kidnapper has been identified after more than a decade through advanced forensic genealogy and DNA analysis. The suspect, who now reportedly works as an attorney in New York City, was arrested in New Jersey on Tuesday. Matthew J. Nilo, 35, was arrested at around 4:30 p.m. at his home in Weehawken. He formerly lived in the North End of Boston and has now been accused of sexually assaulting four women in the Terminal Street area on Aug. 18, 2007, Nov. 22, 2007, Aug. 5, 2008, and Dec. 23, 2008. Nilo, who police say could have been a college student at the time, around age 19 or 20, is charged with three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to rape, and one count of indecent assault and battery. "Today’s … [Read more...] about Mystery Boston serial rapist identified as New Jersey attorney 15 years later through DNA analysis: FBI