Administrator concealed theft of court funds

PROVIDENCE --- State Court Administrator Matthew J. Smith covered up the theft of $4,200 in Supreme Court money by Anthony A. Piccirilli, the son of a prominent state officer.

Smith was the speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives for eight years and one of the state's most powerful politicians. After leaving the legislature he became the state court administrator, a post that controls all the nonjudicial operations of the state courts.

As administrator, Smith personally oversaw actions to secretly replace the missing money and conceal the theft.

Although they talked about calling in the state police, Smith and his deputy never reported the theft.

Chief Justice Thomas F. Fay, who is responsible for the court administration and who is Smith's boss, has denied knowing about the theft or the cover-up. He has ordered Smith to prepare a report....