The Washington herald., 1908-04-02
LAWYER IN TROUBLE
Hansen Accused Of Victim
izing Philadelphian.
YOUTH FIGURES IN STORY
Decorator O'Brien, Who Says AftOr-
ney Extorted $4,000 from Him,
Tells story to District Attorney
Letters He Wrote TO hoy Basis OF
Suit Which He Bought OF.

New York, April 1.-Carl Fisher Han
sen, son-in-law Of Isaac V. Brokaw. and
lawyer active in the criminal courts.
was indicted, to-day. on the charge that
he extorted Sl560 from Joseph L. O'Brien.
decorator OF Philadelphia.
Back of the accusation against Hansen
are scandalous charges against O'Brien.
which Hansen is said TO have threatened
TO make public and use in criminal
prosecutions If the money was not paid.
Hansen, badly upset by his arrest. was
arraigned before Judge Foster. Of general
sessions, and held in $1,000 bail II was
furnished by his father-in-law. WHO was
not pleased at the predicament Hansen
was in.
Hansen insisted it was the result Of a
plot 10 blackman him. He says he will
make trouble Tor everybody connected
with the charge against him.
story Told District Attorey.
From information in the district attor-
ney's Office, il appears that about two
years ago, Anthony Macaluso. described
as between seventeen and twenty-three
years, for various reason. met O'Brien.
OBrien was in this city on a trip from
Philadelphia, where he lives with his
mother At that time Macaluso. il is said.
had made the acquaintance Of several
New York men described as prominent.
O'Brien became friendly with Macaluso.
so much as that when he went to Europe
that summer. he wrote at least a half a
dozen letters to the boy. Macaluso had
no visible means OF support. He ate at
expensive restaurants, lived AT costly
hotels. rode around in automobiles. and
had expensive jewelry and clothes. never
theless.
O'Brien returned from Europe. Last
January word came to him that Macaluso
was about to sue him. and Carl Fisher
Hansen was the lawyer. The allegations
in the suit. O'Brien was told. would be
that he had physically injured the boy by
kicking him in the side. and that he had
promised to adopt. educate him, and sup
port him. The suit was to be for 100000
Negotiations for Settlement.
OBrien consulted with friends. A meet
ing was arranged and Hansen produced
the letters which O'Brien had written
from abroad TO the Italian. He also pro
duced letters which had been written 10
the boy by other men. There was also a
diary which the boy mad kept in which
he set down his account OF meetings with
several men.
OBrien says Hansen agreed the whole
thing could be settled for S25cOO. O'Brien
sent TO friend in this city, a decorator
also. who gaze $4,000 70 O'Brien.
O'Brien swears ne paid $4,000 to Hansen.
Before paying the remaining $4,000. he
sought the advice of a lawyer. John ].
Buckley. Of 80 Nassau street.
Buckley went to see Hansen. There
We're several meetings. it is said. both at
hotels and restaurants and at Hansen's
home. The negotiations are said to have
been bit stormy. as Buckley was against
paying any more money.
He also thought Hansen ought 10 re-
turn the $1,000 He says Hansen told him
there was no chance of getting it bacs.
In addition, Hansen is said TO have shown
the letters to Buckley and to have pointed