New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
80 he deposited $4,000 in bills. The amdavit

30 he deposited $4,000 In bills. Ine amoa'it
then goes
fore the grand jury and asked to be allowed to
give explanation of his bank deposl.s ana ana
aforesaid $4,000 borrowed by, by him from from
friends named Messrs Roth and mes 70 secmrtV
some mortgages. subsequently, said Wells t ap,
assignments Of mortgage purpSrting to have been
on the Io on da e Of m sR o
1905 deponent was presenting TO sa1d grana Jury y
against Henry Roth Tor violating Section Sc of
the Penal Code of the state of New York when
said Roth in certain testimony given by him be
fSe ne grana and u that IN ereupon Joseph Berme
was called a witness. and when confronted
ments of certain mortgages from Joseph Bermel
iso7' said Joseph Berme refused to identity his
signature. giving his reason therefor that his
him
Those familiar with Queens County politics Will
recall the bitter feeling that has marked the fight
between Bermel and Joseph Cassidy for control OF
the Democratic organization Of Queens County
During the fight Cassidy has had the support of
Charles F. Murphy In the campaign of 1908. when
BermeI was the duly elected chairman OF the
Queens County committee. Cassidy set up rlVai
pIant and sent a contest,ng delegation to the Demo-
cratic State Convention at Buffalo. Bermefs dele
gates were not recognized by Murphy's organlza-
ton and Cassidy's delegation was seated
Ever since that time IT is understood that Cas-
sidy and his followers have been looking Tor an
opportunity to unhorse Bermel- In the action OF
the Queens County grand jury the Cassidy faction
are considered to have found valuable asset to
their cause.
II was said here to-day that year ago Attorney
General Jackson made an attempt to stir up the
Kissena Park question and thereby reach Bermel-
The formal charges contain reference TO fepru-
arv and March 1907. and January 1905 as the tiihe
when Bernel is alleged have committed mis-
deeds 1t is understood that jackson wanted TO
investigate them, but held off until the case
should ripen to such extent that there would be
the least chance of failure
The Kissena Park agitation started year ago
this month Last November the District Attorney
of Queens County. said 10 be a Berinel follower
brought the matter to the grand jury, with the
result that nothing found wrong. The @slta-
ton continued, and the District Attorney finally
requested the Attorney General to designate dep
,,tv TO conduct another grand jury investigation.
He declared that he would have nothing more to do
with il. The Attorney General asked Governor
Hughes to designate Nathan Nidaver as special
deputy attorney general. and this was done
When Mr. Ber1neI was asked what he had to say
Of the charges preferred against him. he said:
II really can say nothing about them as to their
particulars. because have seen only what has
appeared in the papers. The charges referred to
nv declining to answer questions in the grand jury
room. I know nothing of those specific charges
but do know that there is nothing to warrant the
grand ilrv in taking the stand ii has taken This
whole thing may be entirely personal. understand
that the whole investigation was directed against
myself. / told that it was. heard that MI
Vidaver said that in open court
Did you refuse to answer any questions in the
grand jury room?' he asked
WHY as ] understood that the inquiry was
against myself personally. I certainly could not
with fairness be asked 10 testify against myself"
Mr. Berrnel denied that he intended to resign, but
admitted that he might go abroad in the spring for
his health In regard I<issena Park Mr.. BelmeI
went 10 say:
Il repeat what I have often said | no
party TO the transaction. / of the COM
rnttee that investigated the land purchased, and
was one of the Board of Estimate that voted for
the purchase. / impressed with the beauty OF
the land and was Mr.. MCGOWAN, another mem
Der of the comrnittee-"
You did not recommend the purchase of this
land without knowing anything OF the price at
which IT was to be sold. did you?" he asked.
Il was not consulted about the price at all. Only
the Controller had knowledge of that" he replied.
"We only reported on the availability and desr-
ability of land itself, but as TO the private sale
and the prices thereof, that a matter n
troIled entirely by the Controllers Office. AS a
matter Of fact. knew nothing whatever about the
value of the land in that section
Ny Kernel refused to say whether he himself
would nav $3.50 for the land after he had
seen IL and insisted that he only wanted to make
clear his position in the matter When he was |
asked what he would do about the charges against |
him he replied that as he looked into them
he would go before the Governor with active |
defence.
so far as I personally am concerned" he said |