The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-02
FISCHER.HANSEN IS INDICTED
LAWYER HELD IN S15, 900 BAIL
on CHARGE or EXTORTION.
Ne says He Acted simply ~ Counsel In
Settling q Damage Suit Out Of Court
The Opposite Lawyer and His Client
were witnesses Before the Grand Jury.

Carl Fischer-HAnsen, son-in-law OF Isaac
V. BrokaW and q lawyer who has been active
in the criminal courts, was indicted yes
tsrday on the charge that he extorted
$4,000 from Joseph E. o'Brien, a decorator
of PhiladelphA. 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 IL the money was
not paid,
Hansen, who was badly upset by his
arrest, was arraigned before Judge Foster
Of General Sessions and held In $50 0 bail
1t was furnished by his father-in-law, who
VA not pleased at the predicament Hansen
was In. Hansen insisted that there was
a plot 10 blackmail him.
The District Attorneys Office has been
looking into the case for several weeks.
few witnesses we're examined by Assistant
District Attorney Smyth, but no action
was taken before the Grand Jury until
Yesterday morning, as one or more witnesses
we're not available. Yesterday Mr.. O'Brlen
came over from Philadelphia.
Prom the information in the District
Attorneys Office il appears that about "
years ago Antony M~acaluso, who is de-
scribed as being between II and %, met
O'Bren, who was in this city on a trip from
Philadelphia, where he lives with his mother,
and it is said that at that time Macaluso
had also made the Acquaintance Of several
New York men with money.
O'Bnen became very friendly with Maoa-
luso, 80 much so that when he went to
Europe that summer he wrote at least
nall a dozen Letters to the boy. Maoahlso
had no visible means OF support, but he ate
at expensive restaurants. lived at costly
hotels, rode around in automobiles and had
expensive iewelry and clothes.
O'Bren returned from Europe and last
January word ZANE to him that Macaluso
vas about to sue him and that Fischer
Hansen was Macaluso's lawyer, The ale
cations in the suit, O'Brien was told, would
ne that he had physically injured the boy
~ kicking him in the side and had failed to
keep a promise TO adopt him and educate
MIN and support him. The suit was to be
for 5000
When O'Brien heard this he consulted
with some Of his friends, and he says that
A meeting was arranged with Fischer
Hansen at which the lawyer produced the
letters 0'Bnen had written from abroad
70 the Italian and also produced letters
that had been written to the boy by other
men. There was also a diary which the boy
had kept 10 which he set down his account
Of meetings with several men. Fischer
Hansen. 0'Brien says, said that the letter
and other documents were SUFFICIENT ground
for criminal proceedings against o'Bnen.
According to o'Bnen's story the letters
we're Of an innocent nature. He had X
an interest in the boy. who was a bright
and likable chap, and that was why he
had written to him. He realized, however,
that publicity Of q charge suggested by
Fischer Hansen would hurt him and he
decided to zee IL the matter could be ad-
iusted.
'o'Brien says that Fscher-H Hansen agreed
that the whole thing could be settled for
$4,000. o'Brien did not have the ready
money and went TO a friend in this city.
The friend, who is q decorator also, gave
$4,000 to o'Bhen. The District Attorney
refuses to make known the name OF O'Bren's
friend on the ground that he simply went
10 O'Bien's aid. HO was not a witness
before the GRAND jay Gn3 a. SsN-+ VH
he made TO keep his name from the public
until the time Of the trial.
O'Bien swears that he paid 10000 to
Fischer Hansen. Before paying the re-
naming $4,000 he sought the advice OF
a lawyer, John j. Buckley OF 90 Nassau
street. Buckley went to see Fischer
Hansen There we're several meetings,
The negotiations are said TO have been
stormy, as Buckley was against paying
any more money and thought the $4,000
ought to be returned, but he says that
Fischer Hansen told him there was no
chance OF getting that back. In addition
Fischer Hansen Is said TO a v shown
Buckley the letters and to have pointed
out that any one convicted Of the suggested
offence might get a twenty year sentence.
After a parley, according 10 the District
Attorneys information, 5000 more was
paid by Buckley 70 Fsoher-Hansen. The
agreement was that all Of 0'Brien's letters
and the letters Of the other men should be
handed over 10 0'Brien. 0'Brien also got
a release from any action contemplated by
Macaluso. He also got Macaluso's original
aradayit and another made by the boy In
which he said that iho aTst affidavit had
been made In a spirit OF fun.
o'Brien destroyed the ltsters he wrote
To the boy, The other documents, the
letters from other men, the diary, the re-
lease and the afidsvits were turned over
to the District Attorney. 1t was said yes
trday that they would not DO made public
al any time unless 1t became absolutely
necessary at a trial.
o'Brisn, Lawyer Buckley and John j.
Mccarthy, bookkeepor for the decorator
Who helped 0'Brien, were called before
the Grand Jury yesterday morning. Al
o'clock the Grand Jury returned an in
dictment. A District Attorneys warrant
was issued and Detectives Htzsimmons,
Flood and Russo were sent out TO ind
Fischer Hansen, who was then in Judge
Fosters chambers. When he came out the
detectives took him, although, az is sup
posed. he was then on his way TO the court
room.
Hls arrest caused = Atir, and when he
vas arraigned in court before Judge Foster
the room was crowded. Col. Robert Town
send, an ex-Assistant District Attorney,
appeared for him. Judge Foster said IL
vas his unpleasant duty TO say that the