New-York tribune., 1911-11-14
'WLLETT TO FACE ARREST
Will Be Charged with Con-
spiracy, Says Dewitt.
PROBE PUT OFF FOR WEEK
McCooey's Alleged Reference to
Manhattan Methods" of Nomi-
nations Quoted on Stand.

manhattan MetnOQS OF NOHli-
nations Quoted on Stand.
William Willett Jr.. VIII lace arrest on
charge Of conspiracy when the investiga-
ton into the way be obtained the Demo
cratic nomination for justice Of the SUI
preme Court I'm the ID Judicial District is
resumed before Justice scudder. sitting as
a committing magistrate in Long Island
City on Monday Of next week This
nouncemert was made last night by Dis
trict Attorney Dewitt OF Queens County.
Mr.. Dewitt saws the warrant will charge
WIett with having conspired 10 promote
unlswfully his own election. The charge
Of conspiracy is 4 nlsdemeanor. and II
Justice Scudder sees ft To issue the war
rant Wilett may be arrested and srraigned
al once. He NAV then ask for an immedi-
ate hearing before Justice Scudder i'm the
latter's capacity Of i committing magis-
trate or he may waive examination and
elect to go before the grand jury.
Yesterday was devoted TO the introduction
of further testimony relating TO the reports
that money was promised to the Indepen-
dence League branch in Queens for the in
dorsement Of Willett The examination Of
two or three witnesses next Monday who
were not present yesterday will probably
Close the investigation
District Attorney Dewitt. of Queens.
County. and William 4. DeFord. Assistant
District Attorney Of New York. are both
confident that with the close Of the hear
ings there viii be sufficient evidence IN
call for warrants for one or two persons
Who have figured prominently I'm the inyes-
tigation. The evidence will no presented ~
the grand jury here or I'm Queens. II is under
stood and indictments arc expected to fol
low. The possibility Of indictments In New
York County has been suggested by certain
testimony which would tend TO show that
If anv money changed hands on account
Of Wlllett's nomination it was paid in this
CITY.
District Attorney Whitman and Mr.. De
Ford We're i'm conference with Judge Rossl-
sky in Part I of General Sessions. where
tho November grand jury IS sworn in. for
all hour Yesterday after the hearing in
Queens had adjourned. Mr Whitman said
afterwsrd the conference was I'm elstion tn
the Willett investigation. but that he could
not discuss the matter further at the pres
cnt time.
County Judge Humphrey, in charging the
November grand jury IN Queens, yesterday
referred 10 the Wilett inquiry I'm general
terms, and said the matter was Of the sort
which should come before the grand jury.
He said however that II would be mad
visable 10 take any action so long as the
present investigation was under way
Speaking for Willett YESTERDAY. his coun-
sci, Colonel Alexander :. Bacon. said hts
client courted arrest so that they could get
writ OF habeas corpus and have some
standing in court Colonel Bacon charged
the investigators with lacking courage to
make the arrest. Willett himself appeared
confident Of the outcome and declared that
no case had b'"n made ont against him.
Robert Stewart. 4 member OF the execu-
tive cOmmittee OF the Independence League
IN Brooklyn. was the principal witness YES
terday He denied that he had heard Of
any money being paid or promised for the
Endorsement OF Villett. Following the Re
publican and Democratic Judiciary conven-
tons the Independence League first decided
TO indorse Justice-eiect Van Siclen. the
witness SAID and switched to willett be-
Of the committee 10 which the indorse-
ments were left. said Van Siclen had seer
Justice Seabury about the Endorsement and
didn't seem 20 have much use for him
(Quinn) Mr. Stewart said there had been
no offer Of money by the Republicans FOR
any Endorsement.
Mr.. Stewart hal place on the judiciary
ticket when fusion between tho Repub-
licans and the Independence League seemed
assured. and IN explaining why he had
been left off he said he had heard diff
ferent stories about II. one was. he said,
that certain Republicans, Alexander NJ.
White and others. had informed tho Re-
pIblicar leaders i'm Brooklyn that they
wouldn't contribute 10 tho party fund un-
less a place was made for Russell Bene-
dict
so my name was taken off the ticket
and Benedict's substituted" he said.
Referring ~ conversation he had With
Tohn H. McCOoey. Democratic leader in
Kings. a year ago about a judiciary noni-
nation in Brooklyn at that time. stewart
said McCooey spoke Of hearing that they
wore introducing Manhattan methods"
Il asked him Vhat ne meant ~ lnat,
said Stewart and McCooey replied: We'll.
they say that over there they have 10 put
ND from $1,000 10 $4,000 for Supreme
Court nomination. We don't 10 that in
Kings
Maurice Geronimo. Wilett's campaign
manager at Far Rockaway. testified that
he had not hearc Of any money figuring
in WiIetts nomination or his Endorsement
bv the Independence League. Herman y.
Hansen. a member with Sheriff Quinn OF
the independence League nominating com
mittee in Queens. gave similar testimony
IN regard to Willctt's Endorsement by the
league.
NIarinus Wilett, brother OF William. and
Ius::ce-elect Van Siclen are expected 10
testify at the continuation OF the hearing
next Monday.