New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-26

The report Of the grievance COM
mittee of the Bar Association on its
investigation Of the charges made
against Justice Daniel F. Cohalan. of
the Supreme Court, by John a. Con-
molly, which was given out last night
upon the return of Einar Chrystie. sec
retary of the grievance committee,
from Albany, where it had been sub
mitted 10 Governor Sulzer and pre-
sented TO the Legislature by him, is in
substance a strong indictment against
the justice. left for him TO disprove
before a legislative tribunal, if he can.
The report consists of about FIVE
thousand words, including forty-two
specific counts, based on the testimony
and documentary evidence taken by
! the committee. The counts summarize
the findings Of the committee from the
evidence. The committee evidently
reaches the conclusion that sufficient
corroborative evidence was adduced 10
support all OF Connolly's charges.
Furthermore, the report specifically
states that the statement issued by
Justice Cohalan in denial Of the
charges, which he gave 10 the news
papers. was misleading and untrue
The committee brings two damaging
points 10 light in the case against
Cohalan, which had not been generally
known heretofore. Referring 10 the
charge that Cohalan entered into an
agreement with the Victor Heating
Company Connolly's concern, by which
he received S3940. representing % per
cent of the net profits of the company
on city contracts, obtained through CO.
halans political influence, prior TO his
going on the bench. the report states
that Cohalan insisted upon all the evil
dence OF the transaction being de-
stroyed before he paid back the money,
which he did in the face Of threat
ened suit by the company later on.
Cruikshank Destroyed Evidence.
According TO the report, Albert ..
Cruikshank. Of No. - Cedar street,
who was Connolly's lawyer at the time
Cohalan paid back the S3,940 testified
before the committee that l.e did :.e-
stroy what he believed to be all the
evidence of tha, transaction at the re-
quest OF Justice Cohalan.
The committee also finds that the
evidence presented before IT shows that
Cohalan did promise Connolly that no
would give him Connolly his aid and
assistance in obtaining for him po-
litical position in consideration Of the
$1,000 note which Connolly gave Co.
halan in April. 1911, and which Justice
Cohalan returned last month following
another threatened suit by Connolly.
Justice Cohalan emphatically denied
any promise ran with the note in the
statement he issued after the Connolly
charges had been taken up by the Bar
Association. He contended that the
$4, 600 note covered the $3.940 Of legal
fees" which he had returned to Con-
molly.
The committee points out specific in
stances where II assumes the evidence
shows that Mr.. Cohalan used his politi-
cal influence with the Borough Presi-
dent OF Manhattan and the Depart
ment of Water Supply. Gas and Elec-
tricity to obtain city contracts for the
Victor Heating Company, and in so
doing was able TO have certain con-
tracts taken away from other reputable
concerns which had been accustomed
to do the work.
In one count the committee states
that Cohalan had been active In the