New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-08
POLITICS" SAYS SMITH
TO CONNOLLY CHARGES
Queens District Attorney De-
MES He Hounded Borough
President, as Alleged.
ANSWER GIVEN TO SULZER
Attack Similar to That of Piser,
Which Governor Dix Dis
missed, Ayers Ac-
cused Official.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]


Albany. Aug. 7.-District Attorney
Matthew j. Smith of queens County
made q general denial to Governor Sulzer
to-day in answer to the charges made
against him by Borough President Mau-
rice f.. Connolly and others in an APP
plicatlon for his removal from office
The charges were political ana per
sonal." said Smith. The District Attor-
nev is a follower of Joseph Cassidy, for
mer Borough President of Queens, who
has been fighting Connolly for the Dem
ocratic leadership OF the county.
Governor sulzer after receiving the an
swer from Smiths attorney, Arthur /,
Warner. said he would go over the
papcrs and announce as soon as possible
whether he would appoint a commits
sioner to take tho testimony
There Is not scrap of evidence to
show that Mr.. Smith has done other than
his duty" said Mr.. Warner. I'VE don
regard these charges as serious In the
light Of the facts Mr.. Smith denies
that he undertook to prosecute con-
molly Individually or a. Borough Presi-
dent 10 the end that political capital or
ANYTHING unwarranted might come OF it,
as charged
The charges In part grew out OF tnT
suit brought against Connolly by his
brother-in-law. Aloysius c. Hslleran 70
recover $50. 900 for the alleged alienation
Of the affections Of his wife Sarah q.
Halleran Relative 10 this suit Connolly
charged that since ne became Borough
President Smith and his assistants en-
deavored for political purposes to insu-
tute improper unnecessary and illegal
proceedings" against him before the grand
jury.
Attached 10 Smiths answer was an am
davlt from Robert +. Bell. counsel Tor
Halleran in his alienation suit alleging
that attempts were made 10 bride his
witnesses
The District Attorney in his answer de-
mics specifically that he had ever kept
from the grand Jury any witnesses asked
FOR hy the Jury or that he had ever d.
rrcted his suhordlnates TO send polltlcal
literature from his Office. He also Dc
med that ne neglected to prosecute Louis
T Walter. Ir.. Joseph Cassidy or william
Willott. r.. in regard 10 Supreme court
nominations
with respect to Walters. Willett and
Cassidy. tho District Attorney says that
with the assistance Of former District
Attorney Fred o. Dewitt and Assistant
District Attorney John lIotherington' he
presented an the evidence TO the grand
rr, I'm Queens. which, however, failed
to indict.
Last December charges were hl'd
against Smith by one Samuel Piser' nut
they were dismissed hy Governor DIX.
The presett charges. according 10 smith,
are similar 10 those flled by Piser.
The District Attorney states that lie
had no bargain on agreement or UNDER
standing Of any kind with Jospeh ,as-
sldv AS 10 the conduct Of his Office IN
the Connolly charges 1t Is alleged that
n. is running his Once AT the dictation
NJ CASSIDY. Smith also says that Con-
molly was heard NJ length by the grand
Jury during a recent investigation, at'er
ne Connolly had a consultation with
the foreman and Judge Burt j.
Humphrey at which neither Smith nor
any OF his assistants were presnt
I'm his answer Smith also repeats the
story hy Halcran that he received III"
for the removal 81 certain building re-
s,rictIons on a hotel and that the money
was FOR Connolly.
After District Attorney Matthe" a.
Smith Of Queens had fled his answer yes
terday at Albany 10 charges made oy
borough President Connolly thirteen
members OF the June grand jury fled
affdavits supporting the Connolly accu
sations in so Tar as the grand jury was
concerned. Among those VINO maze "i'-
davits was Walter Faddis. the FOREMAN
The thirteen grand jurors join with the
Borough President in asking for the re-
moval Of the District Attorney