New-York tribune., 1914-11-16
Grand Jury Likely to Hear
Prison EavesdrOpper
Story.
TOLD PROSECUTOR OF
BANK WRECKER'S PLOT
Union Bank Depositors' Leader
Wants Elder to Explain
Forgery Case Action.

So important was the story told Sat
urday by John Conway, convict who
is serving a term in Auburn. to Louis
Goldstein. Assistant District Attorney
of Kings County, that Conway may be
brought before the Brooklyn Grand
Jury, it was learned yesterday. to re-
peat his testimony. The convict, II is
said, told all he knew of the comings
and goings o. David A. Sullivan, the
Union Bank wrecker. and named sew
eral other persons who may possess
knowledge that District Attorney Crop
sey might find valuable in his present
investigation.
Louise d. Burkhardt, Sullivan's for
mer secretary, who is being examined
TO determine whether she transacted
business for Sullivan since he entered
Sing Sing. will be one of the first wit
nesses this morning. but Conway may
be placed on the stand later. II is
probable, however. that the Convict
spy" will not be called until tomorrow
or the following day.
In the mean time Conway will re-
main at Sing Sing, where he was taken
following his communication 10 the
District Attorney. in which he signified
his willingness TO Inform" on the
prison ring at Ossining. He was trans
ferred 10 the Great Meadow prison
from Sing Sing in August by Warden
Mccormick, after being in the hospital
three times following attacks on him
by other prisoners. Conway was a
spy for former Warden Clancy, and
to Goldstein on Saturday he revealed
many Irregularities in the prison ad-
ministration.
Or. J. Ellis Rohrer, chairman Of the
executive committee OF the Union
Bank, the institution wrecked by Sui
livan, issued a statement yesterday IN
which he attacked Robert II. Elder, a
former prosecutor Of Kings County.
Elder, he said, failed TO press suits
against Sullivan when the first evi-
dences of manipulation Of Union Bank
funds were brought TO the attention OF
the Kings County authorities. Dr..
Rohrer's statement follows:
81 have nothing to say regarding the
controversy between Judge Benedict
and Mr.. Cropsey. but | would like TO
comment on the sudden spasm Of virtue
which seems to have overwhelmed Mr..
Elder.
"If. in the absence of J. F. Clarke in
Europe, when Mr.. Clarke was District
Attorney and Mr. Elder his first assist
ant. Elder had seen 10 il that indict-
ments had been handed down IN the
Cheeseborough forgery case, Sullivan
criminal career would have been nipped
in the bud. and the foundation for the
deplorable Union Bank scandal would
have been swept away.
at might be we'll at this time for
Mr.. Elder to explain his connection
with Bank Examiner William ]. Hayes
and David A. Sullivan, in which Sulli-
van was given a coat Of whitewash and
Hayes's son was subsequently en-
ployed in Elders Office"
V. Everit Macy, the philanthropist of
Ossining, said yesterday that he had
been urged TO become a candidate for
the post of Sing Sing warden 70 sue
ceed Thomas j. Mccormick. Macy is a
friend of Thomas Mott Osborne, of Au-
burn. active in prison reform move
ments, whose name also has been men
toned for the wardenship Of Sing Sing
Mr.. Macy asserted that he had heard
something from Governor Glynn and
Superintendent of Prisons John B
Riley about the warden's position, but
only in an indirect way.