New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-14
QUIZ FOR CUMMINS
IN SULLIVAN PROBE
GOldstein Goes to Sing
Sing To-day Hoping to
Make Banker Talk.
CONWAY READY TO
TELL ALL HE KNOWS
Miss Burkhardt Leaves Grand
Jury Room Angry. but Not
Done With.

Just how easy life at Sing Sing is for
few Of the favored prisoners will be
determined to-day by Louis Goldstein,
assistant to District Attorney Cropsey
Of Kings County. who will 20 TO Os-
shining TO question John Conway and
also William j, Cummins, who is IN
prison for his connection with the
wrecking of the Carnegie Trust Com
pany.
Conway was spy for ex-Warden
Clancy, and was removed to the prison
at Auburn when Thomas j. Mccormick
was named as head of Sing Sing, be-
cause his life was endangered by other
convicts. He mas signifed his willing
ness toe lay before the Kings County
authorities. who are investigating par
ticularly the actions of David A. Sui
Ivan, wrecker Of the Union Bank OF
Brooklyn, since his confinement, all
that he knows regarding the favors
shown the "big" convicts who have
bank accounts outside the walls.
Cummins may not care to talk to
Mr.. Goldsten. In that event, IT IS
said, a writ for his appearance before
the grand Jury in Brooklyn will be
sworn out and he will be produced as
a witness Monday. One of the stories
that have reached the ear OF District
Attorney Cropsey is that Cummins was
sent 10 the home of farmer friend OF
ex-Warden Mccormick and permitted
to remain there TWO days, picking
apples.
Cummins. II is declared, who weighed
more than 500 pounds when he was
committed TO Sing Sing, was OF great
assistance in shaking the trees. Wheth-
er the former Manhattan banker was
permitted to remain away from the
prison overnight and what he did when
ne was NJ liberty is what the District
Attorney is after. When Cummins
slept at the prison, IT is said. he was
confined in the hospital dormitory on
the express order of the state prison
authorities, as his girth was too great
to hermit his passage into cell.
Miss Louise d. Burkhardt, former
secretary to Sullivan, had bad time
Of il before the grand jury yesterday.
District Attorney Cropsey was insistent
upon pressing the young woman 20
answer questions regarding Sullivan's
business transactions which she evil
IDENTIFY had little desire 70 discuss.
When she left the jury room. after
being inside en- hour, her face was
flushed with wrath.
There will be no session of the grand
jury to-day. but when it meets Mon
day Miss Burkhardt will again be a
witness.
Among other witnesses yesterday
were Frederick Burkhardt, brother TO
the former bankers secretary, and
William j. Watson. confidential agent
and secretary to ex-Warden McCor-
mick. He declared that he knew moth
ing of the whereabouts Of Mccormick,
who is wanted badly as a witness be-
fore the grand jury. No intention 20
arrest Mccormick is entertained by the
Kings County authorities, i Is said.
They wish merely TO ask him few
questions.
William f Schneider. Clerk of New
York County, and his deputy, Herman
w Boyer, were questioned regarding
telephonic communications with Miss
Burkhardt at time when the Brooklyn
investigators we're unable to find her.
Father Cashin, the Sing Sing chap
lain, was also a witness. He is said to
have been ont in the warden's auto
mobile when Sullivan drove the car,
and left the convict banker the only
occupant when he alighted from the
machine at his home.
Another TO testify was Ernest Bull
lard, a keeper at the Ossining prison.
who was at the door on the evening of
October q. The night Mrs. David A.
Sullivan and Miss Burkhardt were
warned that an investigation was about
to begin and that it might be we'll for
both women 70 absent themselves from
the state until the storm blew over.
Who did the telephoning to the
women has now been practically deter
mined by District Attorney Cropsey.
1t was a civilian employe at the prison
who gave them the warning.
Westchester County politicians init
mate with Mccormick report that he is
in Canada. They say he went there to
be safely out of range of detectives
from District Attorney CroDsey's office.