New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-06
Cropscy Anxious Despite
Secretary's Promise to
Face Grand Jury.
RILEY DENIES GUILT
IN SING SING PLOTS
Puts Blame on Mccormick
for Joy Rides-Auto and
EX-Warden Missing.

iv,. who is said 10 have transacted
bus,ress FOR sullivan since his COM
mitmeut TO Sing Sing prison, is ex-
pected 20 be a witness this morning be-
fore the Kings County Grand Jury in
vesugatiug the former bankers oper-
at.o7s.
With the Young woman on the stand
District Attorney Cropsey is certain
that he Will wiring from her admissions
which will prove conclusively whether
Sullivan. since his term began at the
states prison. utilized his JOY rides in
ex-Warden McCormick's automobile 20
commit further larceny Of funds of the
wrecked bank.
The search FOR Miss Burkhardt, who
was wanted as a witness since the
Kings County authorities began their
Investigation following The Tribune's
exposure Of the privileges allowed Sui
Ivan 81 Sing Sing, has been long
one. A dozen efforts to serve her with
4 subpoena have failed. Last night
District Attorney Cropsey was doubtful
ss 20 whether Sullivan's business aid
would appear. All he had 70 assure
himself was a telephone message from
"a person Unknown 10 him late yester-
5sv afternoon. which stated that Miss
Bursh rdt would gladly appear to-day
and tell the grand jury all she knew.
A.. her home, SO Cliff sv., Yonkers,
last night Miss Burkhardt was said to
be mot a. home" The same reply 70
INQUIRIES for her has been made for
The last three weeks. II is known that
the young woman has been in Hoboken
and Newark, out of the jurisdiction of
-he Kings County officials, since they
began The search for her. but where she
vas last night was an enigma.
Girl to End annoyance"
"Niss Burkhardt is anxious 20 spare
members Of her family further annoy
ance." the voice over the phone gave
the District Attorney as the reason for
Sulivan's secretary having decided to
come out into the open.
The annoyance" referred to was
probably that suffered yesterday BY
Frederick Burkhardt. a brother of the
Young woman. who was witness be-
fore the grand jury. To insure his
appearance IN the jury room two de-
tectiyes went 90 Yonkers yesterday
with writ Of attachment against his
person, but if was unnecessary to
serve IT, He said he was on his way
To- Brooklyn when met by the sleuths
That ms sister was In close touch
with the investigation was shown by
telephone message received by young
Burshardt shortly after his arrival in
Brooklyn Miss Burkhardt wanted to
know 4 he did not need lawyer.
The star witness az the proceedings
Yesterday was Dr. John B. Riley, State
Superintendent Of Prisons, who was
Qu.zzed for the purpose of learning
What he knew Of Sullivans jaunts
about Westchester County and New
York IN the warden's car. Before go
ing before the grand jury DR.. Riley
said he had nothing TO fear. II the
District Attorney insisted upon his
vaiviug immunity before going on the
stand he was perfectly willing TO do
$50. he said.
"I have come down here from Platts-
burg TO tell Mr.. Cropsey all ! can
he asserted. What the conditions
may bc makes no difference"
Superintendent Riley prefaced his
testimony before the grand jury by
saying that he understood that the
depositors' committee of the Union
Bank, of which DR.. J. Ellis Rohrer IS
chairman. intended filing charges
against him with the Governor and
asking that he be removed from office.
lc did not know what the charges
were. as the depositors. while they
talked freely Of demanding his re-
moya'. did not specify his acts Of mis-
conduct, he said.
skirts Clean" Says Riley.
"Ttat is absurd. Ny skirts are
clean ne said. when told that the de-
positors considered his report to Gov
enor Glyun Of Sullivan's automobil lie
trips an attempt TO whitewash the
sing Sing administration.
Riley asserted that the first intl-
ratou he had Of Sullivan's JOY rides
came a few days ago. when he was or
ecied by Governor Glynn TO suspend
arden Mccormick pending an inves-
cation into the latter's conduct. Nc
1oimick, he said. would have been dis
missed Immediately had not the Gov
e.aor already started an inquiry and
appointed Stephen G. Baldwin, OF
Brooklyn. as "A special inquisitor. Nc
CORN ck's removal at that moment
would have embarrassed the Governor,
be- said.
Even with Mccormick out, Supern-
i.noent Riley had something 10 say
il the eX-warden's defence.
III is not unusual for convicts TO
s.cep out Of the cell block" ne stated,
because the number of prisoners is
greater than the regular sleeping ac-
commodations. A dormitory, which IS
now used as Al overflow, accommo-
dates almost 200 men, who are crowd
cd together at night in manner
worse than that which might prevail
IN any East Side lodging house.
Between thirty and forty men also
sleep in the hospital. OF course, the
Prisoners prefer sleeping in either Of
these places than In cell. and the
selection IS made by the warden as a
mark of merit. Sometimes the physi-
clan requests the selection Of a man
to sleep in the hospital. The warden
Is the one in charge of the designs-