New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31


in spite Of Deputy Breckenridge's pro
test. The text in full follows:
During the administration OF Dis.
trict Attorney Whitman number OF
complaints were presented 10 him OF
rs auits, riots and injuries 20 property
occurring during the course OF labof,
disputes in this city. II was alleged
that gangsters and thugs were used
.- the course OF these disputes. ana
STA o., their Illegal conduct had resulted
iu grave injuries 10 the persons ana
I roperty Of the compliments.
"On March Is. 1914, gross an IN
provoked assault was made upon some
men. whose sole offence was the dong
Of work without the consent or So
called leaders in their trades. An IN
dictment promptly followed. and in the
course of the investigation Of this case,
and by reason OF the getting OF intor-
nation in gang circles in this city, As
sistant District Attorney Breckenridge
began an investigation which later de-
,eloped into a grand jury inquiry.
Grand Jury's Work Careful
THE grand jury which conducted the
investigation was continued beyond the
normal period in order 10 complete ITS
work, and finally returned all but one
of the indictments referred 10 herein.
THE investigation Of the District At
torney had succeeded in penetrating
into underworld conditions. and the
grand jury listened 10 statements and
confessions by men Of bad repute who
had been carried for months upon the
payrolls OF the defendants or who mad
received specific payments for specific
outrages perpetrated upon merchants,
property owners and peaceable work
men.
"A great number of witnesses we're
called. The investigation conducted by
Mr.. Breckenridge covered an enormous
deal OF information not submitted TO
the grand jury, but Of the utmost i'm
portance in the preparation for and the
trial Of these cases.
Murder Trial First
There was an indictment found
charging certain defendants with muir
der in the killing Of Hyman Leibowitz
in the year 1910. This homicide case
was the first case 70 be moved. and
the trial Of that case necessarily de-
layed the trial Of the other cases until
late in the year 1915.
"In two Of the other cases an efor,
was made to secure trial in the Su'
preme Court. Criminal Term. during
December, 1915. Because OF the pend
ency in that court Of the case OF Peo-
pie against Stapler. the trial Of these
cases was necessarily adjourned until
date early in January. 1916.
Meantime, District Attorney Per
kns left the Office and Edward Swami
became District Attorney. The cases
we're not tried upon the scheduled
dates by District Attorney Swami. but
we're adjourned from time to time. In
January District Attorney Swami re-
tanned az special counsel Lucisn y
Breckenridge, who had conducted the
investigation resulting in these indict-
ments,
"Mr. Breckenridge advises me that
when ne returned TO the District Attor-
news Office on January 10. 1916. he
found the papers covering this investl-
cation i'm exactly the same condition
as they were when he put them IN the
Property Clerks possession on Decem-
Der 81. 1915. From January 10 and
down 10 March % these papers were
under lock and key in Mr.. Breckin-
ridges safe.
Breckinridge's Resignation
"Mr. Breckenridge sent to the Dis
frict Attorney on March % or "a let
ter Of resignation, Of which the fol
March %, 1916.
"'Hon. Edward Swami District Attor'
ney, New York County:
"'Sir Herewith I tender my resg-
nation az special counsel, to take effect
Immediately upon receipt Of this com
munication.
AT your solicitation ! came into the
Office Of the District Attorney on Janu-
AIRY 10, 1916. as special counsel charged
with the preparation for trial OF the
great number Of indictments pending
against former and present members
and officials in certain labor unions IN
this city. These indictments were the
outgrowth of an investigation which
covered a period Of several months Al
cost to the county OF thousands OF
dollars.
"'Thc investigation was conducted
during the admin situations OF District
Attorney Whitman and District Attor-
ney Perkins. and disclosed tale OF
wrong and outrage and use Of gang
sters and thugs in labor troubles un-
paralleled in the history of this coun-
try. II was shown by testimony, be
lieved by grand jury, that men tenn
porarily in control Of labor unions in
the clothing and other trades for their
own selfish purposes and for the i'm
position Of their will upon union work
men and employers Of labor directed
end instigated unnumbered crimes OF
murder, robbery, extortion, assault
riot and injury to property
Witnesses to Outrages
Their actual participation in these
outrages was told by the evil agent;
of the defendants who were on the
payroll OF the unions and were Sc
lected because OF their absolute law
lessness. The result of this investiga-
ton and the activities OF the police
and the District Attorney in following
up the revelations made by the gang
sters resulted in a marked improve
ment in conditions.
During the administration OF Dis
trict Attorneys Whitman and Perkins
such Illegal use Of gsngsters was sup
pressed. but within the last two weeks
five raids have been made unlawfully
upon the shops Of employers in this
city: thus indicating recurrence &c
conditions such as were revealed by
Dopey Benny, Jew Murphy and others
of their ilk.
"The cases against tho defendants
have always been in a position TO b'
moved for trial. They were earnestly
urged for trial during the last sd
ministration, but by various excuses
and by the Intervention OF case
which continued longer than was ex
pected. the trials were adjourned e
your administration.
During the latter part Of the yea
1915. from a number Of sources in
formation came 10 the Office OF thu
District Attorney that every efor
would be made 10 adjourn these cases
IL