The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-22

1t seemed yesterday that the Tnomp-
telephone wire tapping inquiry In re-
! lation to the recent Charities investi-
cation now depends upon the action that
the Kings county Grand Jury takes in
the matter. Senator Thompson expects
the Grand Jury In Brooklyn will return
several indictments In a day or two.
or at least a presentment condemning
the practice In this case. II such action
is taken the committee will 60 Into the
subject thoroughly. as tho Senator
threatened. but otherwise, It Is believed.
he will let 1t alone and return to he
committees other trails.
District Attorney Lewis Of Brooklyn
asserted last night that no one could
say whether or not indictments will be
returned as a result Of the wire tapping
inquiry OF the Kings county Grand
Jury. The report that indictments
would be returned was branded as
sheer guesswork, a guess that he would
not venture to make himself. he said.
although ne has conducted tho Inquiry
from its inception.
air. Lewis did say. however. that a
vote on the question OF indictments may
be expected this afternoon or Tomorrow
at the latest. Several Burns detectives
will testify this morning n a process
server who testified before the Strong
! commission has been called.
Frederick Seymour of the law hrm
Of Seymour e. Seymour. whose telephone
wires were tapped by order of Commits
I sioner Woods and whose office was fitted
with detectaphones installed by the
Burns agency with the permission OF
the Equitable Building authorities. said
yesterday that papers had been drawn
up In q contemplated civil suit on be-
half OF his frm. Who will he the de-
PENDANTS Mr.. Seymour would not say.
He said he would issue a statement to-
day. covering the whole situation as
far as his firm and his clients. the war
brokers In his office. are concerned.
Frank Moss. the committees counsel.
In spite OF Senator Thompson's aversion
to continuing the wire tapping inquiry.
is preparing TO go further INTO II this
week. He said the committee had no
definite plan on the subject for to-day's
session. but that he Is by no means
through with II. He has heard that
there were about Ave copies made OF the
conversations taken over the tapped tel
ephones IN the Charities Investigation
wire tapping. one of which went to the
Corporation Counsel's office. In view of
the testimony o. Commissioner Woods,
MFR. Moss believes this report indicates
an excessive abuse of the police prerog-
alive to tap telephone wires.
Columbus kniRhts May Act.
The status of Mayor Mitchell in rela-
ton 10 the Thompson committees wire
,apoing inquiry remained unchanged
yesterday. Senator Thompson said he
would hear the Mayor II he wants 10
talk to the committee tomorrow. but
he won't call him. The Mayor. on the
other hand. has said e~mphatically that
If the truth behind the tapping OF tele-
phones In connection with the Strong
nvestication OF charities did not come
out through one door-the Thompson
communicable would see that II came
out through another. The Mayor was
out of town all day yesterday.
In this same counectlon-the layers
concern in the Charities wire tapping
Il was learned yesterday that talk OF
action by the knights OF Columbus has
been rife for a week as a result OF the
MAYORS utterances an the subject.
Officers OF Corrigan Council. X. OF c.,
of which the Mayor has been n member.
denied last nisht that any formal action
had been begun. other officials OF the
order were extremely retIcent. II was
reported. however, that the matter may
come to "A head at a meeting TO be held
early this week.
District Attorney Swami sent a letter
yesterday 20 Frederick Seymour In re-
ply to Mr.. Seymour's letter OF Saturday