The sun., 1916-12-16
KROTEL ACCUSED IN
GUM CHEWING CASE
Complaint to Bar Association
Charges courageous, High
handed" Methods.

When Magistrate Paul Krotel ad-
5ourned the afternoon session OF the
Tombs police court yesterday 1t was to
declare officially closed one more event.
full IL not perfect day. He had hailed be-
fore him a policeman who refused TO hold
up traffic when he attempted to cross a
busy. snow covered street, and in addi-
tton a been named as defendant In
charges filed with the grievance commit
tee of the New York County Bar Asso-
citation.
The complaint against the Magistrate
was filed by Benjamin c. Ribman. one
OF the two lawyers whom the Magistrate
ordered from his presence Thursday
when they sought to defend a man ac-
cused OF chewing gum. a gumdrop or "A
cough lozenge-the experts are not In
entire agreement as to the nature OF the
substance-in the court room. The COM
plant %denounces the Magistrates action
as an outrageous and high handed man
ner OF procedure" which STRIKES at the
very foundations OF our courts"
On the way to court in the morning
the Magistrate was halted by the traffic
at Lafayette and Walker streets. lie
asked Patrolman William Flanagan of
the West Tooth street station. who was
passing. to stop the vehicles until he
could pass. Flanagan refused. and. ac-
cording to the Magistrate. was discour-
teous. Then the Magistrate signalled to
Mounted Patrolman John May. who was
on duty a block away. and ordered
Flanagan brought into court.
Case Dismissed.
Before the bench Flanagan pleaded
that he did not know the identity of the
man who wanted traffic halted. lie
apologized. but protested tina. he be.
lieved he was right in refusing to usurp
the place Of a regular traffic policeman.
The case was dismissed. In discussing
II afterward Magistrate krotcl said
When ] asked the policeman to stop
the traffic so ! could cross the street lie
asked What are you trying to do. get
fresh Arc you looking for trouble?' l
said Yes. come along with me- I had
supposed that he knew me-mos, OF the
policemen in New York debut he prob
ably thought I was an ordinary citizen,
II that's the kind Of tall they get from
policemen. God help them.
Now. II he had said What's tho mat
ter. little fellow. don't you know I
can't hold up traf1c just for YOU IL
would have been all right. But ! filed
no complaint and no record was made
Of the case"
In the charges aid before the Bar
Association MIR. Ribnan recites that he
appeared In court rs attorney for Frank
Bardonnex. complainant against Jacob
Mandel. accused OF receiving stolen
property. and as counsel for seventeen
other persons or firms who charged they
had suffered as "A result OF Mandel's
alleged illegal actions. Among others he
named Abraham & Straus. Gimbel Bros.
Lord & Taylor. James Mccreery & Co
and the Pevse Piano Company as clients
Ordered TO SIT Down.
Mr.. Ribman says that when he at.
tempted to present "A point OF law the
Magistrate ordered him to sit down. 4.
there was no chair available he was
unable TO comply and he was ordered
from the room. The case against Bar
donnex. the alleged gum chewer, accused
OF disorderly conduct. the attorney say.
was called without witnesses for the de
endant. and IL was this manner OF pro,
ceedure which he dcnounccs as out
rageous and high handed. When the law,
yer reentercd the room lie was agair
commanded TO leave.
Mr.. Ribman recites further tina whci
he found he would not be permitted I,
appear he asked former .lssemblymai
Samuel Weinstcin to represent Bardon
mex. but the Magistrate ordered Vein
stcin ont also bccausc he had seen hIn
conversing with me about the case"
The complaint concludes with the re
quest that krotel he compelled to answe
FOR violations OF his oath "a "A CIT
Magistrate. of the rules OF practice q
the court and OF the rights OF officers o
the court
Il don't care what charges are hle,
against me- said the Magistrate whe
he heard OF the complaint. 81 have tn
courage OF my convictions and I'll stan
by my guns. ] was the only witness O
the gum chewing charge n I was III
:, Judge and the only person able To sa
whether this man was making grimace!
So who else was there to decide? a coui
? officer said he saw the mans jaws mo,
] ing as II he were chewing gum W
= nave to draw the line somewhere. III
lawyers can go as far as they like"