Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-24
Defends Police and Makes
Charges Against "CO-
religionists."
CLASHES WITH THE
PROBE COMMITTEE
Says Conspiracy Is on Foot
to Discredit Charities
Department of City.

NEW YORK. May 23.-sensational
~ charges by Mayor John Purroy
Mitchell against some of his "co-
religionists" In attempted justification
of telephone wire tapping during the
investigation conducted by commit
tee appointed by Governor Whitman
| into the affairs of Roman Catholic
charitable institutions in this city.
were made late today before the legis-
lative committee, headed by State
Senator George +. Thompson.
| The mayors allegations were
prompted by the introduction in
Kings county earlier in the day or
John A. Kingsbury, city commissioner
of charities and william ii. Hotch-
kiss, special counsel for the charities
department, for their part in the tap
ping of telephone wires. The chlet
witnesses against them before the
lgrand jury were Catholic priests.
| Mayor Mitchell and Police Commis-
sioner Woods were witnesses before
1.-THE jury. but were not indicted, al
Though the presentment OF the jury
declared they merited "a most severe
condemnation" If they approved wire
tapping merely to furnish counsel
with law case or to crafty curiosity.
Wanted Public Hearing.
Mayor Mitchell became witness
! with the avowed purpose OF making
public telephone conversations over.
heard by the police which. he declared
justified the wire tapping. HIS de-
termination to take the public INTO
his confidence and not to appear pc.
fore the committee privately brought
him into direct and acriminious con-
8 fIict with Chairman Thompson.
. Finally to circumvent the witness who
refused to be slenced the chairman
ordered his colleagues into executive
session. The committee retired leaV-
n ing the mayor still talking III the
witness chair.
The meetings of the commission are
being held in the rooms of the sinking
fund commission in the municipal
building The mayor is chairman OF
this commission. Senator thompson
ordered the room cleared but the
mayor invited reporters and Others
N present to remain as his guests. The
20 senator pounded the table with ms
80 gavel while Mr.. Mitchell continued
talking in IA high pitched voice.
ID The mayor intmated he would take
l. the subject before the proper author
" tiles" with view to the prosecution
RS on for charges OF persons ne de-
A. clared we involved in a conspiracy to
N discredit the charities department OF
ne the city.
~ ~ Didn't Want il Public.
s. Senator Thompson issued his cal
" for an executive session after Alfrec
of Talley, counsel for some OF th'
to priests involved. mad offered object
IS ions to the reading of the CONVERSE
tie tions in the mayors possession.
all "If tapping is crime Mr.. Ialle!
"a asserted, 1t is an aggravttion or ina
crime to make the conversation pIb
lie"
.v Previously Mr.. Thompson had mad'
- public a letter received from John NJ
-, Bowers of counsel for the state boar'
~. of charities against which Commits
10 sioner Kingsbury made charges re
ne questing that Mayor Mitchell be no
% allowed to make public alleged eNi
,o dence obtained through wire tapping
-, He pointed out that COMMISSIONS
Nv, strong. who conducted the charitie
-, % investigation, ruled out this so-calle'
~, evidence on the ground that II ma
~, been obtained in an Illegal way. II
~ maintained that If the mayor MAD
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