New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-01
Breckenridge Tells How
He Tried to Force Labor
Cases TO Trial
HEARD TALK OF DEAL
MADE BY TAMMANY
Sent Resignation When He
Realized He Was Being
Made a Tool

st his apartment in the Holey 's
night Lucian s. Breckenridge gave
detailed account or his relations With
District Attorney Swami and some OF
Mr. SWANS assistants which culmi-
mated in the Cling Of charges with Gov
ernor Whitman against the District AT
torncy
Mr. Breckenridge, who was esmpaigu
manager for Charles A Perkins. Re
publican candidate for District Attor-
ney against Mr. Swami, said that II was
general talk that TRmmsny Hall had
entered into a deal with the indicted
labor leaders 20 have the charges
against them quashed n they worked
against Perkins Two of them, Gold
berg and Stupuicker. he said, did work
for sir Swsun's election.
he said ne felt that ne was being
used IS a cloak 20 cover up a olsrep
utable political deal, and that was why
ne resigned 10 Mr. Swami.
Apparently" said Mr.. Breckenridge.
1t was thought that | would do any
thing for an Assistant District Attor-
news salary $500 a year"
Mr. BneckenridEs's Story
Nj. Breckenridge then began a De
tqiled story OF bis connection with the
case he said:
At the end OF Mr. Perklns's term
resigned, along with other Republicans.
About January 10 last an Assistant
District Attorney, l think Mr. 'OMalley,
telepboned me and said District At
torney Swami wanted me 70 take up
these labor cases. bad my mlsglV--
:nrs and before making any reply /
Jaw my former chief, Mr.. Perkins, and
J also consulted with Judge Delehanty.
Both advised me that II would be all
right 10 accept.
when I went back 70 the District
Attorneys once under Mr.. swami
prepared as the first case TO be trleo
one charging assault against Morris
Sigman. Abe Goldberg Isaac GOldsteln,
BENJAMIN Cream and Joseph Miller
These indictments were found Whlie
Governor Whitman was District Al
torney.
Vow, n this case We had fourteen
witnesses. Thirteen Of them were
reputable citizens, and all were rsaay
10 testify against the accused. THESE
thirteen would not fall into the cate
cory Of criminal types, as Swami char
Acterized one set OF the witnesses Tor
,be people In his memorandum TO the
court Nor could they be classified as
unreliable, the other class into when
thew put the witnesses who were not OF
the criminal type.
No Trial Attorney Assigned
when ] prepared the case asked
That trial District Attorney be as
signed to the case. as ] was not author
iged 10 GO nto court and try the cases.
None was assigned. although twenty
Eve were available. ] had. no suspicion
then that there was any attempt 10 let
the cases slide, as ali the time Swami
kept telling me that he expected 20 get
rleas in these cases
Mr.. Breckenridge said that toward
the end OF January he called on Assist
ant District Attorney O'MAlley and
asked him to tske up the case, but
OMslley. according 20 Breckenridge,
said that he WAS busy.
zone day ! was surprised to receive
word TO call on Assistant District Al
torney Dooling. In Doohng's Office At
the time was Abe Levy, one Of the de
PENDANTS counsel, and Just as I entered
some one left the room. That 1t was
Max Levine I'm not quite prepared to
say. When was seated DoOling said;
"'Svann is determined TO accept
pleas from the seven l replied;
They are only the tools-the IN
derlings. To accept pleas from them
would be a tacit admission that the
leaders did no wrong Then Dooling
said; What's your plan . i said:
"'To take the oldest case and have
IL tried III try il myself il ! have the
authority II that case is lost / viii
take the responsibility OF recommend
irg that all the other cases be thrown
out Then Dooling said:
why isn't SWANS plan all right
TO this I replied:
Would Encourage Assaults
That would be a tAeit admission. as