New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-13
District Attorney Back.l
Immunity Promise.
Accuser Testi6es
Testimony False,
Prosecutor Declar.,
Glow Assistants onso;,.,
Against Breckenridge, h
Charge at Trial

swami name was mentioned az yss,.
days session in connection ~
charges that his assistants. jobs +,
Dooling, Samuel Markewich and Nor,
Eder, had rntimidated witnesses n,
they knew would be used agains, n.
chief.
The witness who brought Mr. Su,,
personally into the case was Benin,
Polar. one Of the non-union gsrrs
workers who confessed last Febrr
that he had committed perjury ia N
when he accused certain labor lsa:c
Of assaulting him. Later he reeus
this confession.
Polar, put on the stand YESTERDAY
the City Club, narrated a cireurs.r
tial story describing how Msrksvs
and Eder had threatened TO have Il
railroaded 70 prison If he did not :sa
that Max Sulkes. organizer Of the 4,
labor union in 1913, had taught bin
testify falsely before the grand IA
against other union leaders. The 4,
charge Of bail in these cases led 70
charges against Mr.. Swami.
After / had pleaded guilty and Va
freed b. Judge Mcintyre" Polar ta
fed. II was taken before Mr.. swan
told him | was not really guilty ctKI
Jury. but | had pleaded guilty becsss
Mr.. Markewich and Mr.. Elder had az
me that it was the only way esss
keep from going to prison. said I
am afraid they won't keep their vur
and Mr.. Swami said, You can rely x
what Mr.. Markewich says. The 10
Sunday Thought over what | had tn
I had pleaded gui.ty TO periur
knew | was innoce"- and sat 70.
down AMI wrote letter to GOvsrs
Whitman"
Swami Makes Denial
Polar had not been subjected 2
REORGANIZATION by John b. Stare
field. counsel for Mr.. Swami, whss ;
left the stand at the close OF yss'E
DAYS session. which was adjourned :
til Wednesday, When asked about 3
testimony of the witness last night y
Swami said:
IL never saw any Of the persons "
pleaded guilty to perjury except Pei,
and he asked TO sec me, and cane
with his counsel. Francis d. GslsN
and with no other person. Al no -
during the interview did Polar ~
mate that he was not guilty Of y
perjury TO which he had pleaded 4
on the contrary. he freely and eahdi
admitted his perjury and said he =
glad of the opportunity 10 relic"
mind Of a load which had been we
ing upon him.
1.-THE recklessness Of the witpas
who have testified at the hearns ,
day shows that they have no eoase
ton of the sanctity or obligation cI
oath and that their type - m',a
TO the administration Of criminal
tice in this county and IS tne -
evidence Of the correctness OF my "
ment in refusing 10 permit men 70
tried upon the testimony OF meh
this type. The jury IN 1918 tina; ha
Polar and the witness Isaac Le'
testify that seven men were galiV
murder refused 10 believe Their w
mony and acquitted the defendants
The fact that the confessed perlVr
who have now turned against Diss
Attorney SWann were paroled ~ "
eral SEES iots By Judge Melnvn
the custody Of their counsel aftsf =
had pleaded guilty drew a quiek
cism from Commissioner lngrahsn
fore whom Mr.. Swami IS being VIC
THAT is an unheard OF proe.s
Where is the authority Tor III
Quired the commissioner -.
81 never heard Of 10 before
labor cases came up reinarseo q.
X. Clark. Of counsel for the CIV "
which brings the charges. II
Polar was preceded on the stshs
terday By Isaac Levine, anohs,
ness who refused to plead guiv l
perjury. Levine. however, was D.
witness i'm any Of tie labor cases
Witness Tells of Threat
Levine said that Mr.. Doollng' I
Markewich and Mr. Eder attanPM
coerce him into making a toni"
of perjury. lie declared NAV
threatened TO send him and Ak ~
10 long terms in prison u ts ~
testify that Sulkes had indI' 90 hs.,sf
commit perjury when the LelT
murder case was before the graz
in 1915. He said Eder ofereo VI
him $50 if he would "be man sa'
the truth" Mia. [
Polar testified that Mr.. DoSllns
Narkewich and Mr.. Eder sltsrn. !
threatened and cajoled nm M
ing a false confession. Nhen
refused to confess after seysIA
TO the District Attorney one',
said he was arrested and sent
Tombs IL
dark cell In Jefferson hst~s y
and a keeper there smashed nv "a i
face / believe that II hso ~
stav there another day ! wow
died" said Polar. brSsf
Tho witness said he was -
down TO the District A'tor me-, g;
al $40 AZ night and kept theH ~
/ 40 in the morning. He TSwlxk
duced by Markewich 70 A. ,I,,,r N
who had testified against iS S,,siss
sistant District Attorney MI
Breckinridge. indicted tG' al
after the charges were h's'
/ Mr.. Swami. IA As u
Wilson urged me to 90 \. -
wanted me 10 do. Look AZ me- a. ~
4 did as they wanted me 20 dee; n
wearing good clothes ana na Ill
are living IN the Tombs. 80 5,tlcf
and you will be free, TOO
Polar. T.. me. III
don't want YOU or Sulkss, ssr,'dssi
man we want is BreekinTsi'S,fisSs,, '
told me TO say that . vas Whf,
had told me that Goyefho, I'd -
was going TO turn swami 0sS
Brecklnridxe District Az Az. Ne ~
,ha. after the t;ial Of sn'A
all go free" ,-,..iea ted