New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-24
Prosecutor Says Money
Was Obtained From
Corporations
Adamson Accused
In Tammany Revolt
Martin w. Littleton May
Be Asked to Tell Of City
Democracy

Indictment of at least five persons
connected with the 100000 Mitchell
Fusion campaign fund will be asked
for by the District Attorneys Office
soon, according to Assistant District
Attorney Kilroe, in charge Of the in
vestgation Mr.. Ki!roc last night
said he had received information
showing that in five or more cases the
Fusion management, directly or indi-
rectly, had obtained contributions 20
the fund from corporations and cor
poration heads, contrary TO law.
Another of yesterdays developments
in the Fusion inquiry. according to Mr.
Kilroe, was the alleged disclosure by
Charles Steckler, former Tammany
leader. and one Of the organizers Of
the City Democracy, that Fire Com
missioner Robert Adamson was the
moving spirit in the City Democracy.
Commissioner Adamson, it was as
serted. had started the "revolts'
against Tammany Hall among some o.
its former adherents, and played
much more prominent part in the use
of the fund for campaign purposes than
he appeared TO during the race
Adamson To BE Witness
Commissioner Adamson will be called
TO the District Attorneys Office soon
TO tell what he knows of the machinery
hack Of the so-called "revolts" and of
the expenditures made in fomenting
them. Martin ". Littleton, head OF
the City Democracy, also may be called
as a witness.
Speaking of possible indictments,
Mr. Kilroe said:
81 know OF five whom we shall seek
TO indict on the evidence and informa-
ton we already have.
an one of these cases, corporation
was approached for money. The presl-
dent Of the corporation made out
check for 81 900 on the corporations
checkbook and took it to Fusion head
quarters.
There his attention was called 20
the fact that it would be clearly IL
legal for corporation TO contribute.
He was thereupon advised to deposit
the check TO his own account and draw
his personal check for $1,000 for the
cause.
"This man will be used as a witness
by the District Attorney, and the man
connected with the campaign fund who
advised him will be prosecuted. We
have information about five cases oil
that kind" .L.
said that talk Of indictments was
premature, and refused TO af1rm or
deny that the indictments would be
asked
Just Scratched the Surface
ave have just scratched the surface
in the iEvestigation,' he sald. we are
Going 10 ret to the men higher up !
might eav here that Mayor Mitchell will
rot be called by me 20 a,d IN the in
vostigation Nothing has been re-
vealcd which reflects in the slightest
decree on his personal integrity
According 10 Steckler's testimony,
Mr.. Kllroe said yesterday, Commls-
sioner Adamson really organized the
Citv Democracy movement. then called
i'm Martin ". Littleton. as its ostensible
head. 10 act foi him. Mr.. Steckler, II -
said. was ono Of the engineers in bring
ing about the political "revolts' against
Tammany. and stated that $4,000 OF
the Mitchell fund was expended on these
rcvolts in Manhattan alone.
al think the figures will be found to
bc TOO conservative" said Mr.. Kilroc.
"ln addition, large sums were expended
in similar movements in Brooklyn,
Queens and Richmond.
ave will try TO discover whether It
is true. as we have been informed, that
lucrative positions in the municipal
government were promised TO those
Who would join in the 'revolts.'"
Both Commissioner Adamson and Mr..
Iittleton last night denied any knowl-
odge Of the actual financial administra-
ton Of the City Democracy. and de-
clared themselves perfectly willing TO
be Investigated.
MIR. Adamson said he had attended
three or four meetings IN the lorna
tive stage Of the organization, carly
in the year. lie said number Of
persons, whose names he could not
remember, had talked the matter over
and had come to him with it, but that
he had not initiated it, and had had
nothing to do with the management OF
it since that time.
Wants Tammsny Investigated
Yesterday brought a demand for an
investigation of Tammany Hall by
Martin W. Littlcton and a spirited re-
tort from Swami. After declaring nc
was only one OF eight or ten persons
who had started the City Democracy
Nr. Littleton said:
81 hope Judge Swami won't overlook
the fact that there is another organi-
lation he knows OF. Tammany Hall,
which might be investigated as well,
with regard 20 its finances and how its
money Is expended. Make this thor
ough going probe OF all political or
CARNATIONS and punish all wrongdo-
ing"
Arthur James. of the Metro Film
Corporation, will be questioned at the
District Attorneys Office about the
money spent by the Fusion Committee
for films. and the interrogation of
Sam A. Lewisohn, treasurer of the
Fusion Committee, will be continued
to-day.