The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-12
THREE IN TOMBS
ASGONSCRIPTION
BRIBE SUSPECTS
''''s lF- --A--LE-s--4---. ..., %.
Louis |. Cherey. DR.. $. J.
Bernfeld and Kalman
Gruher Locked Up.
DRAFTED MEN ACCUSERS
Members of Board No. 80 Said
to Have Demanded Cash
for Exemptions.
DRAFTED MEN ACCUsERS

Louis l. Cherey and Dr. Samuel J.
Bernfeld, two OF the three members Of
Local Draft Board No. 90, all of whom
were ousted from Office for alleged ir-
regularities late on Friday night by di-
rection Of President Wilson, were ar
rested yesterday afternoon on a Federal
warrant charging thcm with conspiring
to defeat the enforcement of the selec-
tive conscriptlon law Three hours later
Kalman Gruher, N mechanical dentist of
ESQ Delaney street. was taken into GUS
tody on the authority OF the same war
rant.
The trio were locked up in the Tombs
where they will remain at least until to-
morrow morning before they can be ad-
mitted to bail. II is Understood Assist
ant United States District Attorney Jshn
c. Knox will then ask that the amount
OF bail shall be fixed at not less than
s. 900
DR.. Henry NJ. Grochl, the third MEM
ber of tho board, had long talk with
Mr. Knox. after which 1t was said Off
cially that no complaint had been made
against Dr. Gsoehl, nor, so far as it. was
known, was any contemplated.
FrbOherS Protest Innocence.
All three OF the men under arrest in
sisted with much emphasis that they
were innocent OF any wrongdoing. al
though evidence in the possession of the
authorities deals with alleged demands
or money TO bring about the exemption
OF men suitable for conscrIption.
! The arrest OF the two board members
is the first blot on tire fair history that
! a haine tpr hxy ,.l-
out the country. Ii is the only incident
! OF It's kind where any question as to the
| good faith of n local board has been off,
| cially raised, and II created a sensa ton
everywhere, particularly on the East
Side. where both Cherey and Dr. Bern
| field arc we'll known.
II crime OF which the two men are
accused is identical with that In the
Goldman and Berkman case. and Is
punishable, in case Of conviction, by i'm
! prisonment for two years, d Ane OF
| $4,000. or both.
! The falling OF Cherry and Bernfeld
came after many hours OF thought and
action BY Assistant United States At
torney Knox, Deputy Attorney Genera'
| Roscoe S. Conkling and CAPT. VILLA nj
NJ. offey, superintendent Of the Depart.
ment OF Justice, aud District Attorney
Swami and several Of his deputies, The
latter made an independent investigal lor
early in the day, turned over the results
OF the inquiry to Mr.. Knox as tn.
/ Federal representative and received the
thanks of that Official for. the assistance
which the District Attorneys office
rendered.
OustlnE Surprised the Men.
The three members of Local Board
! Whi at pth c Q
Rivington and Lewis streets didn't
know they had been ousted from Office
until they returned to town from an
automobile trip to City Island at 2 go
| o'clock yesterday morning. They took
the trip to rest up from their arduous
duties in connection with getting soldiers
for Uncle Sam. They learned what had
happened to them during their absence
from morning newspaper and then, be-
fore going home, they drove straight tC
the State Arsenal at Thirty-fifth streei
and Seventh avenue, where they found
Deputy Attorney General Conklng still
poring over official work. Mr.. ConklinR
promptly served upon them Gov Whit.
mans order removing them from office
The trio then went TO their homes
after Chsrey, who was chairman OF the
board, issued n statement on behalf oi
all in which he characterized the charges
of bribery as absurd and ridiculous an6
said. he would welcome a reeXaminatlon
of all candidates before the board by
army surgeons He wanted to make II
very plain, he said, that the board
would welcome an investigation,
Suspects Quickly Questioned.
The day wasn't very old before Dis
trlct Attorney Swami had men out with
of the three board members at his office
Judge Swami assigned four of his as.
slstants, Alfred J. Taley. John p. Doc.
ting, Samuel Markewich and Morrl,
Elder. to make an investigation. in the
meantime telephoning to Deputy Attor'
ney General Conkling of his intention.
The District Attorney explained that
Il the President had called upon all State
and municipal authorities TO do all II
their power to assist in the enforce
ment of the selective conscription law
and he wanted to do all he could.
! Cherey and Dr. Bernfeld were ques
toned by Assistant District Attorne!
poollng in the early afternoon for al
hour or so. According to MIR Dooling
DIR Bernfeld said that money had beef
offered TO him and the other members q
the board by as many az twenty-five mel
who were anxious 20 be dropped from
the list OF possible soldiers
DR. Bernfeld admitted that he had no
reported to the authorities these palpA
bie attempts to influence the board he
cause the offers had been made by liz
norant East Siders who, he was quit
sure didn't know they were breakin,
the law. The doctor insisted that al
were warned that the board could no
be influenced in any way.
One COnHcrIpt offered 5000.
One young man, as late as yesterda
morning, Or Bernfeld said, offered hir
a sum OF money II he would have hin
exempted. Stlll another, he declared
offered him, over the telephone, 5000
he would see 10 It that lie didn't pass hi
examination.
The physician added that he advise
this man that no amount Of money coul
dLssuade the board from doing its dut
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