New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-20
Is Willing to Return Fed
eral Papers Subpnnaed
by Dooling
Promises Cooperation
Accused Exemptors IN Dis
trict 80 Placed on Trial
To-day

District Attorney Swami yesterday
assured Deputy Attorney General
Conklng that future Investigations by
his Office into suspected misconduct OF
draft board members will be so con-
Quoted as not to interfere with the
workings Of those boards, as was done
in the case of Local Board 1856. He said
he would issue written request TO
this effect. to his assistants this morn
ing.
As soon as he read Mr.. Conkling's
statement defending the members OF
Board 1856 and criticising Assistant
District Attorney Dooling for obstruct-
ing the work of that board Mr.. Swami
made a special trip from his summer
home. at Sound Beach, Conn, TO assure
Mr.. Conkling that there was no thought
Of friction between the District Attor-
news Office and the Federal authorities,
and that there was no desire on his
mart 10 hamper or delay the work Of
raising the National Army "for one
minute
Ordered Dooling to Help
personally, I know nothing of the
investigation of Board 1885, Mr.. Swami
said. after his conference with Mr..
Conkling. "Mr. Caffey, the United
States District Attorney, asked me
some time ago to give whatever aid |
could in these cases. then called in
Mr.. Dooling and asked him to do what
he could TO help. Exercise your best
Judgment told him, and when you've
got something notify me-"
"You had nothing TO do with issuing
subpnnas for board members and their
records ?" he was asked.
"No. ! haven't been able to COM
municate with Mr.. Dooling in regard TO
this case. and | don't know what he has
discovered, but ] will say that Mr..
Dooling is investigating a very i'm
portant matter in connection with the
draft. Whether this has to do with
Board 1856 | do not know"
When asked II he did not think Mr..
Dooling may have acted hastily Mr..
Swami said:
"Mr. Dooling may have discovered
more than YOU know. He is a very
thorough man and is known as fact
getter. If there is one man who would
get up early in the morning and work
late at night in the interests OF the
army 1t is John Dooling. II there was
any mistake made, | am sure II was
due 70 tho heavy pressure Oh our
Office"
Papers to Be Returned
Mr.. Swami said he did not know
what papers or records Mr.. Doollng
might still have in his possession, as
they were locked in the vault, put
stated that these would be returned al
once if the Federal authorities so de-
sired.
"The purpose Of my visit to-day" he
continued, dis to assure Mr.. Conkllng,
Just as have already assured the Fed
eral District Attorneys office, OF my
full and hearty cooperation, and TO
offer the full resources of the District
Attorneys Office in carrying to a sue
cessful conclusion the work OF the
draft in this city"
When asked if he intended TO COM
municate with Governor Whitman re-
carding the matter, Mr. Swami said he
did not assume that the Governor would
think he would do so unpatriotic an
act as to interfere with the raising OF
the National Army.
Exemptors on Trial To-day
Louis I. Cherey and DR.. A. s. Bern
field ousted members of Board SO, and
Kalman Gruher, a dentist, will be
plsced on trial to-day before Judge
Manton. in the Criminal Branch Of the
United States District Court. on an
indictment charging them with conspir-
acy to violate the draft low. Cherey,
who was chairman of the board, and
DR.. Bernfeld also have been indicted
on a charge of accepting money to in
Auence their decision in acting in an
official capacity for the government"
By the end of this week. Mr.. Conk-
ling believes, the work Of examining
those selected for the first army will
have been completed
81 wouldn't worry minute" he said,
III | got an order TO have the full
quota BY September J. The way things
arc moving along now | feel confident
that VIC could get the full number by
that time"
The district board. which meets this
morning. has thousands Of appeal cases
on its docket. but 10 is expected that
4 large number Of these will have been
disposed Of BY the time the first contins
gent is called TO camp.