New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-29
Letter to Mr.. Swami
The letter follows:
Honorable Edward Swami, Distr-

The letter follows:
Honorable Edward Swami, District
Attorney, New York County.
"By published insinuation-not By
specific statement-you have sought %
convey the impression that we has.
knowledge of facts which you SAY
would constitute the offence Of Grand
larceny in the first degree. These IN.
nuendoes, repeated by indireetion hi,
morning, are in accordance with your
policy Of political publicity. lie, u,
induce you to proceed as the Law. which
you are sworn TO carry out, obneu
you 10 act.
"You have tried to imply tia. "
know OF combination OF individual,
working with preconcerted design %
get out Of the city treasury sum Of
money in excess of the valuation az
lands taken for Seaside Park, al Roet.
away, and Dreamland Park, at Cor.v
Island.
Let US remind you again that 70,
have not called upon US 20 give 10 Ia
grand jury the information which you
imply we possess. We have supuii,j
you with all papers and record, r.
quested by you.
"On the morning OF September s lad
Mr.. Prendergast specifically told M
Black, your assistant, that he stood
ready to assist your office in every v,y
possible. and to present himself II de-
sired before the grand jury.
you have asked Us 20 invade ii,
personal and constitutional rights OF
others who have been witnesses befor,
the grand jury and are still subject %
your call. You, as a lawyer, knew that
we are not able TO dictate waivers ef
immunity, except as We ourselves are
concerned.
"Let US tell you thus explicitly ths.
we shall be glad to respond to q re-
quest or to a subpens TO appear before
this grand jury, or any other grand
jury.
Will Waive Immunity
"IEt US give you the additional IS
surance that we will not hesitS>e 10
waive immunity.
Let US further inform you that We
will acquaint the grand jury with the
whole record and all the facts, not with
the half-truths or misstatemen.s with
which you have sought 10 poison the
public mind.
ave are constrained to make this
offer to you because, judging from ths
numerous perversionS OF truth thai
have issued from your Office in yiof
ton Of the secrecy Of grand jury pro
ceedings, the facts as they appertsln Y
city officials have been held back froa
that body.
Your letter Of September 25 6Ni
not meet the issues OF fact given in our
letter Of September "a. On the contrary,
you build up new structure OF Ease,
hood, which it is to be assumed will bs
replaced with another tissue OF mist
statement as soon as We demolish the
present.
I'VE hold it necessary to correct 700
on the following:
First, as to your statement that ths
Board of Estimate rescinded resoIu1
ton previously passed 10 take 400 acres
at Rockaway for 100000. The oosia
never adopted a resolution TO take IVY
acres at Rockaway for Sl,0OOOOO. w
March 8, 1907, a Tammany Bosrd OF
Estimate put Seaside Park on the e'S
map. No price was named. ON haieS
% Tammany Board of Estimate vote
condemnation proceedings. but permi.
ted private purchase. No price VI"
named.
Could Not Get Price ~.
Moreover, the Tsmmany board eouIa
not get a price. On page 10Y OF w.
Board of Estimate Public Improvement
Minutes appears letter from REQ /"
Lancaster, president OF the west h0S.
away Land Company, speciheally w.
Ginning, under date of October y, 70 gN.
an option at any price, and saying pns'
the land could be obtained only BY con
demnation. On the same page is 10
port Of the committee Of the lamm"!
board which tried TO buy the laha .
private sale and failed. Ihereupoh eVn
demnation proceedings were changeas,
as to bring them under a speciaI Is. =,
the Legislature specifically authoi'A'"'
as much as S2,500,000. y
Second, you say that our frienas a. "
the Neponsit Company on June
1910, requested the Beard OF EsuI':,
to rescind the resolution adopted -.
1907 by the Tammany Board 10, ~.
acquisition of Seaside PARK. hs'~
Mitchell had not at that time even
much az a speaking Acquaintance W.
Mr. Bailey or Mr.. Greye, nor VIVA o.,
other officers of the Neponsit Company,
If others there were. He DID roe r.
the least acquaintance with Sehs.S
Reynolds then. FOR later, wneh
falsely charge Mr. Mitchell with ha'..'
been sub-comm!tt Of one 70
got.s.e with Senator Reynolds Co.i
trolier Prendcrgast never 20 ms XIV.
edge had seen Mr. Greye AZ tha' -
As Register Of Kings County ne ",
mad passing acquaintance Win
Bailey, in common with tnousancs. =.
other men doing business Fith -
Registers office. His acquains1n,
with Senator Reynolds was equ,rs
transient. So much for your ou''ss..
Gus insinuation that our action ~
dictated by colluslye friendship W.
those men. 40.
"You profess alarm that We are w
ing 20 defect you from the real isss.
in this investigation. Neyer did pom,
cal cxpediency lead 10 greater er,ss.
We irs.s: that you do your duty as -.
law prczcr.Je5, AID cause 20 De y"
scented before the grand jury al! me-
tiers OF fact pertaining 20 the indun,ss
Devious politics and derelict puohs'
can be continued only TO the share \
Jour important sthes Of public -