The sun., 1917-01-07
'SWANN JAILS
GRAFT WITNESS
Breckinridge's Chief Re.
lance Goes to TOmbs for
John Doe Hearing.
ADMITS HE PAID MONEY
"NOtOriOus Collector Says
District Attorney, but InnO-
cencc Is Asserted.


The nature OF the charges which Dis
trict Attorney Swami is trying to make
against his former assistant. Lucian s.
Bre,kinridge. became somewhat less
vague last night when Albert l.. Wilson,
described by Mr.. Swami as a notorious
graft collector" was locked up in the
Tombs as a material witness needed to
testify before The Grand Jury on Thurs
day in the case of Jacobs vs.. John Doe
Wilson is the man pictured by Mr.
Swami last week as having paid money
to Mr.. Breckenridge for manufacturers
associations at the time when Mr.. Breck-
inridge, as a special assistant to the
District Attorney, was prosecuting a
score OF men indicted for violence in
strikes of garment workers. Jacobs is
. Henry l.. Jacobs. a member of the Di-
vision Street Retailers Association. John
Does name will be changed TO Lucian
s. Breckenridge In the official papers If
the Grand Jury indcts Friend John.
Admits Passing Money.
The funny part of it is that Wilson is
also claimed as the chief witness for Mr..
Breckenridge. The latter's counsel. Mar
tin w. Littleton. gave the newspapers
last night the Sist of the story that Will
son had told him and which Mr.. Breck-
inridge Corroborates. He admits that he
passed money 10 Mr.. Breckinridge-be-
tween $500 and s500-but II his narra-
4,
tirely innocent He says he formerly
worked for labor leaders. then for manu-
facturers. and that he got in bad" with
both groups through the help he gave
Mr.. Breckenridge in the labor prosecu-
tions.
Out OF a job, he decided TO open a
small clothing store of his own. He
went to Mr.. BreclSinridge for assistance
and suggested tnat the latter take the
$500 or $500 that Wilson had saved.
deposit 1t in his own bank and draw
checks for Wilson as the storekeeper
needed TO meet bills in his business.
. This. according to the story, was done.
Breckinridge says he has the records
showing the payments to Wilson.
Wilson's counsel. J. Ward Toilette.
says he found Wilson on Friday. told
MIR Breckenridge about it and took him
to Mr.. Littleton. Then the District At
torney got hold of Wilson and aues-
toned him on Friday evening and all
day yesterday. while Mr.. Toilette. who
Is himself former Assistant District
Attorney. sat outside the District Attor-
ney's office complaining that his client
was being kept away from him.
Taken Before n Judge.
After o'clock last evening. however.
7 sN..li i
Assistant District Attorney Eder. accom-
panied by Mr.. Swami. took Wilson be-
fore General Sessions Judge Muluueen
and requested that Wilson be held for
the Grand Jury as material witness in
which capacity Wilson had been sub
pnnaed.
Mr.. Eder made an affidavit which
was in part:
THAT Al L Wilson Is L. terial and
necessary witness on behalf of the peo-
pie herein. in that he received and paid
over moneys 10 the defendant Gohn
Doe) for the purpose of influencing his
tdefendant's) actions as a public off,
GER"
Mr.. Eder further swore that he be-
lieved that unless Wilson was held by
the court he would not appear to testify
before the Grand Jury. He said Wilson
had told him he had just returned from
Bridgeport. where he had been looking
for work. and intended leaving for De-
troit to seek a job with the Ford Motor
Company.
Wilson also said. according to Eder.
that certain offer was made to him
on Friday last ito depart from the State
OF New York
"NOtOriOus Graft Collector"
~ l,a
had told Eder anything Of the kind.
out he would not deny that he had paid
/ money to Breckenridge. In court Mr..
Toilette said he personally told Deputy
Police Commissioner Scull on Friday
where Wilson could be found-at his
home. 200 West l40th street--and that
ir Wilson had wanted to leave the city
he had ample opportunity to do 80.
my client Wilson," Toilette said to
Judge Mulqueen, has been referred to
as a notorious East Side graft collector"
Merely a notorious graft collector (:
not East side" put in District Attorney
Swami.
Mr. Swami asked that Wilson be held
in $1,000 bail. Judge Mulqueen said he
would have suggested $4,000. but he
granted the District Attorneys request
and suggested that Wilson be locked up
at Police Headquarters,
Habeas Corpus 10 He sought.
Police Headquarters is the last place
he should be sent" protested Mr.. Swami.
",rhe influence there -" He did not
finish the sentence, Wilson was sent to
the Tombs, where he will have a private
bedroom and sitting room and will re-
| ceive So a day while locked up. 1t was
too late to get bail for him last night.
Mr. I.ittleton asked Mr.. Toilette to get
u writ Of habeas corpus tomorrow. go
before the Supreme Court and ask in
effect what the District Attorney means
by locking up Breckinridge's principal
witness.
At his home last night Mr.. Littleton
said he had been ready to meet the
District Attorney in a Magistrates court
or elsewhere, but as Mr.. Swami seemed
| to be sparring for delay he was going
to tell the public just what he had
learned about tho Breckenridge matter.
! Returned VOIuntRriIy.
"In the first place" Mr.. Lttlcton said,
docking up Wilson is a perfect pretcnce.
| He voluntarily returned from Bridgeport
and at the instance OF Mr.. Toilette came
/ to my office yesterday (Friday) and
met there. for the first time since this
matter arose. Mr.. Breckenridge. | talked
with Wilson before Breckenridge did.
Then I called up Deputy Police Com
missioner Scull and told him Wilson
was at my office, was>gSng to his home