The sun., 1917-11-03
Society's Letterhcad. With
Judges Name on 1t, Seized
by Government.
Mitchell SO DISCLOSES
Newspaper Reporter Makes
an Affidavit to Prove.
Jurist'S Connection.
DISPROOF OF FORGERY
Mayor Says Federal Officials
Got Evidence for Bu-
chanan Trial.
DISPROOF OF FORGERY

Proof that John r. Hylan knew two
yssrs ago that his name was on the
letterhead Of the Friends OF Peace as
an honorary vice-chairman was pro-
duced last night by Mayor Mitchell. An
afndavit signed by Harry Merrill Hitch
cock. formerly Of the stan OF the World,
Get forth that Hitchcock in August, 1915,
notified Judge Hylan over the telephone
that his name was on the letterhead and
that Mr.. Hylan failed to say that his
name had been used without his au-
thority.
Judge Hylan has been denying that he
knew his name had been used by this
pro-German organization. and charac-
tsrized the letterhead showing his name
. forgery.
The Mayor backed up his proof by as
aerting that a letterhead similar to the
one he showed In Brooklyn last Tues
day night with Judge Hylan's name on
il 10 in the hands OF the United States
authorities. having come into posses sion
of the Federal authorities during the
Buchanan trial months ago. The Mayor
Also pointed out that Mr.. Hylan has so
far failed to deny that he was a mem
her Of the Publishers and Printers As
sociation. which sought to establish a
chain Of disloyal newspapers in this
country.
Mr.. MitcheI's Statement.
The Mayors statement follows:
I'm statement given to Wednesday
mr. inu Id LI,-fa a
y now distinctly say and solemnly avOw
that ] am informed for the first time
and by the Mayor alone Of the exist
tnce OF letterhead OF the Friends Of
Peace with my name upon It,
How could he avow that 7 am the
Nrst man who brought this fact to his
attention when It was brought to his
auen'ion more than two years ago?
In his speech last night Judge Hy-
Ian made the following statements:
That lettcrhead was forgery. There
never was such a letterhead. No such
h'terhead has ever been in existence
before to-day
now say 10 Judge Hylan that
these statements are as false as his 10y
any to the murdered Americans on the
Lnsitania a. false as his present as
Nlned loyalty TO the American soldiers
In The trenches
The letterhead which displayed at
Ir'snus Hall was a faithful reproduc-
Uon NJ letterhead which II now IN the
Possession of the United States Govern
r"h' on the first day of October OF this
yea that lettcrhead. with the name Of
|oh7 ], Ilylsn' and the other names.
'Na'lN. a' shown In the Erasmus Hall
mo, ing, was in the hands of the Fed
'l authorities in this city II Is there
2'IN. II was taken into the custody
~ 80 Government in the course OF the
-" Iandn trial months ago. In which
D" hi'ed States Government was en-
-s'I IN an inquiry into the activities
~ ehony synpathizers
Buchanan and Lamar.
Buchanan. one OF the honorary vice.
rrhtlrmen with Judge Hylan on the
,tH'nds Of Peace letterhead, IL now on
WI under an Indictment for conspiring
WIN David Lamar, the Wolf Of Wall
N.orf and Capt. Franz Won Rintelen
" th' Imperial German Navy to inter-
fero with shipments OF supplies TO the
N0los Lamar and Won Rintclen were
moth convicted and are now serving their
'erlns I'm Atlanta penitentiary.
Judge Hylan knows that this letter
nead is not forgery. He knows that
'nIs le'terhead was in existence more
wan two years ago. He was asked
spont it then. He discussed II then.
Long before this letterhead came into
me possession of.the United States Gov
efnm"nt another copy came into the
possession Of the press OF this city.
On August 2, 1918, eighteen days be-
iofe this letterhead was sent out bear
nr Judge Hylan's name, reporter on
'he New York World called Judge Hylan
or the telephone to learn whether the
use OF his name on the Friends Of Peace
h'terhead was authentic. On that same
evening a statement had been issued by
IN" Friends OF Peace attacking Secre-
tary Lansing. and the World desired Ia
'arn whether the men whose names ap-
feared on the letterhead stood behind
This attack.
Since Judge Hylan is anxious to have
.he proof made public I shall submit II
70 him In affidavit form. I now offer
Tor his inspection tho affidavit of the
man who talked to him. 1t Is the
@'hdasit OF Harry Merrill Hitchcock, a
man OF recognized standing and relia-
1uity in the newspaper world. Mr.
ii"hcock IL no longer member OF the
Ne" York World staff He is a member
OF the stan Of another New York news
paper.
Mr. Hitchcock's Amdavit.