New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-14
Manushevits Asserts He
Swore Falsely Against
Union Chiefs
BRECKENRIDGE AND
DETECTIVE ACCUSED
Former Filed Memoran-
dunn Which Was Not
True, Prisoner Says

David Manushevitz. chief witness
against the heads Of the Garment
Makers Union. whose indictments fig
ure in the charges against District At
torney Swami, pleaded guilty yesterday
to perjury before Judge Mcintyre in
General Sessions.
He asserted under oath that he had
been induced TO testify falsely before
the grand jury in 1914 against Max Sig
man and Harry Goldberg, leaders OF
the union, who were indicted for as
saulting MIN.
In June. 1916, District Attorney
Swami moved for the dismissal Of bail
in the cases Of Sigman, Goldberg and
twenty-six other union men indicted
for similar offences. Judge Cram
granted the motion. This action and
the subsequent attempt of the prosecu-
tor to obtain a dismissal OF the IN
dictments form the basis of the CITY
Club charges that he has been guilty
of misconduct in Office.
Manushevitz declared yesterday that
he was induced to testify falsely
against Sigman, Goldberg and the
tective. who formed a rival union TO
fight the striking garment workers in
1918. Sulkess brought him to the Dis
trict Attorneys Office, he said, telling
him to swear that Sigmsn and Gold
berg took part in the assault on him at
Rivington and Clinton Streets on
March II, 1914.
Never Saw the Pair
Manushevitz swore yesterday that he
never saw Goldberg or Sigman at the
time, and he never really knew who
struck him in the face and hit him on
the head with a blackjack. He also
asserted that the chisel and blackjack
which he had brought to the grand
jury room and declared were those
used by Sigman and Goldberg were in
reality weapons he was carrying him
self for self-defence.
Manushevitz also swore that Assist
ant District Attorney Breckenridge pro-
duced a false memorandum before
Judge Mulqueen in General Sessions
early in April, 1914, to oppose the dis.
missal Of Sigman and Goldberg. He
said the Assistant District Attorney
represented that he (Manushevitz) was
at that time in a hospital suffering from
wounds inflicted by Sigman and Gold
berg.
81 was patient in ST. Marks Hos
pitsl, in Second Avenue" said Manushe
vitz. But | was suffering from ap-
pendicitis, and was operated on, as the
records of the hospital will show. | was
not there because of any injury re-
ceived in the st. Patrick's Day fight"
Manushevitz swore that he wanted 10
admit that he had perjured himself
when he was arraigned in court last
week, but he said Sulkess had sent
word 90 him in the Tombs to stand pat.
"Sulkess told me that ] should stick
20 my story because Governor Whitman
WAS going TO remove Swami and APP
point Breckenridge District Attorney"
he said:
Saw Mr. Breckenridge
"On December 30 last Manushevitz
continued, Detective Wood asked me
10 accompany him to the chambers Of
Judge Delehanty. When / got there !
saw Mr.. Breckenridge. Judge Delehanty
asked me If ! remembered Mr.. Breck-
inridge, and said ] did. lie then
asked me whether District Attorney
Swami had ever consulted me about the
cases against Sigman and Goldberg
told him he had mott
Manushevitz was on unfriendly
terms with the International Ladies'
Garment Workers Union i'm 1913-14
lie said that he had a wife and seven
children. and the union prevented him
from getting work as strike breaker.
That was, he went on, why he obeyed
Sulkess and committed perjury. After
the big strike Manushevitz was admit
ted 20 the old union, and has been in
good standing ever since.
Judge Mcintyre remanded Msnushe-
wiz 20 the Tombs for sentence.