New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
McAdoo to Inquire Into
Church of AscensiOn's
Lawyers Activities
ACCUSER AMPLIFIES
HIS ALLEGATIONS
All Unfounded, Says the
Rev. Mr.. Grant After
Conference

Chlef Magistrate Wlllam McAu''
will investigate the charges brought
against the legal committee OF the
Church of the Ascension, he announced
, last night, following an extended con-
ference with Magistrate Cobb.
1t was in Magistrate Cobb's court
Tuesday night that allegations were
first made against the committee by
Deputy Assistant District Attorney
Gerald van Casteel, while the trial OF
Bessy Meyer. charged with violation
Of the Tenement House act, was IN
progress. The girls defence was IN
the hands of Herman Levy, one OF the
church committees young lawyers
These charges were greatly ampH-
fed Yesterday by Mr.. van Casteel, VINO
made public the methods employed by
The church's committee about the
Women's Night Court, and the BODY
unpopularity with the magistrates lie
further asserted that the young law
vers appearing for the committee III
the defence of unfortunate women
we're using the Church OF the Ascen-
sion as catspaw.
Cobb Tells of Friction
Mr.. van Casteel's statement was
partly substantiated by Magistrate
Cobb. who said after his conference
with the chief magistrate:
,trN ST
come the cooperation Of philanthroplc
examinations and lawyers who are
really disinterested. but these bodies
and nersons must cooperate hsrmoni-
ouslv. regret that there has been
unfortunate friction and unnecessary
suspicion of the court on the part OF
some of these volunteer philan-
thropists.
gwen before Mr. van Cssteel MADE
his charges in open court last night
| had been told by probation ofheer
that the Meyer girl had admitted pay
inc $50 to get bail. Depend upon II,
more will be heard of this case
Mr.. van Casteel, in a statement hled
Yesterday with District Attorney
/ Swami, said:
''The Church of the Ascension has a
number Of young lawyers who take
turns representing women IN the nlght
court. They are popular neither with
! the iud0es nor the officers of the court,
because they do not seem TO grasp the
csses thew handle. They treat the
night court as a place where they can
gain experience and practise tneir
Voices. rather than as most serious
tribunal. where the fate of human be-
! ings is being decided. 1t is the gen
ersl impression about the night court
that a woman is doubly unfortunate II
she il represented by Church lawyer,
because such representation tends 10
antagonize the court and court ohcers'
Tells of Other Charges
81 am informed that written charges
against representatives of the Church
\ Of the Ascension, to the effect that they
have taken money from unfortunates
| for the trial Of their cases, are IN the
hands of Chief Magistrate McAdoo and
1 George Gordon Battle. This was ad-
mitted by a church lawyer last night IN
! open court.
az am informed. moreover, that rep
resentatives of the Church OF the AS
cension approached the family OF a
Girl committed to an institution and
I y
fdsvits to this effect have been made
out"
The legal committee of the church
met last night in the rectoIy at East
/ Tenth Street, and after discussing the
charges for several hours, this state
ment was given out over the signature
of the Rev. Percy Stickney Grant, rec
/ tor of the church:
"The statements by Deputy Assistant
District Attorney in Woman's Night
I Court on Tuesday last, in criticism OF
member or of members of the legal
committee of the Public Forum, Inc, of
the Church of the Ascension, are with
ont foundation. These matters will be
brought to the attention of Chief
Magistrate McAdoo ami of the District
Attorney by a committee. with the re-
quest that they give thsm the fullest
investigation