New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-20
Desertion of Breckenridge
Clears Up Mystery of
Disappearance
.DOOLING ARRANGED
FOR $4,000 BAIL
Mrs. Hart, Wife OF De
fendant in Many Criminal
Cases, His Surety

All the mystery surrounding the
second disappearance of A. l.. Wilson,
witness in District Attorney Swami $
controversy with former Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Breckenridge, was
cleared up yesterday. Wilson apparent
~ has deserted Breckenridge, and has
come out as witness for the District
Attorney. For that reason Mr.. Swami
consented to his release rom the
Tombs on $4,000 bail.
Arrangements for bail were made
by Assistant District Attorney Doollng
and Mrs. Freda Hart, wife of Max Hart,
a defendant in criminal cases in the
Federal and county courts of this state
became surety tor Wilson.
Wilson's desertion of Breckenridge
apparently did not worry Martin W.
Tittleton. the latter's counsel.
81 think it is the funniest thlhg /
ever heard Of" chuckled Mr.. Littleton,
when asked what he thought OF the SIT
nation. at is the first time IN my ca
reer that ever heard Of District At
torney getting bail Tor witness. WHAT
am doing about IL? Nothing; only
I'm having a good laugh over II.
Wilson Recanted, says Dooling
According to Mr. Dooling, Wilson
sent word to him from the lomDs last
Wednesday that ne wished 10 see NM
4 two-hour talk followed, and wilson
signed statement In 1t he IS re-
ported TO have recanted everything
favorable to MIR. Breckenridge when
he said to Mr.. Littleton about Two
weeks ago. 49,,
81 can't discuss the things Wilson
has told US, but was so SATISFIED Dy
his statement that / consented TO ms
release. | understand that he had been
making arrangements for bail two days
before he communicated with me- said
Sir Dooling. IL.
Wilson may have told Dooling' sara
Mr.. Littleton last night u nave ms
original statement in the form OF mem
oranda in my Office. and If he goes on
the stand against Mr.. Brecklnrldge !
shall confront him with everything ne
has said to me about the innocence OF
my client"
Hart Tells Why He Helped
Wilson belonged to the same ira
ternity as mine" said Hart. ION sun,
dow went down TO the Tombs and had
a fe1k with him. lie told me story
that would rend your heart. J told MN
wanted time TO check up what nc
had said. and ! worked two or three
DAYS on it. and found he was telling
the absolute truth.
"Wilson told me that people we're
actually being framed up IN this town.
and that the reason why one man re-
signed from Office and that later
charges were brought against another
was lust because Of that and nothing
else. He said that politics had MOTH
ing "a do with it, After investigating
Wilson's story | am absolutely conn
dent that District Attorney Swsnnn
would never stand for case that was
framed IN. That was the reason | de-
cided to 90 in and help wilson get ou'
OF the Tombs.'
Hart known to Swami
Hart is president Of VI. NJ Hart
Inr at go Broadway, corporation
centralized at 100000. About hvc
Years ago. when julius Hamburger
was Sheriff. he refused 20 accept Hart .
bond for 81 900 in a civil SIT. Hart
has had relations with the sheriff S
Office. usually as a defendant. In 1871
nc sueG william ]. Harvey, a Pitts
burgh promoter. for $4,000 for slam
der Hart complained that Harvey
called him "a damned thief The
only record OF a conviction against
Hart is in the Federal Court az Water
town. y. Y. where he was sentenced
in 1914, to five years in Atlanta prison
for fraudulent use Of the mails. He
appealed from this conviction.
Nor is Hart stranger TO District
Attorney Swami. When Hart was in
dicted in 1915 for perjury he was ar
raigned before Swami. then a General
Sessions Judge, and held in $4,000 bail.
The last arrest Of Hart was on August
%. 1918. when Deputy Sheriff Philip
Mcdonnell took him into custody on a
judgment for ~, 424 obtained against
him.
Hart is affiliated with Tammany. He
is connected with the district organiza'
tion Of the 3lst District, OF which
former Alderman Samuel Marx IS
leader. Mrs Hart gave as security
for Wilson's bond property at Lexing-
ton Avenue and Seventy-third Street,
valued at 100000, and another at