New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Tells Swann's Aid He Did
So Because 1t Was Not
Republican Money
DR.. Reisner Appears
Pastor Declares that German
Vote Was Cast for w. NJ.
Bennett

Jacob A. Livingston, executive chair
man Of the Kings County Republican
Committee, testified yesterday in Dis
trct Attorney Swann's inquiry into
the Mitchel-Fusion campaign fund,
that he told Mayer Mitchell before the
primary that if an election were to be
held the next day the Mayor would
be defeated by 10000.
II told him." Mr.. Livingston said,
chat he had been making enemies for
the last four years. lie said the peo-
pie in New York told him differently.
| told him that those people lived in
clubs and were not il, touch with the
people who were going to do the vot-
ing. He said perhaps | was right and
asked what could be done.
Says Brooklyn Was Sighted
81 said didn't know that anything
could be done. | told him that for
four years he had humiliated Brooklyn
and stripped her Of her autonomy and
that the Eastern District, which COM
prised onc-haf the voting population
Of Brooklyn, although it had four or
five courthouses, it didn't have mag
istratc from the ferry clean to East
New York. I told him that if mag
istrate could be put in that section
and place in the Corporation Coun-
sells office be given. perhaps something
could be done He told me he had no
vacancy for q magistrate and he didn't
think he had place in the Corpora
ton Counsel's office. A few days after
that Mr.. McCluskev was appointed a
magistrate in Brooklyn.
Nh. Livingston told of Deputy
Comptroller Boardman calling on him
for advice about what to do with
money the Fusion people had given
him to spend in Brooklyn before the
primary. He said he advised Board
man to 'takc it back" to which. he
said. Boardman replied that he couldn't
take it back because "the others would
get it and II would be used against
US in tho primary fight"
"Then I said" Mr. Livingston testi
Sfed, chat he had better keep it unit
after the primary and then take il
back. He sac if he did that and Ben
nett should happen to carry Kings
County they would claim over in New
OIh lldl lie ldQ UOuDle crossed InSN. -
Distributed Fusion Money
Mr.. Living ton said he then sat down
and tried to arrange with Boardman TO
distribute the money with the under
standing that it was not Republican
money, but Fusion funds. A list was
made up and each district received
about SO except the 1st, I'd, 5th, eth,
Sth, 18th, 18th, Goth and 22d. The last
named is M Livingston's district.
Assistant District Attorney Kilroe.
who conducted the exam nation, asked
Mr. Livingston whether he had heard
rumor that $20,00 was sent over to
him by the Fusion committee for use
on primary day and that he (Living-
ston) refused TO hand it, Mr.. Liv-
ingston said to his knowledge no such
amount of money ever came to Brook
lyn for that purpose
The Rev. DR.. Christian F. Reisncr, of
Grace Methodist Church. was also ques-
toned by Mr.. Kilroe as to his reasons
for supporting Mayor Mitchell. DR..
Relsner said he never received a penny
for his personal work, but he spent
nearly $40 for earfares. ong distance
telephone calls and incidentas in Mir.
Mitche s interest. He said he was one
Of the clergymen who wrote TO Wi liam
NJ. Bennett, Republican nominee for