Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-01
EMINENT LAWYERS ENGAGED
BY GILLESPIE CONCERN To
PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS
Leading Corporation Law Firm
of Newark to be in
Charge
MILLIONS BEHIND THEM
Council of Defense Asks Citi-
zens to Aid In Obtaining
Facts

Preparations are going forward on
both sides for the investigation by the
committee of the United States SEN
ate into ><4e explosion at the Gillesple
Shell Leading Plant at Morgan, the
management of the plant and the
plans for reconstruction. The Giles
pie concern, 1t is understood, Is leav-
Ing no stone unturned to make the
most favorable impression possible.
Eminent counsel has been retained
and with the millions of dollars back
of the concern, 1t is expected that a
great array of legal talent will be on
hand to protect the Gillespie interests
in every way.
While 1t is expected the Senate
Committee will make their own in
vestigation. the Perth Amboy Council
of Defense, through its special COM
mittee, Is endeavoring to collect evil
dence that can be placed in the hands
of the Senate Committee when 1t
comes here.
From what can be learned the firm
of Lindabury, Depeue & Faulks, fam
Gus corporation lawyers of Newark.
will have charge of the Gillespie inter-
ests and, according to report, they
have secured the services OF Russell
q. Watson of New Brunswick, to assist
them locally. How many other law
yers have been engaged by the Giles
pie company Is not known, but 1t Is
certain that they realize the import
ance of the investigation and are spar
ing no expense to make as good
showing as possible.
The Perth Amboy Council of De-
fense, which will doubtless be repre-
sented by Judge Adrian Lyon. is ex-
trenely anxious to have all the assist
ance possible in securing evidence re-
garding the management of the Giles
pie plant prior to the explosion and
the, method of reconstruction. 1t Is
highly important for the protection
of the city, 1t Is declared, that every
one having any real knowledge or who
knows of anyone having real knowl-
edge about the operation and con-
struction of the plant, to get in touch
with some one of the special commit
tee of the Council of Defense and tell
what they know. b
The Gillespies, 1t is understood, are
securing affidavits galore in an effort
to show how carefully the plant has
been managed. Explosive experts
are being lined up. according to infor-
nation received, in an effort to show
that T N T is like sugar and cannot be
exploded under the conditions as OBJ
tain at the shell loading plant. Other
steps are being taken, all of which
show the Gillespie concern extremely
busy.
l.
Gil of Defense that If the people of
Perth Amboy and vicinity. want their
homes properly protected they must
assist the council in every way possible
to impress the senate committee with
the facts as they know them. Hence.
1t is felt to be the duty of every citizen
having the welfare of Perth Amboy at
heart to give any information they
may have that would lead to anything
important in making the investiga-
ton
There is no desire to drive the Gill
lespie plant away from this vicinity
but there is a we'll founded impression
that 1t has not been safe in the past
It is to prove this, If it is true. that the
Council Of Defense is calling upon
those who have evidence TO present
II so that It can be arranged for pres
entation when the investigation starts
The members of the Council Of De-
fense Committee to which information
should be given are: Mayor John F
TenBroeck. Judge Adrian Lyon, w
H Griswold. Fred ]. Cox, Ferd Gar
retson, Jean Dubois and F. L. Anti
sell.
roday's session of the grand jury,
contrary to expectation, will not take
UP an investigation of the recent ex-
plosion at Gillespie. Prosecutor Stric-
ker stating today that he b1s decided
not TO summon witnesses IN tillS case
until the conclusion Of the United
States senate probe of the explosion.
the first session of which will be held
at City Hall on November 7.
Mr.. Stricken said he did not want
to be discourteous to the senate COM
mittee and furthermore, his probe
would probably call for a number of
witnesses now under subpoeana for
the ssnate investigation. 1t was these
facts that led to the decision to post
pone the grand jury investigation.