The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-19
DRAFT BOARD
CHARGE R0USES
CONKLING'S IRE
Dooling's Grilling of Ex-
emption Body 1856 Is
Denounced.
MEMBERS ARE UPHELD
Story Of Bribery Called With.
out Foundation-Prose.
cutor Assailed.
MEMBERS ARE UPHELD

Roscoe s. Conklins. Deputy Attorney
in Greater New York. denounced with
evident anger yesterday the action OF
James T. Dooling, Assistant District At
torney. in calling members OF Local Ex-
cmption Board 1856 to his Office. subject
ing them to a humiliating cross-exannina-
tion and then announcing to reporters
that he had "a definite complaint that
money was passed in this district"
The whole proceeding was infamous.
Mr.. Conkling asserted. The board is one
OF the few whose members he knows
personally, and II is above any fair
mans suspicion. 1t It were not. he said.
he would expect some intelligence to
be used rould expect a discreet In
vestigation. not exploited in the news
papers until 1t had some tangible founda-
ton for charges. And anyway, he
added, 1t is not exactly the District
Attorneys affair. since the whole draft
is under the Federal law, and case. of
delinquency of boards should be dealt
with entirely by the United States courts.
Amaaed by Allegations.
Il was amazed to find in two or three
morning papers statements by Mr.. poo-
ling of the District Attorneys office
that members OF Board l5e. consisting
of Alexander Plavnick. DR.. Calman and
simon Levine, were suffering from in
timations OF bribery" Mr.. Conki!ng said
yesterday. without saying one word
to me this board was dragged from its
work for an entire day and then put
through gruellinE. Worst of all un-
necessarily and without any jus,
foundation II was placed under a pail
of suspicion by having the story pub
l!shed in newspapers.
"Ali such cases are Federal affairs
and naturally come under the United
States Attorneys Jurisdiction. Both
Mr.. Knox and myself have welcomed
the cooperation Of the District Attor.
ney's office. However. II would seem wei,
for intelligence TO be used. and before
boards are taken from their work OF
any newspaper accusations made one
could expect some quiet, dignifed and
. thorough investigation. by chance 1,
SO happens that am very familiar with
Board 1876 and its work and know al
three Of the members personally. and
can state that they are clean. fne. pa.
triot.c men and that their work has
been OF high order But to-day they
are under a cloud of suspicion that IL
the sight of many men will mark theu
as crooks and grafters and likewise
place all the other boards under a sur.
BOARD Was "ManhandleI."
According 10 the descriptions of Mr.
Z ,t.1l u l. l.
manner in which the investigation wa
handled--'or rather manhandled." a.
/ ore member pu, it--by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Doolng. is unusual. Il
say the least
The board was only nicely settle,
/ Friday morning on Its long daily grind.
/ Mr.. Conkling said, In describing IN detail
/ the whole affair. when nessengc
. from the District Attorneys office cam,
( TO their headquarters, at Public Schoo
-, Lexington avenue and l05th street
! with a request that the members repor
- the Criminal Court Building witt
their records and with full reports of tw,
| particular cases. These two special rec
ords demanded were for two young men
| Lewis Spiegel, Is East lO5th street. an,
| r. ]. Brooks. - East ll0th street bot
| OF whom had been marked certified 70
service.
! 'Only two members OF The board
Alexander Plavnick. the chairman. an
! Mr.. Levine, were able to hurry 20 tn
/ District Attorneys office at that par
ticular moment. When they arrive,
there they at once placed their ful
! record before Mr.. Dooling and frankl
answered all his questions. After a cey
minutes OF conversation he turned o.