New-York tribune., 1918-01-04
Roosevelt Silent on Data
He Furnished to MIR.
kilroe
Met at Oyster Bay
Mitchell Worker Tells How He
Bet Campaign Money
on Hylan

Under instructions from District At
torney Swami, Assistant District Attor-
ney Edwin T. Kilroe went to Oyster
Bay yesterday afternoon to confer with
Colonel Roosevelt in connection with
the investigation being conducted by
the District Attorneys Office into the
Mitchel-Fusion campaign expenses. The
interview was arranged by Mr.. Swami.
The Assistant District Attorney was
closeted with Colonel Roosevelt for the
better part of an hour On leaving,
Colonel Roosevelt said that whatever
information he had furnished the Dis
trict Attorney would have to be dis
closed, il at all, by Mr.. Kilroe or Mr..
Swami
1t was close to midnight before Mr.
kilroe reached the city, and he declined
to issue any statement until he had had
time to confer with Judge Swami. Tie
latter stated that he could rot disclose
either the nature of the information
which prompted him to send his assist
ant to Oyster Bay or what the mission
had accomplished until he familiarizcd
himself with the report Of Mr.. Kilroc.
"All ! can say at present." said Judge
Swami last night, "is that certain facts
came to my attention which I felt could
be best elucidatcd by Colonel Roose-
welt. wrote and asked him if he would
object to giving an interview to rep
resentativo from my office.
Indictment Expected
"In my letter stated all Of the facts
in my possession. Colonel RoosevelI
the visit Of Mr.. kilroc was the result"
Judge Swami was apparently un-
moved by the criticism of Senator
George r. Thompson, of Niagara, who
complained in Albany on Wednesday
that there was "too much publicity"
and "not enough indictments" in the
investigation Of the Mitchel-Fusion
campaign expenses, and stated that he
would not present the matter to
tom Of the 260 reports on which
he has been at work for several weeks.
1t was learned last night, however,
that Mr.. Swami has uncovered facts
which, it is alleged, will warrant ask
ing for many indictments for violation
of the election laws, for accepting
campaign contribution from a corpora
tion and even for larceny. Twenty-Five
witnesses were examined yesterday by
Assistant District Attorneys Black and
/ klroe.
bet Fusion Money on Hylan
Robert Phillips, treasurer Of the
City Democracy organization in the
17th Assembly District, who was
Tammany Hall county committeeman
seventeen years ago, told Mr.. Black
that he got $500 and he supported
his family on it for nearly two months;
the rest he handed out in small
amounts to down-and-o in the dis
trict on Election Day. He admitted
that it was pretty easy to be liberal
with other peoples money. A month
before election Phillips said he real
lied that he had "made mistake" and
he made a personal bet.
Tell me about it," said Mr.. Black.
"Well, | made a personal bet on
Hylan, and won"
Alphonso Aversa, worker" living
at 20 Prince Street, told Mr.. Black
that he received SIS on Election Day
and "went around making friends"
"What did you do with the money!"
"I kept it,"
Did you receive any more than
$751;"
"No, sir"
"Sorry?"
Eyes, sir"
No Receipt for Money
Robert A. Van Nostrand, treasurer
of the City Democracy in the Goth AS
sembly District, said he gave each
captain S25 and SIS to each worker. He
said there was SO much confusion af-
ter the polls closed he didn't get re-
ceipts. Many of the workers desert
ed, but they came in and demanded
their pay and got it.
Mr.. Black said most Of the City
Democracy district treasurers testified
that they ware instructed by letter
from Henry S. Thompson, treasurer
of the oganization, that they weren t
required to make a report at Albany
on money paid to them except on Elec-
ton Day.
William NJ Bennett, Republican can
didate for Mayor, told Mr. Kilroc that
president. to turn the campaign fund
and party machinery over to him after
The rri1 and re I'm ed