New-York tribune., 1918-06-21
N. Y. Judge on
Trial as Violator
OF Espionage Act
Leonard A. Snitkin Accused
of Attempting to Obtain
Draft Exemption
Especial Dispatch to The Trtbn'se)

INDIANAPOLIS, Juna 2o.-Testify-
ing that he had negotiations WIN
Leonard A. Snitkin, judge Of a munic'-
pal court in New York City, and his
brother. Maurice l.. Snitkin, an Indian
apolis attorney, to obtain exemption
from the draft for young New YORK
registrant named Swartz, Joseph Schur,
former government conscription appear
agent in the 9Th Indianapolis Division,
appeared as a witness for the govern
ment in the trial Of the Snitkins and
himself to-day in the Federal Court.
The three are charged with violation of
the espionage law in conspiring to OBJ
struct the military service Of the Unit
ed States.
Schur, who previously had entered
pleas of guilty to charges Of attempting
to obstruct the military service by
seeking to obtain exemption for Ger
tain Indianapolis registrants fraudu-
lently, entered plea of not guilty to
the charge of conspiring with the Snlt-
kins. Each of the other defendants
pleaded not guilty.
In his opening statement to the jury
l..
prove that an arrangement was made
between the Snitkin brothers and
Schur whereby the registrant Swartz
would he transferred from New York
to indianapolis in order that his draft
examination might come under the su-
pervision of the local board. Schur
and Maurice Snitkin were to receive
$1,000 for their services il exemption
were obtained for Swartz, the District
Attorney declared, and Schur was to
have "other favors" from Leonard Snit-
kin. Messages were exchanged between
the Snitkin brothers by q telegraph
code and the plan was consummated by
wire in this way, Mr. Slack asserted.
Leonard Snitkin came to lndl f,apohs
to complete the negotiations, but Schur
was arrested by government agents In
connection with another case before
the deal was completed and Swartz was
sent here. Mr.. Slack said.
Schur identified copies Of kilograms
as messages exchanged by the Snitkin
| brothers and referred to him by
Maurice Snitkin. One of these tele-
grams read as follows:
"Wire me to office Immediately fol-
lowing telephone conversation. Can
not sell less than 100 shares. Col
lateral to be deposited. Collateral re-
turned if po sale. The broker asks
500, leaving 1000 for you both. Is
this satisfactory? If financed salts
factorily party will leave at once
This telegram was signed a." Schur
testified ne understood it had been
sent to Maurice Snitkin by Leonard
Snitkin and that it meant that exemp-
tion for Swartz could not be obtained
for less than $1,000, and that the man
handling the New York end of the
i Il Js,>,~ loo,
| ing $1,000 for Schur and Maurice Snit-
kin to divide. The party referred to
was Swartz. Schur said he understood
/. Swartz would come to Indianapolis if
! the offer was satisfactory.
Leonard Snitkin told me at the
meeting in a restaurant here in Indian
apolis that there would not be much
money in this case," Schur said. "He
. said he was under obligations to some
of the interested parties. However, in
addition TO the money I was to receive
he told me he would be able to throw
some law business to me from New
York. He told me the Swartz boy could
come to Indianapolis at once if ar
rangements were completed with me"
On October Leonard Snitkin came
to Indianapolis, Schur said, and Maui
rice Snitkin informed Schur by tele-
phone of the arrival of his brother, ar
ranging for a meeting Of the three
The Swartz exemption matter was dis
cussed at this meeting, the witness
said, and Leonard Snitkin was to make
final arrangements for young Swartz
to come TO Indianapolis. Schur was
arrested that night by Federal agents
however, he said, and the negotiations
were brought to an end.
Judge Snitkin took the stand in his
own defence this afternoon and denied
that he had any part in selling an ex.
emption to Swartz The case was con-
tinued until tomorrow.