New-York tribune., 1918-07-09
OrdinanceViolation Charge
Changed to Disorderly
Conduct by Patrolman
Case Is Put Over
Flushing Broker Tells Of At
tempt to Involve The
Tribune

uruay Tor failing to have permit Tor
the ~ Do Not Read Hearst News
papers" sign which he had stretched
across the sidewalk from his office to
the curb.
When Mr.. Master appeared in the
Flushing police court yesterday he
found that Patrolman John j. Bindul
ski, who had served the summons un-
der orders from Captain W. Frank Pea
body. had changed the complaint 70 one
OF disorderly conduct in having caused
the impeding Of traffic by displaying a
sign which read, according to the pa
trolman's affidavit: "Do Not Read
Hearst Newspapers"
Patrolman Bindulski sat in court
awaiting the calling of the case with
one of the special Hearst emissaries.
who went 20 Mr. Masters Office on Sat
urday uttering threats, q few minutes
before Captain Peabody appeared and
summons. While he was debating the
complaint to the court clerk. the same
Hearst agent stood Vt his elbow max
ing suggestions and corrections.
After another conference with the
Hearst emissary, the patrolman said
he intended to file another complaint
against Mr.. Master for having failed to
get a permit for business sign that
extends beyond the building line, de-
spite the fact that residents of Flush
ing say there are hundreds of such vio-
lations in the, borough.
Misquoted Sign Shown
Prepared to plead guilty to having
inadvertently violated the law in hav
ing failed 10 secure the necessary per-
nit for the anti-Hearst sign, Mr. Mas
Ter was dumfounded when Magistrate
Conway read Patroman Bindulski's af-
tidavit. He asked that it be reread, and
when he became certain that the officer
had sworn that the sign read "Do Not
Read Hearst Newspapers demanded
that the sign, which the police had con-
tiscated for evidence, be produced.
The spectators sitting in the rear Of
'hc courtroom could see distinctly the
az that the patrolman had omitted
from his complaint. when the oilclotll
sign. vyhich is rs inches by s feet, vas
unroiled. Mr.. Master asked for a cor
rection OF the complaint, but the mag
istrate ruled that he would have to
consider only the charge made by the
patrolman. When Blndulski made no
proposition to make the correction,
Magistrate Conway put the case over to
July 1s.
As re was leaving the court Patrol
man Binduiski greeted a Tribune re-
porter whom he had rot seen in five
years. As the two went down the
stairs exchanging greetings the Hearst
agent showed his way between them
and said to the officer:
'For Gods sake, don't you know
who that is you're talkin' to? Why,
that's Tribune man.'
lie thereupon led Patrolman Bindul-
ski away
After the court session MIR. Master
had to abandon business to confer with
members of the National Security
League, American Defence Society and
the Flushing Citizens League who
crowded his Office, at 9 Madison Ave
nue.. The representatives of the pa
sriotic organizations would say but
little FOR publication, but made it
plain that when tie case comes up
for trial there will pe some Of the
borough's most prominent attorneys
representing Mr.. Master, with view
Of learning why Captain Peabody took
such an unusual interest in the case
why the Hearst agents were permitted
70 practically dictate the complaint
against Mr.. Master and why Patrol
man Bindulsk omitted the '"I' in re-
Strong Support Pledged
One OF the wealthiest merchants III
Queens was one OF Mr. Masters callers
yesterday. He had dropped in to as
sure MIR. Master OF his moral support
When he learned OF the amended"
complaint he announced that he would
get in immediate communication with
nis counsel ard arrange for him to rep
resent Mr. Master. fhe realty oDera-
tor will have at least three of the bor-
ough's most prominent attorneys look
ing after his interests, and resolu-
Lions pledging him support will be
passed within the next few days by
all the patriotic organizations Of
Flushing and nearby sections OF
Queens.
At the station house it was said that
no blotter record was made Of sum
mons cases. all record being kept by
patrolmau until the case is disposed OF.
Attention was then called to the fact
that after the Ruth Cruger case had
disclosed fragrant misuse of summonses
by patrolmen. a general order mad been
issued to have hlottcr entries made of
such cases. The lieutenant and Patrol
man Bndulski referred all inquiries
10 the clerk Of the Flushing Court, 1t
was then that Bindulski announced
that he was TO make another complaint
against Mr.. Master.
An examination OF the original sum
mons showed that Patrolman Bindulski
had charged Mr.. Master with viola
tion of city ordnance" Printed III
the form are the words "for violation
Of. :" In The space that follows
the patrolman had written "fcr violat-
ing of ord"
In the sworn complaint Patrolman
Bindulski states that Mr.. Master "was
in Madison Avenue and Main Street
Flushing, and that he was disturbing
the peace and did then and there erect
and unlawful'y have sign suspended
from his premises aud across public
sidewalk containing this statement:
DO Not Read Hearst Newspapers,
whereby a crowd collected, imped-
ing traffic and melting to contentious
on the public street; all of which con-
duet tended to a breach of the peace"
Blames Hearst Agents
The only disorder created by the
erection of the sign was that created
by the Hearst agents and Captain Pea
body" Mr. Master said. "a few min
utes after it had been run out got
telephone call demanding that take
it down, didn't, of course, and in q
few minutes that fat-faced fellow YOU
saw with the officer this morning in
me TO say that The New York Tribune
How ridiculous that was is evidenced
by the fact that you are the first Trib-
une reporter I've ever met.
txlr 4