New-York tribune., 1918-01-01
y. >. Agents Make Sudden
Raid ON East Broadway
Law Office
Say Prisoners Had
Exemption Schemes
Birth Certificates of Foreign.
Born Citizens Falsihed,
1t Is Alleged

agents Of the Department Of Justice
last night In a spectacular raid on a
law Office at 20A East Broadway. Three
were whirled away in taXicabs to the
lcmbs, charged with conspirirg to de-
feat the draft law, and the others were
held pending further investigation.
When the Federal agents surrounded
the building the Office was full of pro
spective clients seeking questionnaires
and filling out exemption blanks for
the coming draft.
SO quietly and quickly was the raid
executed despite the bitter cold Of the
/ night. that it wns fully an hour before
the New Years Eve crowds passing the
door by the hundreds knew Of the raid.
The agents seized and conilscated all
the papers in the Office and held the
applicants until they had obtained all
their names and addresses.
The prisoners charged with con-
spiracy are William Abramson, a law
yer; Morris Asofsky, a notary public,
tenants of the Office, and George +.
Ringler, who posed as politician OF
great influence. DR.. Charles Brln, of
PAT East rBoadway, and Maurice Lesser
were held for further investigation.
Charges will be preferred against them
to-day
Raid Followed Investigations
The evidence on which the raid was
made was obtained by Merton +. Lew
is, Attorney General Of the State,
after several months secret investiga-
ton under the direction of Alfred l..
Becker. Deputy Attorney General. Sc
cret agents of the Attorney Generals
Office acting on information received
from the adiutant general of the state
learned that R.~gier. Almslnson and
Asofosky We're doing a suspiciously
rushing business filing out exemption
claims. Ringler did not make out any
Of the claims. but acted as q busi 1
ness agent. and after the Secret Ser
vice men were working on the con-
spiracy for several weeks they learned |
it is alleged, it was to him that all
those who had enough money to pur-
chase exemption contided their desires
to evade military service.
Last night the Attorney Generals I
agents and the special agents Of the
department who were called in to con-
duct the raid met nt the Murray Hill .
Hotel A Secret Service agent who had
registered in the East Broadway dis
trict was on hand watching the quarry.
When all except one of them had gath
cred for the evenings business in the
law o1sce, he flashed the signal to the
agents in the Murray Hill
Hotel.
A large automobile, driven by so
cicty woman, started downtown two
minutes later When the car had gone
q few blocks it broke down. and the
raiders were compelled to commander
two passing taxicabs. When they
reached 204 East Broadway they sur
the building. Three entered
the office, which was on the first floor
in the front, and found Abramson and
Asofsky. seated at large square table
in the centre Of the room, surrounded
by a score of men within tho draft
age, asking for information and filling
out exemption claims. Dr.. Brn was
present aflixing his signature to an
,ndavit and Maurice Lesser had just
signed an affidavit.
DR.. Brin and Lesser Arrested :
every one in this room is detained
by the authority Of the United States
said one of the agents
placing men at all the doors,
"I have warrants here for William
Ahramson and Morris Asofsky," the
special agent continued. The excited
crowd fell back and looked at the two
prisoners, who collapsed in their chairs.
Five minutes later two special agents
appeared with George A. Ringler, who
had been traced to a restaurant in Es
sex Street, where he was just finishing
his dinner. Then DR.. Brin and Lesser ,
we're placed in CUSTODY and the prison
,rs hurried away to the Tombs in taxi I
cabs. All except DR.. Brin were placed ,
n the Tombs; he was locked UP for the I
hight in Police Headquarters.
Claim RingIcr Is Ringlcader
Mr.. Lewis in the statement accused
2ingler of being the leading spirit Of
he draft fraud. He was introduced to
exemption applicants by :
4bramson and Asofosky. The appli- !
ants were Informed that Abramson !
md Asofosky attended to the. legal
echnicaities involved IN properly fill
* out the exemption claims, but that
aingler was the power behind the s
hronc, whose political influence at Al i
amy made it possible to get exemp- :
ion. The claimants were told that \
singler had q broad acquaintance and a
vas boon companion Of the Attorney c
General 1t was then that the PROPOSE v
ion for money was made. No one was j
bile to get exempted unless he paid c
substantial sum of money. 1t was sug- t
.ested with grave impressiveness that q
certain officials had to be taken care i
T."
The scheme adopted by the alleged c
had many new and clever c
q fcations. The most favored one ],
to get hold Of registrants born in
= cope, particularly in the Russian dis !
riots now ovcrrun by the revolution.
Evidence was then submitted that the {
pplcant was under or over the draft 9
&c. In support Of the claim atfidavits
we're prepared by Abramson and Aso-
osky. signed by alleged relatives who
,ould swear that thev remembered the