New-York tribune., 1918-05-18
Publisher Alleges Con-
spiracy to Stop Sale of
His Newspapers
District Attorney
Will Investigate
. Representatives of The
Tribune, He Admits,
Will Be Involved

After a conference last evening with
William A. De Ford, general attorney
for William R. Hearst, District Attor-
ney Swami announced that, at the re-
quest of Mr.. Ford, he would begin an
investigation of Mr.. Hearst's complaint
that Certain persons and corporations"
have conspired together in New York
the State of New York and other states
to prohibit the sale of "Thc New York
American" and Evening Journal" un-
der the duress of possible imposition
of unlawful penalties and to the injury
of the business of the publisher and its
selling agents.
Mr.. De Ford is said to have ex-
pressed the opinion also that the cam
paign against "The Journal" and "The
American" was intended to put a Pc
riod to Mr.. Hearst's political ambi-
tions. .....-.
Cwann Withholds Names
District Attorney Swami, when asked
to name the persons against whom the
investigation is directed, replied it
would be unfair to do so before the in
vestigation had actually started He
admitted indirectly that representa-
tves of The Tribune would be involved.
"Will you mention the names Of
those against whom Mr.. Hearst spe-
officially complains?" Mr.. Swami was
asked.
at would not be just and proper to
suggest what direction or force was
behind the alleged conspiracy or who
the responsible persons were," Mr..
Swami replied.
"Mr. De Ford laid before me infor-
nation which he says warrants his be-
lief that certain persons, actuated by
personal animosity and business rival
ry, have conspired together to violate
Section $50, Sub division s, which
makes it misdemeanor for persons to
conspire to prevent another person
from exercising lawful trade or call
ing or to interfere with another's law
full use of his own property or to pre-
vent him from carrying on legitimate
business. He has presented this infor-
nation to me, and the evidence, if true,
seems to establish a prima facie case"
Mr.. Swami said.
as the complaint accompanied by
affidavits or sworn testimony" was
asked
"No, it consists of declaratt S made
by co-conspirators as to what animated
them in taking the action they did.
The substance of it was, Hearst must
be destroyed"
would not the same complaint lie in
pers have been excluded?" Mr. Swami
was asked.
mo, because no charges of conspr-
acy ever have been made in such
cases. Wherever German-language pa
pers have been barred it appears that
the action was the spontaneous express
sion of popular sentiment. At any
rate, the District Attorney is not in
terested in the. merits of the Hearst
complaint. 1t is his duty to investi-
gate when duly made complaint of
the commission of crime is lodged
with him." Mr.. Swami replied.
Alleges Conspiracy
According to Mr.. Swami, the evil
dence of the "co-conspirators" was to
the effect that there had been a meet
ing in New York, at which instructions
were issued to the men who were sent
out to induce public bodies within the
State of New York to prohibit the sale
of the New York American and
Journal under the duress of possible
imposition of unlawful penalties"
1t was further asserted by the "co-
conspirators," said Mr.. Swami, that
other communities than Mount Vernon
and Summit were visited and that the
results in Mount Vernon were accom-
pllshed by numerous visits to poll
ticians and officials.
Mr.. De Ford declined to make a
statement to newspaper men after he
had conferred with the District Attor-
ney. Mr.. Swami sad he would turn
.he complaint over to Assistant Dis
trlct Attorney Ferdinand Pecora to-
day. tie declined to tell the name of
any witnesses who would be questioned
at the outset of the invn stiCat tion