New-York tribune., 1918-07-20
"American's" City Editor
and Four Others Appear
Against L. D. Master
Police Captain Is
Prominent in Trial
Citizens Raising Fund for
Merchant Displaying 81
Don't Read" Banner

otnerS OF ltS CmployeS, fOllce Zap
tain ". Frank Peabody, through
Patrolman John J. Bindulski and
Detective Sergeant Eugene A. Fal-
Ian. succeeded yesterday in con-
victing Louis D. Master. a Flushing
realty operator, of disorderly conduct
in having swung out on July 6, in
front of his Office a sign reading: 81
Do Not Read Hearst Newspapers"
After Magistrate Conway, in the
Flushing court, had imposed fine of
s25, E. S. Garnett. of $50 Broadway,
who had been retained by patriotic or
ganizations to defend Mr.. Master, an
nounced that he would take an i'm
mediate appeal, based on the testi-
mony of the states witnesses, which, he
said, confirmed his contention that the
only dsorderly conduct attending the
hanging out of the sign was that
caused by Captain Peabody.
Citizens to Pay Fine
As soon as the conviction OF Mr..
Master became generally known in
Flushing there was started move
y
by popular subscription of not more
than % cents each fund to pay Mr..
Masters fine. The surplus, according
to the tentative plans, will be used to
buy and distribute the 81 DO Not Read
Hearst Newspapers" buttons
Mr.. Masters conviction was due pri-
mariy to the failure of Alderman c.
A. Post to appear as witness Mr..
Master testified that the alderman was
nt off h Ia ,tai,
body used profane language Alder
man Post told Mr. Master, according
to statement made by Mr.. Garnett
to the magistrate, that he did not care
to antagonize Captain Peabody and the
police by appearing as witness
against them.
During the trial there were frequent
interruptions by Captain Peabody and
Victor Watson, city editor of "Thc
for questions by the magistrate, and
each question was imme ediately put to
MIR. Master or his witnesses by Magis-
trate Conway.
Represents "American''
The magistrate refused to make Mr..
Watson identify himself for the rec
ord until Mr.. Garnett called him as
witness and made him admit he
was present in the interest of "The
American" Another american" man.
said by Mr. Master TO be the one who
urged him to implicate The Tribune,
also was called to the stand and made to
identify himself as n Hearst cmploye
At the conclusion of the hearing
Captain Peabody was driven to the sta :
tion house in the automobile carry
ing Mr. Watson and the other Hearst
employees.
Patrolman Bindulski, in his direct tes-
timony and on examination by Mr..
Garnet. admitted that he had only
served the summons under orders from
Captain Peabody. While he insisted
that IN making his affidavit he had not
misstatcd the sign in referring to il
as having read "Do Not Read Hearst
Newspapers" ne admitted that he could
plainly see the "I' when Mr. Garnett
held up the sign in the rear of the
courtroom
Captain Peabody explained the un-
usual action IN visiting the Master
Office by stating that he had received
an anonymous telephone call telling
him of an illegal act being committed
on the scene. He said that in his
opinion the painting in of the az" in
type smaller than the other lettering
indicated n deliberate attempt at sub
terfuge by Mr. Master.
While denying that he had used pro-
fame language in the presence of AL
derman Post. Captain Peabody admit
ted that he had said that there would
be no anti-Hearst banner hung in
Flushing and that there would be no
burning of Hearst newspapers there
while he was in command.
He lost his temper when Mr.. Garnett
asked him # he had been dismissed
from the department by Commissioner
Woods for making false blotter entry.
and after insisting that he had been
regularly reinstated by the court an
nounced that he stood "as high in the
community with Commissioner
Woods-as did Mr.. Garnctt or any
other citizen.'
Mr.. Master and George Lucas. ex
justice of the peace of Glen Cove. who
now has an office in the building oc-
cupied by Mr.. Master, both testified
that the antl-Heart banner had been
hanging out for several hours with
out creating any comment before Cap-
tain Peabody arrived with Hearst
agents Between them they talked so
loud, according to the witnesses. that
people coming from the Flushing Main
Street railroad station gathered to hear
the discussion.
Tried to influence Master
Magistrate Conway refused to per
nit Mr. Garnett to have Mr.. Master
tell in detail of the attempt by the
Hearst agent TO involve The Tribune.
After the bare statement had been
made Magistrate Conway ruled the evil
dence immaterial and irrevelant. A
Hearst man, called to the stand bv
Mr.. Garnett admitted that he had been
sent by the management of "The
Anne rican' to talk with Mr. Master re
gardng the case. Mr.. Master identi-
fed this man as the one who had
urged him to make statement against
The Tribune.
In asking for the dismissal of the
case, Mr.. Garnett pointed out that the
police had failed TO substantiate its
case and called attention to that part
of Mr.. Masters testimony in which he
stated that he was in favor of the anti
Hearst movement and wanted every
one in Flushing to know it, MIR. Car
nett also emphasized MIR, Masters testi-
mony to the effect that he WAS prompt
ed to hang out the sign by the con
victlon that Hearst was morally re
sponsible for the assassination of Pres
ldent Mckinley and by the manner in
which the Hearst newspapers had ma
ligned Colonel Roosevelt.
Conway Hylan Appointee
The attempts of Mr.. Garnett and his