New-York tribune., 1919-02-28
Asks Arrest
Of Witness at
Fraud Trial
Rosenwasser's LawyerForces
Inspector to Admit He
Once Falsified Document
Demands Commitment
Man Testifying for Govern
ment, Angered by Attor-
ney, Denounces the De-
PENDANTS

demand for the immediate arrest
and commitment for perjury of gov
eminent witness was made yesterday
by Frank j. Hogan, chief of counsel for
the Rosenwasser brothers and sixteen
other defendants, before Judge Garvan
IN the Brooklyn Federal District Court.
Frank Creedon, a witness for the prose-
cution, had just admitted falsifying an
application for Federal position. The
defendants are charged with conspir-
ing to defraud the United States on
army contracts.
Judge Garvan took Mr. Hogans mo-
tlon under advisement and instructed
counsel for both sides to submit briefs
this morning on authorities for their
contentious in the matter. Mr.. Hogan
asserted that the Court should act
Immediately and not reserve his deci
sion until The end Of the trial. As
slstant Attorney General Claude Por
ter, who has charge of the prosecu-
tlon, argued that the matter was one
i'll which the Court could exercise iu
dlcial discretion.
Creedon, a former government in
spector at the Eosenwasser factory in
Long Island City, was severely grilled
py Mr. Hogan. Clashes between the
"ltness and the attorney were fire.
quent because of Creedon's refusal to
answer questions categorically. Sew
eral times Judge Garvan threatened to
commit the witness for CONTEMPT for
refusal to obey the orders of the
Calls Defendants Russians
Once when MIR. Hogan forced Cree
aoh 10 retract statements he had made
III dlrect examination the witness thun-
dered into villifcation of the Rosen-
wassers.
"These here Russans,' re shouted.
pointing to Morris and Leo Rosen,
"asser, drove Americans cut of bust
ness and they never did anything for
the country but fill contracts"
Mr.. Hogan sought to ascertain from
the witness the reason TO. his dis
charge from the Hard Metals Inspec-
ton Branch of the Ordnance Depart
ment in December of 1917. Creedon
stated that Miss Louise Onken, the
Eead of the personnel division, used
Eer influence to have him removed.
SHE'S the queen of the army build
ing in New York" he shouted, "and
can hire or fire any one she wants to-"
he continued by saying that Miss
Onken was secretary to Morris Rosen-
the Secretary of War"
"Ibprp arrnN oo1;+;rc ', -
against me. and can see it alb" Cree
don shouted at another time. Mr.. Ho-
gan made repeated attempts to force
the witness to answer eyes" or IN o.
to his questions. Once when he in
sisted on this point Creedon said:
"l want an opportunity to explain
and cannot answer Yes or Mo- Mr.
Hogan, you are giving me the short
circuit system too often"
Produces Creedon Document
Mr.. Hogan produced an application
for an examination as shoe inspector
by the United States Civil Service
Commission. He had the witness iden-
tify the handwriting as his own and
then proceeded to read it, He drew
from Creedon the admission that parts
of it were false.
Would you commit perjury for 8
job? % thundcred Mr.. Hogan, holding
out the application.
THAT would depend on the kind of
job" answered Creedon.
The attorney then made his demand
for the arrest of the witness. Assist
ant United States Attorney Harvey
Harwood entered an objection to this
demand, explaining that such action
would prejudice the jury and hurt the
governments case if the witness was
sent to Jail in the midst of the trial.
Creedon stated during the interro-
cation that he was discharged from,
the government service by Colonel
Hlrsch, one of the defendants, because
he made trouble among the inspectors
After Creedon left the stand Luke
Stapleton, counsel for Morris Rosen-
wasser, moved that the impressions
of the witness be stricken from the
record This motion was denied.
The prosecution then called Private
Manual Grossman, of the Salvage Di-
vision of the army. He stated on di-
rect examination that in July, 1917, he
saw certain leather in the Rosenwasse1
factory which he had taken with Cree.
don to the office of Charles Averv
the chief inspector at the plant. An.
other inspector, Edward Shugrew tes.
titled he had taken three leather soles
from the office of his superior, whicl
he described as spongy and soft.
George N. Brundridge, an inspecto,
who was at the factory in qJanuarv
1918, testified concerning the opera
ton of the cutters room. He statee
that he was in the shoe business fo,
thirty years and knew it we'll.
He identified Merlis among the de
PENDANTS and said in answer to oues
tions that he once heard Merlis com
plain to cutter about using too mucl
leather
Iaxicab Tie-Up Threatened