The sun., 1919-03-29
DIR. Doyle, Capt. McGinnis,
Leon Wallace and Frank
McGoey Arraigned.
NEAT TRICK UNEARTHED
Commissioners Speech Said to
Have Been Used as Club by
Fire Prevention Gang.

against the Comet Theatre on Third
avenue. The manager Of the theatre.
Grant Arson. had subscribed to the
Colonial Film Exchange. from which.
he never got any films. and the
violation against his theatre was pigeon
holed.
These facts, II was learned yesterday,
were among the first to draw the atten-
ton OF the District Attorneys office 70
DIR. Doyle in the inquiry into allega-
tons of grating by the Fire Department
on proprietors of moving picture the
aires. The investigation resulted in the
arraignment of DR.. Doyle. Captain
Frank McGinnis of the Bureau Of Pub
lie Assemblies, Leon Wallace. restau-
rant manager and proprietor of the Aim
exchange. and Frank Mccoy, charged
with receiving and holding the alleged
tribute.
All four OF the accused men pleaded
not guilty yesterday in General Ses-
sions. and were released on ball.
Moses II. Grossman, attorney for DR..
Doyle. and Abraham Levy for Mccoy
declined to make any statement other
than to say that they would demand a
speedy trial. confident that their clients
could prove their innocence. Doyle and
McGoey were prominent in the Hylan
campaign.
According to the information contained
In the indictment the plan for doing busi-
ness with the moving picture houses was
arranged deliberately. Wallace. whose
confession 10 asserted to have been the
most important evidence produced before
the Grand Jury. was ready with a long
list of one reel thrillers when his Gus
toners called TO subscribe. None of this
flm. II Is believed, ever was delivered.
Wallace asserts that It was purchased,
but this. too. was denied by other famil-
lar with the case.
brennan Aided Unwfttinsly.
Although Fire Commissioner brennan
Is not suspected OF having been in the
plot a speech which he made to $50
movie men Is alleged to have been used
as a club to drive in subscriptions to the
Colonial Exchange.
Don't be involved in paying graft to
uniformed fremen." Commissioner Dren-
ran is said to have told the movie men.
IL you have a complaint go to DR.. Doyle
or Capt. McGinnis."
According to the District Attorneys
ONCE Doyle suggested to Commissioner
brennan that such a meeting and such
speech would be the best means Of root
ing out graft, and Commissioner Dren-
nan undoubtedly acted in good faith.
II was he who started the investigation.
Terrence McManus, attorney for Capt.
McGinnis said last night that he would
be able to show that everything McGin-
mis- had done resulted from orders of his
superlors. It was in McGinniss desk
that the investigators found the viola
tlons Of the Are law which had been
pigeonholed IT was also McGinnis who
brought to Wallace the list of the thea
tres which might be expected to do bust
ness with him.
Grant Arson. manager OF the Comet
Theatre. said yesterday to a reporter
for THE SUN that when he subscribed
10 the Colonial Film Exchange the first
time he believed It was a bonafide VEN
ture, as a salesman for the concern had
come to his theatre and offered him a
series OF one reel pictures which he was
DESTROYS of obtaining. He went to the
Colonial Film Exchange at l44 Column
bus avenue. There Wallace showed him
q typewriter list OF fifty "one reelers."
From this he ordered two. Japan and
China a scenic film. and a one reel
comedy entitled Peace at Any Price"
He admitted that he never saw the
Aims and said that when they were not
delivered TO him he became suspicious
md did not send his subscription for
the second month.
1t was explained yesterday that the
matter of fire law violation in a moving
picture house is an extremely flexible
affair. Few persons want to sit near
the screen. and there are always vacant
seats in front. Frequently also while
the front seats are vacant people will
stand in the rear in violation Of the fire
law. 1t was said that many inspectors
will not report these standees as violat-
Ing the law II there are vacant seats in
front and IL 1t is shown that the man.
haA m de
The standees to take the seats. In such
cases the chances for graft appear.
Capt McGinnis was described by NOV
ing picture men as one OF the strictest
otficials with whom they had to deal.
He was always a stickler for having the
nre pals filled and for seeing that the
law was observed to the letter. 1t was
also asserted by Grant Arson OF the
Comet Theatre that Capt. McGinns was
80 strict that he had refused a Christ
mas present from the theatre. though
these presents OF So, $40 or $40 to po-
Ncemen, firemen and letter carriers were
considered a regular and legitimate
Thing by the theatre men-and by most
OF the recipients
DID Not Expect to Get Films.
- Many other moving picture men:~rh is
charged paid their tribute at the CO.
lontal Exchange IN the 1ull knowledge
that they would get no films. Many OF
these theatre men speak little or nc
English and they looked on this as a
regular way of finding protection. This
phase of the case has particularly
stirred the District Attorneys office. II
was In the little theatres OF tho East
side and among the foreign born popu-
lation, none too safe against hre any
way, that the crowding Of the aisles
was passed over.
Tho indictment OF DR.. Doyle caused a
sensation In political circles yesterday
as did that of Frank McGoey. Doyle
was described as Mayor Hylans choice
for a high position last year when al
the vigorous protest of John III. Nc
Cooey, the Brooklyn leader. he was
shifted to the head of the fire prevention
bureau and Mr.. brennan was made COM
missioner. Before that time DR.. Doyle
had been a veterinarian In the Fire De-
partment. He lives In Brooklyn.
McGoey was recalled as one of those
principally interested I'm the Hylan Busi-
ness Mems League during the Mayoralty
campaign. He was also one or the big
ngures in the dummy" company. which
tried to get for $4,000 a lease on PieI
60, North River which the city leased
later ut a much higher figure. He was
a contributor to the Hylan campaign
fund.
wallace, as one of the managers oi
Heaiy's Restaurant at Columbus avenue
and sixty sixth street. was well known
20 numbers OF political frequenters Of
At.-t--. Ut. q said m have aaae RI ed