New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
.NOSGnWaSSerS
Accused by
Ex-Iraspectol'
Witness Declares He Was
Discharged for Refusing
to Pass Inferior Shoes
Col. Tlirsch l. Involved
Cheap Leather and Defec-
: tive Workmanship ON
Army Contract Charged

William Creeion. a former Federal
: Shoe Inspector stationed at the plant
OF Rosenwasser Brothers, Inc, testify
ing for the prosecution at the trial Of
the Rosenwasser brothers and sixteen
others yesterday, swore he was dis
charged for his refusal to pass defec-
tive shoes. Morris and Leo Rosenwas-
ser who are on trial with sixteen
others before Judge Garvan in the
Brooklyn Federal District Court, are
charged with conspiring to dcfraud the
United States.
Frequent clashes resulted from the
testimony of Creelcn. In his direct
Z examination, conducted by Claude R.
Porter. Assistant Attorney General,
.Creedon told story involving the
Rosenwassers. Colonel Hirsch of the
quartermaster's department and Abra-
= ham Weiss, foreman of the Rosenwas-
ser, who are four of the co-defcndants,
vice while working at the Philadelphia
quartermaster's depot by Colonel
:Hlrsch, then major.
Creedon stated that when he was
discharged Colonel Hirsch declared
that, although he was q good authority
en- shoes, he was "temperamentally un-
fit" for the position. The witness testi-
fled that some time previous to his dis
charge he had several discussions with
Colonel Hirsch regarding the product
of the Rosenwasser factory, which, he
asserted, was inferior. He said in one
of these talks Colonel Hirsch asked
him for his expert opinion regarding
the quality of the leather used in the
shipments of Rosenwasser field shoes.
Leather Declared Inferior
II told him it was vegetable tan
and not chrome as called for in the
specifications" said the witness
The witness testified that Colonel
Hirsch then asked:
'How can you tell this ?"
Creedon said he informed the officer
he could prove his assertion. and some
time later, before Colonel Hirsch and
Rosenwasser. he conducted the test
He said he burned the tongue OF one
Of the shoes and it turned black
Creedon said that chrome retained
leather when burned turns green.
Il repeated the test four days later
for Morris Rosenwasser said the wit
ness, "and Colonel Hirsch and had an
argument, and Hirsch told me to go
back to my bench and nind my own
damned business
Creedon then told of following Colo
mel Hirsch and Rosenwasser from the
Philadelphia depot to a hotel, where
they stayed for two hours and half.
lie said they rode in buggy, while he
followed in a street car
The following day, he testified. he
called the officers attention to some
shoes received from the Rosenwasser
factory. He swore these previously
ltad been rejected by him because II
creases in the heels. due to excess
leather He explained that when they
were reshlpped the creases were simply
pasted down with cement.
w hat the helPs wrong now?" he tes-
titled Colonel Hirsch asked him on THAI
occasion.
Refused to Pass Creased" Shoes
Creedon said he pointed out the de-
fects in the shoes and Colonel Hlrsoh
then inquired: Cant q soldier evan
put his foot in it 2"
E He said that when he admitted that
a soldier could get his foot into them
ne was told to take them'
rs The witness said he fatty refused
to obey this order and his dismissal
- g 1SN de1J ldItI. he also
testified that in a conversation with
Leo Rosenwasser he Informed the
manufacturer the soles of the field
shoes were defective and refused to
pass them. He testified that Rosen-
wasser wanted to know why he could
not pass the shoes and advised him to
put his stamp ION the heel where it
could not be seen" and if anything
came up he would be covered.
Creedon stated he feared the Rosen-
wassers because Morris Rosenwasser
once threatened to send him to iail
over the cutting of the quantity of
shoes IN the factory. The witness also
testified that Leo Rosenwasser boasted
10 him of the power and influence he
had among officials and army officers.
Frank j. Hogan, counsel for the de-
fence, drew from the witness an ad-
mission that he had served two years
IN The Railway Reformatory for beat
ing woman named Rebecca Booth. He
said he had seventeen years experience
IN the shoe business which Qualified
him as an inspector.