The sun., 1919-10-28
LA GUARDIA DENIES
UNTERMYER CLAIM
Saws Candidate Was Not Men,
Der of Bar When Widows
Case Was Tried.
TRIED TO WIN ITALIANS
Circular Declared Tammany
Man Defended Poor Woman
in 1909.

One of the items in the record of
old son Of Samuel Untermyer, who was
nominated by Tammany Hall for the
supreme Court bench in place of Justice
Joseph T.. Newburger. as given out by
his campaign committee, was that he
had been associate counsel in the de-
fence of a poor Italian woman in
celebrated murder case in 1909. This
sas been elaborated upon in circulars
distributed among Italians.
F. H. La Guardia. Republican candi-
date for the President of the Board of
Aldermen, claimed yesterday that Mr..
rntermyer had not been admitted to
tbe bar at the time it is claimed for hfnr
that he assisted in the defence of this
woman.
Alvin Untermyer. brother of the candi.
date. wrote to Mr.. La Guardia that he
had been told the Republican candidate
was saying that Irwin had been admitted
to the bar only three years
This is what Mr.. La Guardia replied:
"I made no misstatement about the
time Mr. Irwin Untermyer was admitted
10 the bar We were both admitted to
the bar the same day in October, 1910.
and when l say he was admitted but
few years / consider nine years an in
sufficient period of training for the Su-
preme Court bench.
II desire to call your attention to a
ha 1ad IN
sands Of voters entitled Una Causa
Ceebre per Assassinio" "a celebrated
murder easel. which states that Irwin
Untermyer, the man who is candidate
for Judge of the Supreme Court, de-
Tended a poor widow with four children
and then presented her with $500.
The circular further states that the
crime was committed in 1907 and that
she was tried in December OF the same
year. Inasmuch as Mr.. Irwin Inter
myer was admitted in 1910, 1t is obvious
that he did not defend Augusta Crisanti.
the woman referred to in the circular.
would therefore suggest that you make
a public statement, correcting this mis-
statement of facts intended to deceive
voters to whom 1t was sent and that you
fix the responsibility for this lie.
81 am doing all / can to bring this to
the attention of voters l feel that this
should be Strengthened out Immediately
and the responsibility fixed for this at
tempted deception on the public"
Alvin Untermyer in his letter bore out
the testimony of Mr.. La Guardia that
Irwin was admitted to the bar in 1910.
He also said he had heard that Mr.. La
Guardia had been saying that Irwin's
name was not Irwin but Isaac.
Il was misinformed as to the name of
Mr.. Untermyer," wrote Mr.. La Guardia
IN reply. The good name of Isaac has
been borne by a number Of honorable
men and the origin OF it is such that no
one should be ashamed of that good old
Hebrew name. However, II Mr.. Inter
myer is sensitive about 1t, l apologize
for having said his name was Isaac, and
shall henceforth read your letter in
full TO all gatherings l address"
II was not until a newspaper yester-
day printed a story that they had failed
after repeated efforts to get list OF the
cases in which Mr.. Untermyer has ap-
peared in court that his committee gave
out such a list The dates of the trials
Of the cases are not given.
Matthew w. Mulvihill, Tammany
member OF the Democratic State Com
nittec. representing the Twentieth AS
sembly district. in a letter to his con-
tltuents last night ADVISED tneIl u NOec
for Justice Joseph E Newburger for the
Supreme Court and Justice Richard II.
Smith for the City Court. Both men
were turned down for denomination by
Charles F. Murphy and the Mulvihill
letter shows just how deep the revolt
against the Boss has become. 1t says
IN part:
To the unbounded surprise of Demo-
cratic attorneys and laymen. Justices
Newburger and Smith were denied re-
nomination. In my opinion. this i'll ad-
Nsed course has given our political op-
ponents an issue and a rallying cry
which imperils Democratic success at the
coming election and may have serious
consequences in future campaigns.
i am moved by what / consider a
grave danger confronting the Demo
cratic party in Manhattan and The
Bronx to ask the voters of the Twentieth
Assembly district who have honored me
with three terms as Democratic State
Committeeman, TO mark their ballots in
favor Of Justice Newburger and Judge
Smith on election day (November ~,
ana 10 loyalty support other nominees
selected at the Democratic primary elec-
ton
AS Justice Newburger and Judge
smith have been lifelong Democrats we
OF the party faith are regarding loyalty
and maintaining high standard OF
judicial nominations by supporting these
Tndg