New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Tax Fraud Case
lSAtOnement
OF x-Convict
Head of Coastwise Ware
house Company Admits
He Served Two Terms
for Forgery and Theft

The amazing career of an enemy
alien who left Sing Sing in 1913
with resolution to "go straight"
and repay his victims was revealed
yesterday before Judge Foster, in the
Federal District Court, where A. Lin
coin Samuelson and Morris Rachmil
partners in the Sterling Accounting and
Audit Company, are being tried on
charges of conspiring to defraud the
government by falsifying income tax
returns
Under rossexamination of William J
fallon, Adolph Pricken, vice e-president
of the Coastwise Warehouses, Inc a
witness for the prosecution, admitted
ne mad served two prison terms. In an
even voice he told of his mistakes and
how he had risen to wealth since he
left Sing Sing. In answer to questions
ne declared he had sought to redeem
himself by acting as decoy for the
government in the present case
On Monday the witness told the jury
how, under the direction of govern
ment operatives, he had conspired with
the defendants and Morris Rosenblum,
an internal revenue Inspector, to
swlndle the government. Rosenblum
has pleaded guilty.
Question Surprises Witness
How long since you came out of
prison! was the first question Mr.
tallon hurled at the witness yesterday
ne witness was surprised, and the
members of the jury leaned forward
eagerly waiting his reply. Pricken re-
gained his poise almost Immediately
and answered.:
II came out of Sing Sing in 1913"
Then the cross examiner. began a
series of questions that revealed the
remarkable adventures and success Of
an enemy alien who made a fortune in
America during the war. He told how
he adopted a subterfuge to acquire and
retain the controlling interest in the
CoastWlsc Warehouses in viola ton of
the trading with the enemy act, and how
series of Investigations by the Depart
ment of Justice. the secret service,
Marshal Mccarthy and the intelligence
services of the military establishment
failed to reveal him as an enemy alien.
Pricken said he served his first
prison term in the Philadelphia County
Prison for forgery, from 1905 to 1909.
While in this institution he resolved
to reform. However, when he was re-
leased armed with forged letters of
recommendation. he came to New York
and obtained a position with Park &
Tlford
His advance was rapid, until it was
discovered that large quantities of per-
fumery were being stolen. Pricken was
suspected and fed to Europe. He re-
turned to this country a short time
later and was taken in custody at ST.
Paul.
The examination developed the fact
that Pricken was bookkeeper and ac-
countant
"You are pretty familiar with ac-
you not % inquired Mr.. Fallon.
NO. replied the Witness "If l had
been l would not have been caught
| made a bad job of it,"
Pricken said he received 100000 for
/ the perfumery he stole from Park &
went straight" and made money he
had returned this to the firm. A letter
/ from the firm was offered in evidence
but was ruled out when Mr.. Fallon OBJ
jected Prickcn then said he was SEN
fenced by Judge Mulqueen in General
Sessions to serve four years and five
months in Sing Sing.
Denies He Sought MatrimOny
I'm order to endeavor to escape that
punishment you wanted to marry a
| girl and lead a decent life, didn t
you?" asked Mr.. Fallon.
you are going too far That is not
true" answered the witness.
The witness insisted he had not dealt
with Samuelson and Rachml to con-
vince people that he was ION the
level" He said that they had first pro-
posed to him that he falsify the in
come tax returns of the Coastwise
concern.
Pricken said he paid Rachmil $500