New-York tribune., 1920-12-31
Eidlitz, Alleged Gar of
Employers Ring,Denies
That He Dictated Work.
ers' Council Operations
Labor Boss Denied
Change of Venue
Four More Indictments as
the Lockwood Inquiry
Halts Until Next Month

ne LOCKWOOD committee wound
up its sensational war on corrupt prac
tices in the building industry under
It's present lease of life yesterday with
vigorous attack against the Building
Trades Employers Association, the
combination of builders and contrac-
tors which, through its alliance with
the Building Trades Council, the la
Dor body, is alleged to have completely
dominated the construction industry in
this city.
AS If to add lustre to the wind-up
four additional indictments were re-
turned by the extraordinary grand
jury on evidence arising from testi
mony before the committee. and Su-
Preme Court Justice Burr denied Rob
ert ?. Brindell, head of the Building
Trades Council, a change of venue.
brlndell, who has been indicted seven
times on charges of extortion and at
tempted extortion, must therefore
stand trial in this city.
Brindell Trial Next Week
The reputed labor king, who con-
tended he could not get fair trial in
this county because of adverse public
lty, will go on trial on January s. Sam
Lel untermyer, the committees conn
sci, VIII prosecute the case.
The indictments handed down ves-
terday named John T. Hettrick, the
originator of the Hettrick "code of
practice" scheme of collusive bidding:
William J. Doran and William H. Chap
man, two of Brindell's alleged aids. and
Herbert Smith, president of the Master
Plumbers Association. All four of the
defendants have been indicted before
on other charges. and are accused in
yesterdays Indictment of conspiracy
and violating the Donnelly antitrust
laws. Hettrick already is out on $780,
coo bail, Doran $4,000, Smith $4,000
and Chapman $50,0OO. Their bonds all
were continued, and they were given a
week to change their pleas of not
guilty.
The four corporations and three of
the fifteen individuals comprising the
alleged sand ring, indicted by the
Federal grand jury Wednesday for al
legged violations of the Sherman anti
trust law, pleaded not guilty before
Judge Hand in the United States Dis
trict Court. They were given until
January II to demur to the indict-
ments. The individuals entered bail
of $4,000 each.
the Goodwin Gallagher Sand and
Gravel Corporation, the Manhattan
Sand Corporation, Lenox Sand and
Gravel Corporation and the Colonial
Sand and Stone Company Inc. The
three individuals were John j. CAL
lagher, vice president of the Goodwin
Gallagher frm Lawrence Rukeyser.
president of the Colonial company and
Martin Lanigan, of Lanigan Brothers.
More Hearings Planned
At the conclusion of the days ses-
sion, Mr.. Untcrmyer intimated that
the revelations regarding building trade
conditions here would probably be con-
tinued between January 10 and Is, by
which time he said he hoped the com
mittee would be reorganized by the in
coming State Legislature.
Many com bnations, he said remain
uninvestigated, and although counsel
was ready to present many others, they
would have to be turned over to the
various grand juries now sitting for
the purpose of consideration and ac-
tlOn.
eve have a mass Of evidence on an
other phase of our inquiry" he added,
"relating to corporations, banks, trust
and insurance companies, which we
hope to present to the new committee,
which will occupy our attention for
quitc number of days. Unless de-
layed by Brndell's crowd, we will have
another resolution prepared and passed
by the Legislature and be ready to go
ahead between the 10th and 18th of
January"
The attack on the Building Trades
En- mployers' Association was begun with
Otto M. Eidlitz, member of the board
of governors of the assoc alton and
said to be the dominating influence in
the organ zation. Eidlitz also repre-
sents the Mason Builders Association
in the employers organization.
Eidltz was an extremely reluctant
witness. His rctorts to ntimations by
Mr.. Untermyer that he was the dicta
tor of the Building Trades Employers
Continued on page seven)