New-York tribune., 1920-11-18
Head of Building Trades
Council Takes Charges
of Attempted Extortion
as Nothing but a Joke
Three Counts All
In Fradus Case
Prosecutor Says Other
Actions Will Follow;
BackerPleads NotCuiltv

Robert P. Brindell, head of the
Building Trades Council and re
puted labor king Of the building
industry, was indicted by the addi-
tional grand jury yesterday on the
charge of attempted extortion, grow
ing out of the Lockwood committees
investigation of the housing Situa-
ton. He was placed under 100000
bail. The bond was Immediately
furnished by surety company and
he was released. Under the Penal
Code the crime is a felony, punish
able by seven and a half years in
prison.
The labor leader had been sum-
moned to the Criminal Courts Build
ing shortly after 2 p. m. by his coun-
sci, Martin w. Littleton, who had
been informed of the additional
grand jury's action Mr.. Littleton
Immediately entered a plea of not
guilty and asked for ten days time
to make whatever motion or change
of plea he desired. After some ar
gument Judge Mulqueen set the time
limit for making motions on No..
vember 26.
More Indictments Promised
y In the course of the argument over
the bail Stanley Richter, Special AS
sistant District Attorney acting for
the Lockwood committee, declared that
this was only one of "a series OF
charges that will be brought against
Brindell and that the collective extor-
tion accusations would aggregate ST.
100000
owe shall not only prove attempted
extortion," said Richter, but we will
prove the consummated crime. Large
sums are involved some as high as
$4,000. We are informed that the
defendant is very wealthy man as a
result of his experiences in New York
during the last year and half We
feel the bail asked for is very mod
crate"
MI. Littleton protested that it was
the largest bail ever fixed for Grim
inal case in the state 1T amounts TO
demand for punishment before guilt
or innocence is proved" he said you
are trying to drive the accused into
prison without warrant of law"
Judge Mulqueen replied that he had
to get reasonable assurance that the
Jafo mt H.
an unusual case" he remarked II will
be frank with you. l think the crcum-
stances warrant 100000 bail"
Brindell Only Smiles
Brindell maintained a genial and
smiling air throughout the entire pro-
cecdings and seemed to regard the mat
ter very lightly. He chatted in a cheer
full vein with reporters and took great
pride in the fact that he was a hun
dred- Thousand dollar man.
"Who was the other 100000 man.
Nicky Arnstein, wasn't it ?" he queried
with laugh II was ready with only
$4,000, and here they go and double
it. If they had only asked for 100000
real men instead of 100000 iron men,"
he complained with mock seriousness,
"it would have been much easier"
He was nattily dressed in mixed
gray suit smartly cut dark brown
fedora hat and a dark brown ulster
neatly folded over his left arm He is
forty-six years old, tall, and with
streak of gray in his hair. He left the
Criminal Courts Building with his at
torney Immediately after his bail bond
was entered.
Another development of the day ia
connection with the Lockwood commit
tees inquiry into alleged corrupt prac-
tees in the building industry was the
postponement of the scheduled hearing
of the committee in the City Hall yes
terday because of the illness of Samuel
Untermyer, the committees chief coun-
sci. Mr.. Untermyer, however, let it be
known that he would be prepared to go
with the hearing this morning, when
the Mayor is expected to be one of the
witnesses callea TO the stand.
Another Dig at Board
In the course of message dictated
over the telephone from his home at
East Fifty-fourth Street, explaining
ms inability to go on with o-day's
hearing, he took another dig at the
Board of Estimate inquiry, saying:
Was there ever anything so farcial
and objectionable in its extravaganza
as the latest so-called investigation
After Mr.. Untermyer's first attack
on the new inquiry, in which he termed
IT embarrassing operation" Mayor
Hylan yesterday made public letter
he wrote in reply. He called Mr.. Tn
termyer's note "the peanest collection
of insincere expressions that has thus
far been presented by you TO me-" said
his tactics were vicious and unfair and
admonished the lawyer that in his next
letter he try to keep in mind some
idea of decency and fair play" You
| know it. know ia" he added, land
sooner or later the whole public viii
thoroughly understand what is moving
you toasuch despicable attacks on me-"
George S. Backer, the millionaire