The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-19
WENDELL SEES
POLITICAL TRAP
IN BOND INQUIRY.
Deputy Comptroller Refuses
to Answer Questions on
Personal Finances.
YEARS EFFECT ON VOTE
Justice Kermochan to De-
eide on Officials Rights
as q Candidate.
nm~1vvrN ADrrcrHY<1 nm A vyrcy
FEARS EFFECT ON VOTE
DENIES ADVISING TRAVIS
Also Says He Did Not Write
Letter Which Enabled JUDD
son to Get Bonds.

Efforts to delve into the personal
finances Of James A. Wendell, Deputy
State Comptroller and Republican
nominee for Comptroller, brought a
storm Of protest from himself and his
counsel when he resumed the stand
yesterday in the John Doe inquiry into
the way bonds were bought for the
STATE sinking funds by Comptroller
Eugene NJ Travis.
IL think this does have q bearing on
the inquiry" Chief Justice Frederic
Kernochan Of Special Sessions, who is
citing as Magistrate, told the witness
when he raised the first objection to
answering the questions of Ferdinand
pecora, Assistant District Attorney,
xsgarding his financial affairs. "The
testimony has shown that large sum
Of money was paid over to Albert Il
hudson. The. District Attorney wants
30 zee whers 1t went, though Judson
said he kept 1t all. He examined Mr..
Travis to that effect, and I think 1t
permissible for him to ask your SINH
lar questions"
Judson's profits under the Travis re-
gfme reached nearly $850,000.
"But Mr. Wendell Is candidate for
public office, your honor" interposed
Col. william Hayward. of Wendelps
counsel. Things might be said that would
embarrass him and harm his candidacy
without being revelent to his inquiry.
think fits an invasion OF Mr.. Wendell's
personal and political rights to spread
this information before the public and
the papers, some of which are friendly
but some Of which are apparently hos
tile to him."
'There's still difference In this State
between solvency and larceny" Col
Hayward continued caustically. He In
timated that harm to the Wendell cam
paign might be the only object of the
District Attorneys Office, drawing his in
ference from an incident the second day
of the inquiry. when a Brooklyn news
paper printed excerpts from and ques-
toned Wendell about documents referring
to Wendells financial affairs, which Mr..
Pecora had tried to introduce then. but
which Justice Kernochan ruled out until
greater reason was shown for their in
PRODUCTION. This Mr.. Pecora Indignantly
denied.
Conference to Decide on Questions
Counsel for wendell suggested that
the Assistant District Attorney present
TO Justice Kernochan privately what de-
tails of Wendell's finances he sought to
introduce as evidence, so that the Magis-
trate could rule in advance whether they
would he admitted or not. What he
ruled should be admitted, Col. Hayward
declared. would be testified to without
restraint.
Mr. Wendell asked to be permitted to
be present at the conference of the JUS
tice and the District Attorney. and per-
mission was granted. He asked Mr. Pc
cora just what he wanted to have on
hand for the conference.
''1 want the transcripts or originals of
all loan or deposit accounts. or other
transactions. such as marginal accounts,
which you have had since January 1,
1916" no was told.
Wendell promised to produce them, but
said II may take week or two to pre-
pare them, as HIS accounts are not In
good shape at present.
The reticence of Mr.. Wendell to re-
veal his personal finances because OF
possible weakening to his political can