The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-26
HINTS AT A ROBBERY
Brokers to Be Called To-day
to Disclose What They
Can of His Affairs.
QUIZ rs NEARING ITS END
Justice Kernochan Can Give
Years Sentence for Each Of
IL Refusals to Reply.

Eugene NJ. Travis, State Comptroller,
was held yesterday to be in contempt
Of court when he refused to answer
questions concerning his personal
finances. put to him by Ferdinand
Pecora, Assistant District Attorney, in
the John Doe inquiry into the way he
bought bonds Tor the State Sinking
Fund.
Chief Justice Frederic Kernochan Of
Special Sessions. who is sitting as
Magistrate In the proceedings, an
nouEced that he would not take up the
matter Of Mr.. Travis's punishment un-
til the inquiry has ended. To do so
now, he pointed out would cut short
further testimony of the witness and
block the proceedings. He said 1t is
important to finish the inquiry this
week.
IL the Justice should decide to punish
the Comptroller as fully as the law
allows a prison term of seventeen
years faces Mr.. Travis--one year for
each question he refused to answer
after the court directed him to do SO.
Alternatives are fine, or forgiveness
of the offence If proper apologies are
mace.
Sequel to Hours of Quixxfng.
The Comptrollers obstinacy on the
stand began when. after several hours
of quizzng regarding bond sales. Mr..
Pecora asked:
Through what brokers or persons
have you made purchases since January
j. 1915 or since you have been State
Comptroller of stocks. bonds or other
securities for your personal account"
Il decline to answer that question
and l will explain my reason for de-
Ginning the Comptroller began. IT
will not answer any questions bearing
on my personal affairs. because think
they have nothing to do with the pur-
chase OF bonds. Since this inquiry
started ! have been subjected to q
number of very unjust personal at
tacks.
For instance. last Wednesday night
my attorney and the District Attorney
agreed that unless l notified the Dis
trict Attorney by o'clcck on Thurs
day that II would be convenient for
me to appear then. would not be
called until this week. The District
Attorney announced on Thursday that
/
me and my office great deal Of harm.
was in my office and went from there
to my lawyers and to the Income Tax
Bureau.
Again the District Attorney saw fit
10 delve into my personal affairs and
bring into this inquiry the name OF a
man who has stolen many thousands
Of dollars from me- which had nothing
TO do with bond transactions. / read
In M Attorney
Intended to ventilate my private at
fairs. therefore / shall refuse to answer
any questions relating TO them"
do you mean that you will decline
10 answer on the ground that the an
swer might incrimnate or degrade
you?" asked Justice Kernochan.
Certainly not, but because con-
sider this question immaterial," the
witness replied.
Court Prefers to Decide.
You will have 10 allow me to rule
what is pertinent Justice Kernochan
reminded him. and direct you to
answer the question"
IT decline to answer on the ground
that the question is not legal and not
in ORDER" Mr.. Travis persisted.
I'VE will take the matter UP later.
Proceed" the Justice directed.
Have you since January /. ls15--that
is, since you have been State Comp
troIler purchased stocks. bonds or
other securities from or through the
firm of II. +. Mcconnell & Co. for your
own personal account" Mr.. Pecora
asked.
II decline to answer
ION the ground that the answer will
tend to incriminate or degrade your
II do not"
ION what grounds
THAT the question Is not pertinent.
not legal and not In order in this in
vestigation."
II ask tho Court 70 direct the witness
to answer" said Mr.. Pccora.
Justice Kernochan directed the Comp
troller TO answer.
Mr. Travis again refused, whereupon
the Justice read into tho record:
THE witness declines TO obey the d.
rection OF the Court
To the same questions, but with tho
names of the brokerage houses OF
George RI. Burr ~ Co., a. L. Egiinton
n co. and Johnston. Dryden & Co. sub
stituted successfully for II. II. McCon-
nell & Co. the Comptroller delivered the
some answers His attitude caused JUS
ficc Kernochan 10 remark:
II consider the grounds you give con-
tempt OF court and that matter VIII bc
taken up afterward. Each refusal 10
answer is separate contempt. so 10
hasten this matter. Mr.. Pecora, you
know you are at liberty to call the
brokers In question and suggest tia;
YOU do so. You know there are many
WAYS to skin cat. I don't want to
make Il unpleasant for the Comptroller.
Int don't wan. to feel that the court
can be defied. One tn we have got
"a do is to continue this investigation
10 the end and finish II this week. This
liberalization Will not be blocked by the
attitude OF the Comptroller
witness sim q. Obdurste.
Mr.. Pecora went through the routine
Of questions regarding the brokerage
firms OF Ladd & Wood and George B.
Gibbons g. Co., and asked the general