New-York tribune., 1920-10-26
Travis Held
In Contempt;
Faces Prison
Continued from page onc)

Continued from pace onc)
which in number of cases were de-
oidcdly more favorable to the state.
In a number Of instances Mr. Travis
could not recall why certain offers had
Been elected and those of Judson ac-
cepted. Ne also admitted that he was
unable to explain how it happened that
Deputy Comptroller James A. Wendell
had come to audit six of the Judson
vouchers when he CTravis) had pre-
viously testified that his assistant had
! practically nothing to do with the ne
! gotlations involved in bond purchases.
Mr.. Pecora suddenly switched from
this line Of questioning and took up
the Comptrollcr's private affairs. His
hrst question III this direction was:
"Through what brokers have YOU
made purchases since January /, 1915,
or since YOU have been State Comp
troller, of bonds and securities for
your personal account ."
This query appeared to dsconcert
the witness, who hesitated for z mo-
ment and then moved over toward JUS
tlce kernochan as though to engage the
| latter IN Whispered conversation The
Judge motioned him back to his seat.
and finally Mr.. Travis said:
81 won't answer that question. and |
VIII explain my reason for declining. !
Will not answer any questions bearing
on my personal affairs because | think
tncy nave nothing to do with the rur-
chase OF bonds and are not pertinent
or germanc to this inquiry.
Unjust Attacks Charged
Furthermore. l have been subjected
10 a number of very unjust attacks
Last Wednesday night my attorney and
the District Attorney agreed that un-
less | notified the latter by / o'clock
IN the afternoon of the following day
was not to be called until this week.
The District Attorney then took it
upon himself to announce publicly that
could not be found on Thursday.
This has done me and my Office great
injustice. was in my Office that day
and went from there to my lawyers
and later to the income tax Office The
plstrlct Attorney has seen fit to delve
INTO my private affairs and bring into
TINS inquiry the name of a man who
mas stolen many thousands of dollars
rom me. read in the papers that
the District Attorney intended to ven
'llate my private affairs. and in order
to prevent this shall refuse to answer
any questions relating to them"
The name Of the man the Comptrollcr
mentioned as having robbed him has
'ioI mus Tar been made public, the
matter having been brought up several
days ago when Mr.. Pecora introduced a
number of checks made out to Mr..
Travis by person whose name was
not divulged
Mr. IravlS's refusal to answer Mr.
Fecora's question caused Judge Ker-
1ochan to ask: DO you mean that YOU
decline to answer this question on the
ground that it might degrade or in
crminate You?'
The witness explained that he re
fused to answer because he considered
the question immaterial.
ou will please allow me to rule on
the materiality of questions" said
Judge kernochan. 81 direct you to an
sWer'
Another Question Refused
When Mr.. Travis again declined the
court declared that ne would take the
matter up later and ordered Mr..
Pecora to proceed. The next question
was: Have you, since January |, 1915.
purchased stocks, bonds or other Sc
cprities from or through the firm of
II. f. Mcconnell & Co. for your own
personal account?"
Mr.. Travis / decline to answer
W Mf. fecora- on the ground that it
VIII tend to incrminate. or DEGRADE
you? ''''''
Mr.. Travis Certainly not.
Mr. Pecora- ask the court to direct
tne witness to answer the question:
justice kernochan-l direct YOU to
answer. W
Mr.. Travis decline.
Justice kernochan The witness re-
fuses to obey the direction OF the
court W '''o
MIR. Travis also refused to answer
/ Il:
accounts with the BROKERAGE honseS nf
George II: Burr G. Co., A. L. Eglinton e.
20. and Johnston, Dryden & Co.. Inc
II ATTITUDE appeared to rufflc Justice
hernochan, who said: 81 consider that
you are IN contempt of court. and
snail take that matter up later. Each
lel luSal TO answer IS separate case of
! cOntempt'
lie then informed Mr. Pecora that he
was at liberty to call the brokers in
question if he deemed it necessary in
oIoer TO OBTAIN the information sought
through the questions put to Mr.
! Travis -'
"There are many ways to skin a catn
declared the court, "and, while don't
want to make it unpleasant for the
comptroller. don't want to feel that
the court has been dehed We must
carry this investigation to its end, and
we must hnlsh 1t this week. | Ger.
talnly VIII not permit the inquiry to
be interrupted by the attitude of the
Witness"
Nr. Pecora then asked similar ones
tons IN connection with the brokerage
trims of Ladd & Wood and George i
( Glbb9ns d Co., the latter being one of
me two concerns through which the
Comptroller's Office purchased bonds to
the value Of many millions.
Queries Read Into Record
NJ. Travis stuck to his guns and re-
fused to give any information whatever
/ concerning private accounts he NAV
ave had with any of these houses. Mr.
Pecora then read into the record the
following questions, all of which the
witness declined to answer:
Are there any other persons or
firms through or from whom YOU pur-
chased stocks, bonds or other securj-
ties"
Is there any person or corporation
that nolds in trust for you or your per
sonas account, in your name or tho
name of any other person or corpora
/ tlHN any stocks, bonds or other securi
t,ns >"
Since January. 1915 that is. since
you have been State Comptroller
4 nave Won ,prcb.