The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-29
FIGHTS INQUIRY INTO.
WENDELL FINANCES
His Counsel Succeeds i'm Block
ing Investigation at
This Time.
EXPLANATION ON INCOME
Justice Kernochan Insists on
Continuation of Comptrol-
ler's Case To-day.

Efforts to bare the personal stock
transactions OF James a. Wendell. Dep
Lty State Comptroller, were blocked yes
terday at the Johr Doe inquiry into the
way Comptroller Travis bought bonds
for the State sinking funds.
Because Mr.. Wendell is on a speaking
tour in the western part of the State his
| counsel. Col William Hayward, con
tended that publicity given to his per
sonal finances at this time would be
seized upon by Wendell's political OPP
ponents to injure his candidacy for the
Comptrollership. and the nearness OF
election day would not give the deputy
enough time to explain them to every
body's satisfaction.
lie intimated that the inquiry had
been started late and allowed to drag
along so that the disclosure of Wen
delrs finances would do him irreparable
harm. With this Chief Justice Frederic
Kernochan of Special Sessions, who Is
sitting as Magistrate, disagreed sharply.
Il don't think it can be truthfully said
that any one wilfully prolonged 1t TO
bring a climax at a psychological mo-
ment," he said. THE hearing was TO
have been finished two weeks ago. And
It would have If l had not been perhaps
too lenient to counsel for the various
witnesses, and IL l had not considered
the interests of the business men called
as witnesses and tried 10 arrange ses-
sons to suit their convenience. If the
District Attorney had had his way he
would have called Mr.. Wendell as the
second witness. You can't put the de-
lay up to him."
Col Hayward pleaded that the in
terests OF justice would be served just
as we'll If the hearing of testimony re-
garding Mr.. Wendelrs personal finances,
should such testimony be admitted, was
put off until the day after election.
In explaining Mr.. Wendelrs income
Col Hayward made It known that until
recently the deputy had a profitable au
tomobile agency In Albany that he Is
a partner in publishing business and
in a chemical manufacturing concern
end that he inherited upward of $780,,
900 from his father.
That's news to me-" the District
Attorney said. II don't know why Mr..
Wendell couldn't have told us of his
ether sources of income nearly two
weeks ago. when we first sought to in
troduce this evidence and it was ex-
clrded."
.As to the evidence that Mr. Pecora
is trying TO get at" Justice Kernochan
good or very much harm In view OF
what has already been testified to-
think know what he hopes to show. so
I'm inclined to stop taking test mony
now. l have 1000 pages to digest al
ready. and II 1t appears material after
reading them then the hearing Will be
reconvened and the evidence will be az
mitted.'
Mr.. Pecora finally agreed to let the
matter drop as the Justice suggested.
Justice Kernochan announced that he
had received a communication from
Comptroller Travis that Mr. Travis was
willing TO resume the stand and TESTIFY,
il is understood. to his own personal
stock transactions, about which he re-
fused to answer questions Monday and
was held in contempt of court The
Justice said he would sit tomorrow
morning, at which time the Comptroller
could appear, but representative Oh
Wasservogel e. Medalle, counsel for MIR.
Travis, announced that the Comptroller's
counsel would be engaged otherwise and
could not be with their client until
Monday and that he would not TESTIFY
without them present.
The Justice expressed sorrow that the
COMPTROLLER could not be heard from,
tut said the case must be ended before
Monday. as a new term of court begins
.,,e-, apd he must sit elsewhere. He
thereupon appointed this morning as the
time when witnesses or their attorneys
could appear before him and make any
statements they desire for the record
before the inquiry Is closed.