New-York tribune., 1920-04-13

more than six million persons. has
never been so free from vice condl-
tons as at the present time. lnoict-
ments have been found against GER
tain police officials, some of them on
statements presented by the very
people whom officers have had to ar
rest and prosecute in the course OF
their duty.
"Thc people of our city. who have
honored yop and me by electing us
to political Office, are entitled to know
merits, without delay. AS Mayor of
the city, in order that these alleged
conditions may be promptly dealt
with, and on behalf of the people Of
the city, | most respectfully urge
upon you the necessity Of an imme-
diate trial Of those indicted
DIR. Straton Once Sued
Commissioner of Accounts Hirshfield
who at the request of Mayor Hylan IS
making an Independent vice investiga
ton, made public yesterday letter he
had received from 0. l.. Shackleford
District Attorney of Norfolk, Va. With
the letter were copies Of legal docu-
ments involved in libel suit brought
by Shachleford against the Rev. DR.
TOIu AOdCu tCCIdtOu, DdoCOl VI SdlNdi y
Baptist Church, when the latter was
pastor Of church in Norfolk.
According to Shackleford, DR.. Straton
conducted a vice crusade in Norfolk
and preached a number of sermons, in
which he criticized the public officials
His attack upon Mr.. Shackleford result
ed in a libel suit, which, according ia
the letter made public by Mr.. Hirsh-
field, was settled when the preacher
retracted his accusations.
Shackleford's letter to Mr.. Hirshfeld
follows:
"Some time prior to his removal from
Norfolk to New York this man Strato.l
preached a number Of sermons here, in
which he criticized moral conditions OF
the community and attacked the Police
Department. He furnished his sermons
to the newspapers and wrote book or
the subject, entitled, The Scarlet Stain
on the City, and How to Wipe II Out,
which contained attacks on the Mayor
the Board of Control chief of police
ard lower officers
Shortly afterward l summoned him
before the grand jury. He admitted his
inability to give any concrete evidence
as to these matters, claiming that the
information had come to him from con
idcntial sources. No indictments were
found.
DR.. Straton Retracts
Subsequently he requested me to
recommend to the Governor of the
state that a pardon be granted to A. G
Backus, whom l had convicted of a vio-
laton of the liquor laws. refused tc
do so. He thereupon circulated a print
ed pamphlet addressed to the Governol
OF Virginia, in which he made many
statements rejecting upon me person
ally and as q public official. | immc-
diately filed suit against him for libel
Gust prior to the trial his counsel
Informed my counsel that an adjust
ment OF the matter was desired by
Straton. He was informed that the
only terms on whic- a settlement could
every charge and insinuation in refer
ence to me personally and officially, and
an apology for his scurrilous article.
Before the trial he complied with
our demands, as is evidenced by his
letter of June 7. 1919, which is spread
on the official order book Of the Circuit
Court of this city, and a copy Of which
is herewith inclosed"
What purports to be a copy of the
letter written to Shackleford by Dr.
Straton follows:
~ desire to withdraw all insinua-
tions and charges made by nc against
you or your character in statement
addressed by me to Governor West
moreland Davis, entitled Statement OF
Grounds for Asking a Pardon for A. G
Backus, and to say to you that l regret
that / made such insinuations and
charges.
"These insinuations and charges
were made by me on information which
| deemed reliable, but subsequent in
vestigation has satisfied me that this
information was incorrect. Hence, what
I have said or insinuated concerning
yourself or your character as a prose
cutting officer in the paper referred tc
was incorrect and does you great in.
justice. l am anxious to right the
wrong done you.
'You are at liberty to use this letter
in any way that you see fit"
Same Kind of Campaign
Commissioner Hirshfeld said last
night that he had not received the let.
ter which DR.. Straton said he had writ
ten him declining to appear before him
in the vice investigation he IS conduct
ing.