New-York tribune., 1920-03-06
Mayor Hears
Judge Would
sIndict' Him
Tiernan, When Asked About
Threat, Wasn't Sure of
Term, but Declares He
Will Stand By 1t Anyway
Report Disturbs Hylan
Passes Much of His Time
Asking Official Friends:
is Tiernan After Me?'

Mayor Hylan wasted lot Of time
Yesterday inquiring Of his fellow
members of the Board Of Estimate
whether County Judge Tiernan. of
Staten Island. was "after him." Judg-
ing from the attitude Of Judge Tier
nan last night, the Mayor could have
found out in jiffy by calling the
Judge by telephone. The judge is
after him.
In the shape that the story Of the
solemn conclave of the Board OF Esti-
mate and Apportionment got to Judge
Tiernan it led him to believe that Com
missioner of Accounts Hirshfield had
announced that he had written to the
Mayor of conversation with Judge
Tiernan at the State Bar Association
dinner in the course of which Judge
Tiernan threatened to have Mayor
Hylan indicted. The story went on to
say that the Commissioner of Accounts
said he was going to Withdraw the let
ter because the judge had apologized.
There's nothing to apologize for"
said Judge Tiernan on hearing the
story III remember discussing the
traction situation on Staten Island
with Mr.. Hirshfield at the Bar Associa-
ton dinner, but don't remember
threatening to have Mayor Hylan in
dicted.
Will Stand by ''Indict"
"However, took no notes of the con-
versation, as Mr.. Hirshfield apparently
did, and if Mr. Hrshfeld says that 1
made that remark I am willing to
stand by 1t.
"The investigation of the Richmond
County Grand Jury into the traction
situation is going to be continued to
the end. no matter what city official is
scorched in the inquiry. Every civic
organization in Staten Island demanded
relief from the Mayor and the Board of
Estimate. No relief was forthcoming.
and now the situation is up to the
grand jury"
In the letter to which the Mayor re-
ferred Judge Tiernan is quoted as say
ing he would have the Mayor "im-
peached," not "indicted."
That the grand jury was hot on the
, trail the Mayor had reason to suspect
when he learned that it's subpenas had
been served yesterday on Comptroller
Craig and Commissioner of Accounts
Hirshfeld. Borough President Van
Name of Richmond had informed the
Board Of Estimate Thursday that in his
opinion Judge Tiernan's charge to the
grand jury constituted a threat to in
dict Mayor Hylan and other city off,
Gals
It was into this atmosphere Of gloom
that Mayor Hylan. all ruddy from Palm
Beach. burst when the Board of Esti-
mate assembled Yesterday He asked
Borough President Van Name if he had
said that Judre Tiernan was after him.
The Borough President replied that
That was his opinion.
Mayor Wants Information
"Why is he after me and not after
you?" asked the Mayor.
The only Information had was con-
tained in the charge made to the grand
jury" the Borough President replied.
This referred to q very high official,
and as ! am not one | supposed it re-
ferred to YOU"
u hope" said Mayor Hylan, "if the
any information relating to the judge,
or the grsnd jury, or the. District At
torney Of Richmond, in regard to me,
ne Will let me know"
This IS a county judge running for
Office interjected Borough President
Connolly, OF Queens. He referred to
Judge Tiernan's ambition to be ele-
vated to the Supreme Court bench.
We'll, he won't be able to practice
law if he is elected" remarked Comp
troller Craig.
Il had letter some time ago stating
what a judge in Richmond was going
to do to me- said Mayor Hylan. "This
shows the methods persons are resorting
to to lntimidate the Board of Estimate
and that is q violation Of the penal
law"
Mayor Reproves Judge
Judge Tiernan said that he had
chosen his words carefully in talking
to Commissioner Hirschfeld at the
dinner about the trolley situation, be-
cause he knew that his statements
would be carried to the Mayor and he
wanted that official to know how
earnest Staten Island was in it's deter
mination to have its trolley service re-
stored, even ct an increase in fares.
HIS recollection was that he had told
the Commissioner of Accounts that the
Board of Estimate had better wake up
or Grand Jury inquiry would be
started and all its members might be
called before the Grand Jury.
tie said that after he had permitted