Norwich bulletin., 1920-11-19
NEW INDICTMENT. AGAINST
 BUILDING TRUsT' BRINDELI

New York. Nov. 1S.-While the joint legislative committee investigating the building. trust was hearing further tes- tirnony today regarding alleged graft pay ments to Robert P:kBrlndeli, president or the Building Trades council, the grand jury strengthened it's indictment of yes terday and added another, charging the labor leader with extortion.
 After pleading not guilty to the amend ed indictment alleging attempted extor- ton of $25 ,00U and the new charge, Brin' dell was granted his liberty on the S100,- coo bail furnished yesterday.
 Judge MulQueen, before whom Brindeu was arraigned, warned the defendant counsel, Martin w Littleton, that the time might come when people would de- mand more security" Mir. Littleton said he. hoped" there would be sufficient time between indictments to enable him to go out and dig up bail if more is needed. The new indictment charged Brinde]l with extortion in that he received S500 from Louis J. Cohen, housewrecker, on JulyE15, in connection with demolition
 job.
 While Brindell was busy pleading in the criminal courts building, the legislative committee in the city hall heard witness es testify to the payment of more than 1 S4S, 600, to the labor leader for wrecking | jobs and protection against labor trou- 1 bles. si,ss-zss
 Of these witnesses, Albert Hirskowitz ] headed the list. having declared he paid l $25 900 to Brindell to prevent "rulnored l strike" Then came. George Atwell, one I of tie -city',s, largest demolition contract S ors, who said he had paid $17,120 for | jobs and protection.
 Nieman Klomposs, a housewrecker, tes- l tifed to giving Brindel $1,000 for get 1 ting me mem and arranged for 'protec-
 tioh from trouble" of Frank Milton. an-
 other contractor, which he said cost $500. I He said he also paid $200 for privilege
 cards" in order that his men could work. Later Klomposs added, he gave s1,00O to | a partner, B. Siegei, to be given Brindell 1 to prevent interruption; of work.
 Aseph H. Goldblatt building and sheet meAsl! contractor, testified he paid $2,000 to Rrindelrs agents at the request of the T labor leader to have a strike called off on an alteration job.
 i When he said he threatened to fight the Brindell men, Goldblatt declared NIT. Pike, walking delegate, said: 'Go as far as you like. We have got all the pro- lection we want. We have got the district attorney and police force with us."
 Goldblatt said that your amount is so
 small it cannot be seen. What are you
 barking about? We have about fifty on the list ranging from S20 900 to $50,000 and nobody makes a howl like you did Ito give up. We are sorry we ever tackled
 you"
 : On the witness stand Atwell, who ad- mitted he had done Tots of political work, testified at length to activities ot
 BrindeH which he declared had been
 characterized by Otto Eidlitz, one of the citys largest builders, as 'wonderfu : I work in stabilizing the business. Brindelrs source of power. Atwell said , was, in, the building trades employers as- , sociation and declared that the labor lead CT wa sin absolute control of all work and ! Ehad awarded jobs and fixed prices. { 'sThis manipulation and corruption .add ' ed tremendously to the cost of building, . he said.
 The labor chief, the witness continued Il had forced him 10 discharge experienced > housewreckers and hlre 'nexperienceS
 men. who came on the job ard said thu : work was too dirty" and naue seats fo
 l themselves and sat down to do thei V work.
 ' In one instance when he offered to pa, T SIG, 900 to wreck building for salvag T. Atwell said Brindell told him he coul get him the job by paying only $5,00e
 He said he took the job and gave tn
 labor leader the other $5,000. Several sim
 liar incidents were cited by the witness who said he gave the labor chief $13,50
 for four jobs, and $3,S20 for ''initiatio
 fees" for workInen.
 St The hearing of the graft testimony wa
 in peaceful contrast to the unusual dis 'el order that had marked the proceeding l. earlier in. the day, when Mayor 11yla l. was on the witness stand.
 i'll Several times the hearing was brougf a. to a halt while the mayor and Samu' lg Untermyer, the committees counsel. 1T i- dulged in personalities, Mir. Untermye h. charging the mayor was attempting to 'ridetraclS" the investigation by "cheal
 ness and slurs"
 in "We have had nothing disorderly to these proceedings until the mayor got 0 re the stand" said MT. Untermyer, askin h. that if the mayor continue his tactics S. be adjudged in contempt.
 r. "Until," interrupted the mayor. "yo or tried to impute. wrong to the mayo CT which which you are I ot going to g
 way with
 Aftef declaring that he had had T
 D srsonal relations with Brinde1, u A mayor was excused from the stand