The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-09
EDISON BUYER
PLEADS GUILTY
Harry p. Wood Says lie VIII
Tell Of Conspiracy to Prof
iteer in Coal. q
WON'T BE A SCAPEGOAT
Nice-President Of Brooklyn
Concern to Answer Indict-
ment on Tuesday.
WON'T BE A SCAPEGOAT

Harry p Wood until recently oper-
ating engineer in charge OF coal pur-
chases for the Brooklyn Edison Com
pany. pleaded guilty yesterday to an
indictment charging him personally,
the Brooklyn Edison Company. Walter
F.. Wells. its vice-president. and two
coal companies with conspiring to
profteer in coal.
Wood waived immunity and win be
a witness for the Government in what
promises to be a sensational eX-
posture OF fraudulent use OF priority
permits. The indictment charges the
Edison company with exercising its
privilege as public utility to obtain
coal at a low figure and resell It at
big profit in violation OF the Lever act.
Evidence or alleged coal proflteering
, was secured by William McMurtrie
Speer. special assistant 10 the Attorney
General. who has been investigating
coal conditions and prices In New York
for several months. Mr.. Speer said last
night that the investigation would con-
tinue for some time, but he did not
know IL any other concerns would pe
involved.
Wood was in West Virginia when the
Federal Grand Jury voted the :ndict-
ments Monday. He returned at once
and following q conference with his
counsel went yesterday to Mr. Speer
and offered 20 plead guilty and turn
States evidence. He was taken before
Judge Julius NJ. Mayer in the United
States District Court.
Wood to Tell All.
After the entry Of the plea Assistan.
United States Attorney Maxwell s.
Mattuck asked Judge Mayer 20 delay
sentence. as Wood will be tho principal
witness against the other defendants
With this understanding Judge Mayer
postponed sentence until October 81
and allowed Wood his liberty on $4,000
bail.
As he was leaving the courtroom
Wood said
81 think have been made the scape-
gost In this affair. arm ruined forever
10 Brooklyn and done for, but I shall
tell the whole truth OF this entire mat
ter whether IL incrim!uates me or any
BODY else ! have waived immunity.
II had full charge OF all the coal pur
chased by the Edison company from tho !
mines TO the bunkers. because Of this |
Investigation ! severed my connection !
with that company several weeks ago !
Now | am going to tell all I know AMI |
ge. this thing on my mind"
IL ls understood that Vice President +!
Wells viii appear Tuesday 20 plead TO 4
tho indictment. The two coal COM |
panies--B. ]. Lynch Coal Company and !
Adelphia Coal Compauy-have pleade I
not guilty.
This case is the FIRST prosecution un-
der the Lever act for coal Droiiteeering 4
since Attorney-Goreral Palmer took W 1
tic soft coal situation last summer II l
is alleged that the conspiracy has been /
I'm operation since the Lever act went !
into effect. October 20. 1919
Profits shared I'm secret.
The profits and bonuses accruing 10 /
the Adelphir Company, IL Is alleged. I
were divided between Il and Harry y. I
Wood and other persons whose names |
are unknown. The existence OF such /
profits were aaid 20 have been kept 1
secret from the Public Service Commits |
sion.
The Brooklyn Edison Company mus |
also plead TO an indictment for hoard |
Ing coal. It is charged that on July ! !
last Il had outstanding contracts for \
coal In excess OF it's requirements. The |
amount OF coal contracted for was more \
than double the legitimate requirements |
FOR eleven months. the indictment states. |
The boarding of $4,000 tons is specif- |
,aliy charged.
A separate Investigation OF tho coal |
situation IN New YORK IS being rnado |
by the Department OF Health. The re-
suit OF priority orders giving preference !
to New England. II Is said. has made a
shortage In this city. The New York !
Taxpayers Association reported vester- !
day that so per. cent OF their 5000 I
members who oNn apartment houses !
and tenements are without coal
After comforting with coal operators l
for several days Or. Royal S. Copeland. |
Health Commissioner. said he would |
establish what will he known as the |
Cont Relief Bureau. and that all land |
lords who have difficulty in procuring /
coal may arrange for u supply through |
this bureau. Information can be OBJ |
tanned by talephoniuw the Health De- |
Worth 9too, Extension l2S.