The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-30
SOL0VEI ACCUSED
IN $500 BRBE TO
HALT BOOZE CASE
Tried to Induce L. S. Agent
to Lay Off Gross Brothers.
Is Charge.
Is HELD FOR HEARING
Asst. Corp. Counsel and
Friend of Hylan TO Be
Examined Saturday.
FORGED STAMPS FIGURE
Two Brooklyn Men Also Are
Involved i'm Conspiracy
Case.
FORGED STAMPS FIGURE

Joseph A. Solovei. Assistant Corpo-
ration Counsel. head OF the Bureau of
Street Openings for Brooklyn bor-
ough. and close friend of Mayor
Hylan. was held yesterday in $4,000
bail before United States Commits
sioner Hitchcock, on the complaint of
a prohibition enforcement agent. who
charges that Solovei paid him bribe
of $500. This money. the complaint
said. was to induce the agent to take
no action in the case Of two friends
of Soloveis, who were accused OF con-
spiracy to evade the Volstead law.
The friends. Benjamin and Albert
Gross. who described themselves in
court yesterday as brothers and real
estate brokers. and who live in Gar
den City, are both named in the COM
plant in which Solovei Is accused of
having passed a bribe. Albert Gross
was arraigned with Solovei and adj
mitted to the same bail. He is charged
with having induced Solovei to bribe
the agent. Solovei and Gross declared
their innocence OF wrongdoing, but
stated that they were not ready for
an examination in their case. Ex-
animation has been set for Saturday.
The official who accuses them is
Frank J. Seib. prohibition enforce
ment agent. He charges that following
an investigation into the possession of
certain rubber stamps. one OF them bear
ing the name of Charles r. O'Connor.
prohibition director for this State. and
the other the name of Julius c. Strenlan
prohibition director for Connecticut, he
! became convinced that the stamps had
been used to forge certificates on the
authority OF which whiskey had beer
withdrawn from bonded warehouses
He already had arrested Benjamin Gross
| his complaint sets forth, and was abou-
| to arrest Albert when he was introduced
| to Solovei in n restaurant in Lafayette
street. Solovei. with the Gross brother.
| and Seib. after discussing the cas-.
against the Crosses. went to room in
| the back of the establishment where
Seib declares. Solovei gave him five $l0C
bills on the understanding that he was
TO release Benjamin Gross and LAY Off
his brother.
SoIovei. following his arrest and ar
ra alignment. declared that the case against
him was q frame up and that wher
the time arrived he would be able te
show that he had no interest i'm the case
of the Gross brothers and could not pos
sibly have paid $500 to get them out Of
custody. Asked if he had any notion
| as to who might have an interest ir
framing him up, he said he had, but was
| not prepared TO give names.
Solovei was appointed an Assistant
| Corporation Counsel by Mayor Hylan
in April. 1918, after he previously had
been considered for several importa nj
offices. Mayor Hylan's first intention
was to make him City Magistrate and
afterward a Deputy Police Commis-
sioner. 1t was the Mayors insistence
on Solovei for the police job which
among other reasons. brought about
the resignation of Police Commissioner
Frederick a. Bugher, who was the
Mayors first appointee to the Police
Commissionership. and who preceded
Commissioner Enright in IT, Since his
appointment as Assistant Corporation
Counsel, Solovel has been In charge OF
the Brooklyn Bureau of Street Open
ings.
In 1918 he asked exemption from the
draft on the score that he was the sole
support of his father His claim was
disallowed and his name moved into
Glass A. Before being inducted into
the army. however he enlisted in the
Naval Reserve and obtained leave
OF absence without pay from his city
Job His salary Is 5000 a year.