New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-21
Hirsllfield and
StratOn Clash
At Vice Inquiry
Pastor, Threatened With
Jail if He Refuses to
Answer Questions, Hurls
Defiance at Commissioner
Policeman Is Called In
Word Battle Ends as Attor-
ney Leads Clergyman Out;
Another Nolley at Smith

Commissioner of Accounts Hirsh
aeIu, Nslo mas beet oaily making pub
lie reams of Testimony" given before
him by eX-convcts and other denizens
Of the underworld, charging Assistant
District Attorney James (. Smith with
protecting vice and gambling, varied
the program yesterday. He engaged in
n wordy set-to with the Rev. DR.. John
Roach Straton, vice crusader, whom he
had Subpoenaed.
When DR.. Straton and his counsel.
Thomas B. Fielder. appeared at the
Commissioners office in the Munich
pal Building. Hirshfield informed them
he had decided to postpone his ques
tionng of the clergyman. He explained
he was awaiting reply from District
Attorney Swami as to- whether DR..
STATIONS examination would interfere
with the prosecution OF the police
trials.
There are few preliminary matters
we might as well settle now" Mr..
Fielder said. "lf YOU wish to question
my client in regard TO city finances or
TO answer But as regards an investl
cation Of vice conditions. over which
you have 10 jurisdiction, shall advise
him to refuse to answer
Hirshfield Threatens Jail
II he does I'll have him sent to jail"
Hirshfield shouted.
Wen cross that bridge when we
como to it, the lawyer responded
calmly.
DR. Stratton, highly excited, arose
and exclaimed:
"Regardless of what my attorney
has said, I tell you ROW will refuse
70 answer the questions you propose
70 ask me, because l consider you pre-
JUDGED"
''Sit down, sir" the Commissioner
bawled
q Will no; 81. down" yelled the min
lister.
Hirshae!d took one look at the
clergyman and sent an attendant for
q policeman.
10 fill in the gap. the Commissioner
remarked that he was not going 20 let
"a Southerner intimidate this court"
This thrust aroused Mr.. Folders Ire
TO a new pitch
Il myself am from the SOUTH he
said; "a Southern gentleman. and | am
not going to allow any one 10 reflect
on me, my client or the section Of the
country from which We cone"
Fortunately. perhaps, the policeman
arrived at this juncture. Dr.. Stratou
vas still belligerentiy on lis feet, and
nc bluecoat locked obviously at him.
DIR. Straton Led Out
Mr.. Fielder relieved the situation by
1aspins the Clergyman by the arm and
leading him away.
"lf you want us again you can tele-
phone" he Informed Hirshfied as they
Yesterdays chapter il Hirshfeld S
continued in our-next' attack on As
slstant District Attorney Smith consist
cd OF an S,000word transcript Of tes-
timony by Bernard Friedman and
Jacob L. Goldman. accusing Smith OF
trying to induce them 10 give false
testimony against Police Inspector
Dominick Henry and Augustus Drum
Porter, former Third Deputy Police
Commissioner.
Friedman is facing d charge OF per-
Jury, alleged to have been committed
n the United States District Court
Goldman IS confessed pickpocket
torger and burglar
When apprised OF this latest charge
last night Mr.. Smith said:
81 don't know either Friedman O,
Goldman. I never saw those men. Thi:
IS simply part of the scheme 10 stoI
my Investigation o. the Police De
partment, but It VIII not stop me.
viii go right ahead and fight the reigl
Of terror and the system responsible
Tor these lies and malicious statements
"The people OF New York by This
time understand only too well tha
these statements are intended to aic
the most vicious police system We eve,
had in New York. We will continue Il
90 our duty until we accomplish ou
purpose. which is TO break up Thu
sVStem"