New-York tribune., 1920-11-06
George S. Backer Believed
To Be Accused in Con
nection With Stories of
$4,000 He Collected
Hettrick Reported
To Have Left City
Other " Illnesses Ni.s;n":
Nine Men Tell of Paving
500. 1876 i'm Bribe Mcnev

George ;. Backer, a millionaire
contractor Of 1877 Riverside Drive,
was indicted by the additional
grand jury yesterday in connection
with the Lockwood committees III
vestigation of alleged corrupt prac-
tices in the building industry.
1t was reported that bench war
rants for two other men had been
issued. but their names were with
held
BaclSer. apparently apprised Of
the action taken against him ap-
peared at the Criminal Courts
Building with his attorney. He ar
rived. however. after the courts haG
closed and Judge Mulqueen, il
charge OF the additional grand jury
mad gone nome. He was met b.
Samuel Untermyer, counsel for the
committee, and several of MS asso-
ciates, who conferred with Backcr's
attorney.
Bail Put al $4,000
At the close Of the conference
Backer was permitted to leave. with
instructions TO appear in court at 1880
O'Clock tbs morning with So 900 bal
bond.
Backer said little about the proceed
ings, but affected the same cheerful
and genial manner he displayed when
he testiged before the Lockwood
committee. He was not arrested no.
was Il bench warrant issued for hi.l.
de said ne learned that he was wanted
and got tired waiting for the court
officers TO come for Him.
tie said he would have the So 600
bail bond veady when he appeared in
the morning and $3.50, 900 more If il
was asked. His counsel is Samuel
Levy, or Levy e. Arnstein. 120 Broad
way.
This is the first criminal action
against any person so far mentioned n
connection with the scandal. Robert
?. Brindell head of the Building
Trade Council, who has repeatedly been
charged with eXSortion by Witnesse.
appearing before the Investigating
committee, also appeared at the Grim
lnal Courts Building with his attorney.
Charles r. O'Connor. He explained
that he came there to find QUO il he
was one Of the other men indicted
After consulting with Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Robert s Johnstone, he
left the building with mis- lawyer
1t WAS understood tha- BackeI's Of
Tense resulted from conflicting stories
he told o. the disposa. OF $25 900
which he alleged had been given to
him By Ephram Ley. builder. t.
fix up some labor trouble or tic
$4,000. geo Textile Building operation a
Ihirty-iirst Street and Second Avenue
Mr.. Levy testified that he gave the
money to Backer with the understand
ing that il was to 20 TO Briudell
Backer handled the operation for Levy
When he was put on the stand to tell
what he knew about it he told var.-
Gus conflicting stories about the dis
posal of the money, which hc late,
swore were myths.
The payment of the $25 600 was made
IL two installments OF $4,000 and SO,
900 Backer at first said he took tho
81 600 to racetrack back in MAJ
and lost it there. He SAID ne dlda't
knew where the racetrack was, and
when confronted with the fact tina
there we're no races around New
York on the day he says he lost the
money he insisted ne lost it there any
now. The $4,000 he said he might
have lost it playing cards"
Admitted Stories False
Continued grilling forced him 10 ad-
NIT that mis- stories we're fairy tales
and that he gave the money TO two
men, "one tall, the other short: one
dark. the other light; one stout. the
ether thin; one Mutt. the o-her JET"
in tic lobby o. the Hotel Chatham. lie
topped off his description OF these t'so
ruen a. being ex-work inemen. which te
clarified by saving they were Walking
delegates whom he did not know. he
told the committee that he was pro
tecting Brindell both through fear and
friendship.
Waile indictments were being handed
down by the grand jury Mr. Inter
myer announced TO the committee in
City Hall that John T. Hettrck, head
or the code OF Practice group o.
contractors. had disappeared and that
subpoena servers had been unable TO
had been cleared of all furniture and
nobody in the building knew anything
of his whereabouts l. vas under
stood he had left the jurisdiction 0.
the state.
Senator Calder, chairman OF the
United States Senata Committee OF Re-
construction, was called into consulta
tion by the Lockwood committee. and Il
was reported that he had been asked TO
issue i Federal subpoena for Hettrich
Henry lianlcln, a contractor who Is be-
ing questioned by the committee IN cor
nection with the rescinded contracts o.
the proposed new courthouse, told the
committee that ne had spoken 10 Het-
trick over the telephone Thursday
night. but did not know where Hettr;cA
was .clephoning from.
Mr.. Intermyer declared that others
1hcm the com mit-ec desired 20 qaes-
tlon also mad hed and could ROT be
found. Among these he mentioned Ksf-
man klompus, contractors. Richard
Pike. one Of Brindel's walking del
esates. and Parker, Hogan and Stad,-
miller. other walking delegates. Mr..
Untermyer said that subpoena servers
have been waiting al these mems homes
until 3 a. m. for them without avail.
The committee hearing yesterday
continued to reveal further evidence Of