The New York herald., 1920-01-07
ALM|RALL JURY
HAS NEW CLASH
WITH MR.. SWAMI
Breaks with Mr.. Rorke Over
Presentation of Anar-
chist Evidence.

The Extraordinary Grand Jury again
has locked horns with Edward Swami,
District Attorney, according to q report
circulated in tho Criminal Courts Building
late yesterday afternoon. This time, it
was declared, the inquisitors have broken
with the District Attorney over their in
vestigation of the activities of anarchists
in the city.
The report was received with surprise,
because UP to yesterday the inquisitors
had worked in perfect accord with Alex
ander !. Rorke, Assistant District Attor-
ney, on all matters relating to criminal
anarchy. Mr.. Rorke not only has acted as
adviser to the body in such matters but
has succeeded in obtaining the first con-
victions of criminal anarchists in this
State on evidence developed before the
body.
1t was reported that tho Extraordinary
Grand Jury objects to the policy to be
pursued in the presentation Of evidence
gathered against the Rand School Of So
cial Science by the Lusk Legislative Com
mittee. Mr.. Rorke, it was said, believes
indictments obtained against certain men
connected with the radical organization
WOui0 idCh SulllCIGuI LII Ou hIlCH 10
obtain a conviction.
Cause OF the Break.
It was said that the members do not
agree with Mr.. Rorke in his contention
and that they are against calling certain
men before them as witnesses, because the
Testimony of the witnesses may immunize
them as defendants. Neither Mr.. Rorke
nor the members of the jury would speak
about the matter.
The first intimation that'M Swami has
another controversy on with the Extraor-
binary Grand Jury came when it was
learned from an outside source that the
District Attorney received letter from
Raymond f. Almirall, foreman of the
body. The Tip" about the letter had it
that "a bombshell had been exploded un-
der the District Attorneys feet"
MI Swami was asked about the matter
and he admitted that he had received a
letter from Mr.. Tlmirall q few minutes be-
for but that it contained no bombshell.
"The letter was in reply to one wrote
ito the foreman of the Grand Jury three
weeks ago." said the District Attorney.
1T contained two lines, and merely stated
that committee of the grand jurors will
receive me in the Grand Jury room tomor-
row to discuss the criminal anarchy cases
they have been investigating"
1t was then recalled that the District At
torney in his letter of three weeks ago had
suggested to the Extraordinary Grand
Jury that, inaSmuch as it's labors on crimi-
nal anarchy cases had come to an end il
apply to Justice Weeks, in the Supreme
Court, to be dismissed.
1t appears that no attention was paid to
Mr.. Swann's letter until late yesterday,
when Mr.. Almirall wrote his letter at his
office at No. 12 East Forty-sixth street and
sent it to Mr.. Swami by special messen-
ger.
Rand school Men.
The inquisitors adjourned several weeks
ago for over the holidays. When they
resumed their sessions last Monday they
were informed by Mr.. Rorke, ii is under
stood, that Algernon Lee. S. John Block.
l. M. Sackin and Jack Karp. members of
the Rand School, were outside the inquisi-
torial chamber waiting to be questioned
about the school.
1t was said that members OF the body
asked Mr.. Rorke. who had subpoenaed
the four, why their testimony was con-
sidered necessary. and that the Assistant
District Attorney replied that they had
been summoned because the District At
torney wanted to place before the body
all available evidence in connection with
the operation of the Rand School.
The men were not called before the jury.
however, and when the jurors arrived
yesterday they found the four seated in
a row on the same bench. Mr.. Rorke. 1t
was said, repeated his message of the
preceding day that the men were there
under subpoena and ready to be ques-
toned.
Then, it is alleged, came the parting OF
the cordial relations between Mr.. Rorke
and the Extraordinary Grand Jury. 1t Is
understood that for more than an hour
the relative positions of the District At
torneys office, staff and methods and the
members of the Extraordinary Grand Jury
were discussed with some degree OF heat.
Then the doors of the Grand Jury cham
Der swung wide and the warden of the
chamber announced TO the four students
of the Rand School OF Social Science that
henceforth the Extraordinary Grand Jury
OF the County Of New York does not want
to see Of them.