New-York tribune., 1920-08-18
|McCraw Seeks
to
| Refute Charges
ssann Says He Is Con-
ducting Inquiry Into
Slavin's Injury When
Lawyer Makes Demand
|goyd Breaks His Silence
Actor Denies That He Was
Aggressor in Fight at
the Lambs on August 8

l william ] Fallon, of the law firm of
s.von & McGee. 149 Broadway. which
40 been retained as counsel for John
NcGraw. sought yesterday to hasten
"a Investigation into the injury of
| ,.sn c. Slavin. an actor. who was
,.ana in front of McGraw's home
| ,,erst with a fractured skull.
Mr.. Falon sent District Attorney
sx..n letter in which he said his
| .gsn, was entitled to have an indict-
r,nt brought against him, so that he
| ..sld "meet and refute" certain "in-
..reible accusations" Slavin suffered
.;s injury after ride to Mr.. Nc
caw's home with McGraw and Win
field Liggett.
Mr.. Swami said that he did not at
,,,h any Importance to Mr.. Fallon's
..stement. adding that the District At
arney and not Mr.. Fallon is conduct
sr the inquiry into the matter.
BOYD Breaks Silence
william H. Boyd. an actor. who
ought with McGraw at the Lambs,
few hours before the latter went
,ome, accompanied by Slavin and Lig-
,ett, broke his silence last night with
denial of an assertion made by
Tsllon, for McGraw, that Boyd had
admitted that he was the aggressor
in the battle.
Al St. Luke's Hospital last night
ssvin's condition was reported un-
changed. He continues to be delirious
and physicians consider it an unfavor-
sble sign.
Nr. Fallon conferred with Albert
B. Unger, Assistant District Attorney,
before issuing his statement to Mr..
Swami. 1t was read to McGraw over
the telephone, he said, and approved
ty the manager Of the Giants. After
commenting upon the unfortunate ac-
cdent and stating that the position
occupied by McGraw might IN some
way account for the wide publicity it
has received, the statement continues
@The injury that befell Mr.. Slavin
was absolutely accidental, and in
wolves neither moral nor legal guilt
en- the part Of any one. Further than
that Mr. McGraw in no way partici-
psted in this happening. nor in any
way contributed TO it.
IN view of the suggestions that
have been made without any founda-
ton whatever, it seems only just and
fair that the matter be proceeded with
a. once lest the people be led to be-
lieys that an absolutely accidental
occurrence involves some criminal or
reprehenslble act.
Seeks Yindication
"Mr. McGraw's only desire is to vim
i!cate himself against these innuen-
does and he asks that the District At
! :crney proceed as rapidly as possible
% full investigation of this transac-
ton and, if possible, bring about the
nding Of an indictment, SO that these
Intangible accusations may assume a
more complete form in order TO enable
Ar. McGraw to meet and refute the
same. 1t seems that under all the cir
cumstances of this case Mr.. McGraw
las right TO be indicted. so that he
nay establish before a competent tri-
| Sanal his absolute innocence of any
guilt in bringing about the injury that
/ 'efell Mr.. Slavin.
III the District Attorney be unable
! TO proceed with this matter before the
/ grand jury ar investigation might be
1 had before any magistrate openly and
publicly so that the whole truth of
thls matter may be known. We have
10 doubts that the District Attorney
aas used every endeavor to institute
lone legal proceedings whereby this
matter may be comprehensibly inquired
INTO and definite result obtained"
Mr.. Fallon was asked TO comment
lpon McGraws action at the Lambs
md he said:
Concerning the occurrence at the
lambs Mr.. McGraw can do no more
nan repeat his statement made to
Ar Unger or Saturday last, at which
'lme ne stated and is now prepared to
prove, that he was viciously assaulted
N Er. Boyd who admits that he