New-York tribune., 1920-06-20
Fred A. Cinbel 9
Is Arrested
AS Profiteer
Two Store Executives Also
Held Under Bonds Oh
Charges Preferred by
U. S. Flying Squadron
Clothing Prices Involved
Louis Cimbel Says if Law
Was Violated 1t Was
Done Without Intention

Charged with profLteering, Frederick
A. Gimbel, first vice-president of Gin
bel Brothers and head Of the company s
big store at Thirty-third Street and
Sixth Avenue. was arrested yesterday
by agents Of the Department of JUS
tees flying squadron He is accused
in the warrant of making profits on
clothing of from 90 to 275 per cent.
J. J. Dowell, general merchandise
manager for the store, and c. D.
Slawter, clothing buyer, also were ar
rested. The three were arraigned be-
fore United States Commissioner
Hitchcock in the Federal Court, and
held in $1,000 bail each for hearing
July 6.
The government alleges that Gimbel
and his two associates purchased a
suit of clothes for $3.50 and sold it for
$50; that they bought another for $33
and sold it for $751; third for $3.50
which was sold at SIS, and a fourth
for $16, which was sold for s33.75
There are 1S5 counts in the complaint
upon which the warrants were issued
Merchant Resents Camera
Gimbel fought with reporters and
camera men in the Federal Building
and was nearly mobbed as ne as his
companions hurried across Broadway
to the subway.
The "fying squadron" assembled
yesterday morning in the Office of
Armin w. Riley in the Federal Build
ing. John Price, John J. Mitchell and
John S. Johnson were supplied with
warrants. They went to the Gin bel
store, entered the office of Frederick
a. Climbed on the eighth floor and in
formed him he was under arrest. At
the request of the agents, Climbed
then telephoned for Dowell and Slaw-
ter to come to his office, where they
too were arrested.
Gimbcl also telephoned to his coun-
sci, Rose & Paskus, 1923 Broadway
and Stanchtield & Levy, 1870 broadway
When representatives Of his attorneys
had arrived the party proceeded to the
Federal building on Park Row.
On their arrival the arrested men
found a cohort of newspaper men and
"A battery of press and moving picture
weekly photographers waiting to greet
them.
Uses Coat Tails as Mask
Gimbel Immediately took steps to
protect himself by jamming his straw
hat down over his eyes and pulling
up his coat tails and attempting to
muftie his face in them. He was taken
to the Office of Mr.. Riley and ques-
toned by Lester S. Kafer, special as.
sistant to the Attorney General, ir
presence of his own counsel.
After a lively encounter with the
camera forces, in which Gimbel
knocked one photographer down, the
party proceeded to Commissioner
Hitchcock's office. Bail fixing took only
a few minutes.
A masked battery of camera men
with flashlights ready. were parked in
the corridor when the party left the
Commissioners office, but Gimbel did
not know that until the explosion
came. With roar, he charged,
knocking down another camera man
before his counsel could restrain him.
AS Gimbel neared the subway en-
trance another photographer appeared
The department store man ducked be-
hind one of his associates. The asso-
ciate hit the camera man and then
some one hit the associate.
In an instant, the light became gen
eral. Department Of Justice agents
photographers, newspaper men and
several hundred plain citizens mingled
in riot in which every one punched his
neighbor. Before the mob coulC
break through the guards about Gin.
bel, the police arrived and hurried him
into the subway.
Store Managers Discuss Cba,oe.
louis Ci,nheI ora - .l,.
dents of C;n,bai ,,e pna.b ~ e"e we presl
dav. -'''''''' e@io yes'er
"This certain,v cor,o
While do not LroT+ 80. surprise
charges aro A. m"a' ehe epeclh'
We wonld no+ narra;4 W. 'no"' mi9I"e'er, ina
connacfed ~ ~, a0, pv, ,"'.o VI aIto" any one