The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-06
Five Of Brindell's Agents
Elude Process Servers
Hunting Them.
LABOR KING DEFIANT
Stone Contractors Held Up
Entire Country, Says Re-
luctant Witness.
FALSE TESTIMONY GIVEN
Walter Melton Purges Him.
self-Untermyer to Get Moro
Help in Inquiry.
FALSE TESTIMONY GIVEN

The first indictments growing out
OF the Lockwood Committees investi-
CATION into the graft and extortion in
the building trades In this city were
found yesterday by the Grand Jury.
Bench warrants were issued irnrne-
diately by Judge Mulqueen. in the
General Sessions court, and the names
OF those indicted were withheld until
arrests are made
George Backer, contractor, OF 13I
Riverside Drive, accompanied by his
counsel arrived at the Criminal Courts
Building a few moments after Thomas
f. Mccarthy, foreman OF The jury.
had handed up the presentment.
"It isn't for murder, anyhow"
Backer remarked to newspaper men.
and his counsel said he was prepared
10 offer bail to the amount OF s25.0o3
tomorrow II Backer was arraigned.
That was the only intimation given
that Backer was named in the bill.
Samuel Untermyer, chief courrel for
the committee. was angry WREN he
learned Backer's name was mentioned
in the transaction. Mr.. Untermyer
refused to say how many had been
indicted.
Ephraim D. Levy testified l.st week
before the Lockwood COMMITTEES that
he gave $4,000 in cash to George
Backer to call OFF a strike on
the $4,000, 900 Textile Building being
erected at Seventh avenue and Thirty
first street. Levy testified that the
money was paid with the understand
ing It was 10 go TO Brindelrs Building
| Trades Council.
The jury. working with great rapid
ity, was taking this action while the
Lockwood Committee was continuing
its session In City Hall turning out
new sensations in rapid fire order.
The evidence which piled up hour
after hour all tended TO prove that
Rrindell's ring" ruled the building
industry and extorted great sums In
tribute to It's power.
Brinden Is Defiant.
Only Few minutes before the indict.
ments were returned Robert p. Brindeli
walked into the Criminal Courts Build
irg and in defiant manner demanded tn
know of the clerk in Part ! whether
any one wanted him for anything. He
said he had heard several men had
been indicted. and he wanted to know
II he was ons Of them. The clerk didn't
know. Brindeil waited while his coun-
sci. Charles r. O'Connor, went to the
District Attorneys office to find out.
The two left in few minutes.
Mr.. Untermyer announced during tho
c. nrnittee's hearing that John T. Het-
trick. author OF the code of procedure
which regulated bidding and operator
OF the general clearing house for con-
tractors. at 1875 Broadway, had dis
appeared. Senator Lockwood said no
had been informed Hettrick had quit
the State and removed his office force
with him. A witness later testified he
had talked with Hettrick Thursday
night on the telephone. but could not
tell where the lawyer was when he
called
Henry Hanleln. the contractor who
FcdQtl Alle NAdTlUeU ElECie OF nlNE IN
bidding for the big limestone contract
for the Court House. admitted that the
stone contractors had the entire United
States "sewed up under an iron bound
agreement whereby every bid IN tho
nation went through a clearing house.
All competition is stif1ed by this agree
nent This testimony lifts the inquiry
beyond the power OF the State and into
the Jurisdiction OF the Federal Govern
ment
senator Calder VIII Help.
United States Senator Calder, chair
man OF the Senatorial Housing Com
mittee. sat with the committee yester-
day He has nationwide power OF
subpoena and will use II to help tho
Lockwood investigators get witnesses.
lie will also take up the interstate COM
bination in restraint OF trade.
Walter Melton, wrecking contractor.
az peared as o voluntary witness and
asked the privilege Of purging his test-
frony given on Thursday Threats hac
been mado against him By Joseph Mo-
ran. agent OF Brlndell. as recently as
last week, he said unless he stood pat.
Eager TO clear himself, he told .
straightforward story OF his relations
with Brindelrs crowd"
Frank Melton. q brother Of Walter.
testified that he saw Herman Klompus.
contractor. pay $500 In bills 70 Brin-
dell In person. This Is the first testi-
n,ony Of witness who swears 70 see
ing money pass
The Court House contract for lines
stone was Jumped from an original esti-
mate OF 81 coo TO t2.S72.Uo on It's way
through Hettrick's office to the Board
Of Estimate. Henry Hanlein. the con-
tractor, stated That represented a 10
per cent profit for some one.
Alderman Kenneslly, representing
Charles t. Murphy's home district,
promised tho Board of Estimate that iG
the contract was awarded at the high
figure there would be no labor troubles
Mr. Uutermyer brought out