The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-28
Aids Ready to Confess.

Following these developments in the
labor ranks has come the plea of men
Identified as operating under the Hettrick
code of procedure. that they are ready to
make a clean breast of all they know II
they can be assured their punishment will
be limited to fines. All they ask is to be
insured against going to Jail.
The frantic efforts OF the councils
delegates to hold their men in line. fol-
lowed by the promise OF a wage boost
soon. are regarded by the members Of
the investigating committee as signs of
the first break in the ranks of the
council.
Counsel for the committee would give
no intimation yesterday of the identity
of the man who II Is said will take the
stand to-day to testify that he handed
$4,000 to labor leader mixed up in the
investigation. 1t Is reported that he
will specify the occasions on which ne
made the two payments of $1,000 each
in connection with certain contracts for
carting wreckage from a building being
demolished.
An interesting session Is expected to-
day when the Lockwood committee calls
Brindell to take the witness stand. Sub
poenas were issued yesterday for Brin-
dell and for John T. Hettrick. author Of
the code system of bidding.
Brindell retained Martin w. Littleton
as counsel While he did not give for
NAL notice that he would not answer the
subpoena Brindell indicated that he had
no intention Of going near CITY Hail.
Mr.. Littleton, it is understood, will chal-
lenge the right of the Lockwood COM
mittee to proceed, pointing to some al
legged defect in the resolution adopted
by the Legislature in naming the COM
mittee. The lawyer will question the
constitutional authority of the commit
tee to go on.
Then will arise the question:: What
is the committee going to do with Brin-
dell? If Mr.. Littleton's point Is over
ruled the committee has the authority to
adjudge Brindell In contempt and to
seize him and commit him. Efforts may
b. made In the courts 10 block the pro-
ceedings. 1t was limited that an attempt
would be made to get the question into
court in the endeavor to gain timc and
delay. Members of the committee said
that no amount of litigation could halt
their investigation. Brindell Is reported
to have said that he never would appear
before the committee as a witness. A
message which was received by several
unions was that If they would stand pat
tNe Lockwood committee inquiry would
come to nothing The committee
laughed at the threat that they might
be called off in the face of general
building strike.
Gov. Smith lost no time In signing the
formal order calling for the converting
OF the extraordinary jury. He approved
the paper as soon as II was presented to
him. Samuel Untermyer. chief counsel
for the committee. said he was satisfied
with arrangements. The counsel will De
prepared to go before the regular Grand
Jury next week to ask for indictments.
November 20 Is the earliest date on.
which the extraordinary jury can be
summoned and as soon thereafter as
possible II will take over the evidence
covered by the November jury.
The order calls the jury to examine
charges of extortion. bribery, violation
Of the Donnelly antitrust act. and the
refusal of witnesses to answer questions.
The latter specification covers Brindell's
case. The Attorney General is directed
TO take charge OF all prosecutions based
on evidence presented by tine Lockwood
committee.
Charles II. WALES has been subpnned
as a witness to-day. He conferred yes
terday with counsel for the committee
and his own counsel. His story of his