New-York tribune., 1921-09-01
O'Malley Quits Hearing
in Uproar After Refus.
ing to Answer Ques-
tons of Meyer Probers
Charges Against
Miller Are Refuted
4 ON m issioner7s RAM
bling Statement Brand
ed as Trivial by Brown

Elon R. Brown, chief counsel to
the Meyer legislative committee, in
vestigating the city administration
announced at yesterdays session
that the committee had sufficient
evidence of corruption in the De-
partment Of Markets to warrant
criminal procedure against those in
volved
Upon his suggestion, the commit
tee Immediately sent all its records
and testimony bearing on the Mar
kets Department to District Attor-
ney Swami for presentation to the
grand jury for action.
The hearing yesterday reached the
highest pitch of excitement attained
by the already numerous lively ses-
slons of the committee when Edwin
j. O'Malley, Commissioner of Mar
kets, the star witness of the day, re-
fused to answer questions of the
committee counsel in cross-examina
ton, and abruptly quit the stand on
advice of his attorney.
Uproar Forces Adjournment
His action threw the chamber into
an uproar of Kisses, yells and applause
finally forcing the committee TO ad-
journ.
O'Malley occupied the stand for more
than two hours and delivered long
and rambling statement relating to the
charges that had been brought against
his department. He denied in a general
way that he had had any knowledge OF
or connection with any of the alleged
transactions wherein witnesses had
said money was paid to officials of the
department for market stand permit
transfers.
When Leonard NJ Walistein. asso.
ciate counsel for tho committee, took
up the crosse examination heated tits
with OMalley occurred. the latter be-
coming so obstreperous at one point
that Mr. Wallstein objected: "If this
witness can't conduct himself with
proper decorum l think the privilege
of the witness stand ought to be denied
to him."
O'MaIley Becomes Defiant
81 don't care whether it is or not"
shouted back O'Malley A prolonged
hand clapping and cheering issued from
the gallery at this. and soon the lower
floor was in a tumult At the height
of the disturbance John j. Halpin, at
torney for O'Malley, made his way TO
the front of the room and shouted to
the witness: leave the witness stand
A person on the copmittee rostrum
shouted, Throw him quit" whereupon
Halpin cried out he was counsel for
the stand
O'Malley clapped his hat on his head
and while he was gathering his papers
Mr.. Wallstein asked him, you refuse
to answer further questions?'
To VIII .ch O'Malley snapped back in a
loud voice: eyes, sir."
The spectators, who had been
brought to their veet three minutes
before, again applsuded. AS O'Malley
rushed from the stand he was joined
by his counsel and hurriedly departed
from the hearing chamber, with large
portion of the audience at This heels
Chairman Meyer ordered an adjourn
ment for an hour and half
O'Malley signed q waiver of i'm
munity from criminal prosecutions only
after long argument with Mr.. Brown
when the latter asked The Commis-
sioner of Markets if he desired to
make statement IN reply to the
charges made by witnesses against his
department. OMalley launched out
into a TRADE against the committee
and the Governor, saying tnat the lat
ter was trying to break his legs"
"InconsequentiaE" Denial Made
Without going into details, O'Malfxy
made general denial OF the various
charges of corruption IL his depart
ment, offering a maze Of what Mr.
brown characterized as "inconseouen-
tial testimony" regarding the many al
legged Irregular transactions previ-
ously brought TO the attention of the
The Commissioner Of Markets quot
ed James Sinnott, secretary and SON
ln-law of the Mayor, and Edward
Stats Luther, an Albany correspond
-'e-'i'iS ooAI t-laL governor
Miller had offered TO "go igh. on the
Meyer Committees invest;ca ION of his
department" if he would vote for
George L. Hogue for head of the
State Council Of Farms and Markets
Governor Miller replied 10 this last
night BY saying 81 carnot spend INV
time denying or affirming what ire
sponslble persons say"
IN this connection Mr.. Luther was
put on the stand and denied that he
had made any such proposal to O'Mal-
ley.
Additional testimony developed the
fact that O'Malley said that ne learned
'of some such proposal coming to tha
attention of the Mayor" after the elee-
ton OF the council had taken place.
Realty Deal Investigated
When O'Malley concluded his stata-
ment he was taken in hand by Mr.
W allsteIn for cross~examination on the
real estate deal wherein Herman r
MICHEL, shareholder in Washinston
Market, said he had been forced to.
sell property to the New York Tele-.
phone Company against his will ats
O'Maliey's demand. A real Aestatr
agent acting for Michel. namsl Ioh6
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