The New York herald., 1921-05-10
GRAFTERS GOUGE
THEATRE BUILDERS.
$+7,35O Spent in Chicago,
Says Witness, to Avert
Labor Troubles.
PAID In INSTALMENTS
Says Manager Of Orpheum
Circuit Instructed Him
to Give Money.
EVIDENCE is PRODUCED
Special State and Federal
Grand Juries Sworn In to
Unearth Corruption.
PAID IN INSTALMENTS
EVIDENCE is PRODUCED

Special Despatch TO THE New YORK HERALD
CHICAGO, May 9.--The regime of graf
in Chicago's building industries
brought TO light bit BY bit through til,
Investigations of the daily legislativ,
building commission was more thor
oughly revealed to-day. when forine
Judge George A. Trude testified befoe
the Commissioners that he had pid
out $47,350 Ito prevent and settle
strikes in the construction of the
State Lake Theatre.
This amount, he said, was disrirsed
by him in ten payments while Ie was
acting secretary and treasurerof the
State Lake Theatre and Realt Com
pany. He gave the money. .he wit
ness said, to George Thomas director
or construction work for theLongacre
Construction Company of sew York,
under orders of Mort H. singer. gen
eral manager of the Orphum Circuit.
Mr.. Trude said that he WIS secretary
treasurer and attorney or the State
Lake Theatre and Really Company al
the time.
While Mr. Trude was appearing before
the commission, speial State Grand
Jury was impanelled By Chief Justice
Charles A. McDonaI Of the Criminal
Court, with instructions to "get to the
top and bottom q Chicago building
graft"--the first stsp by which the State
hopes to land the Erafters Behind peni-
tertiary bars AID almost simultan-
eously the Fcders Grand Jury which is
to make an invetigation of the inter-
state features WIS sworn in.
The first payment was made in 1917
to Mr.. Thomas when the construction
or the theatr} started testified Mr.
Trude. The etire ten payment were In
turn paid out ~ Mr.. Thomas to business
agents of Chiago labor unions to settle
labor trouble on the new building. The
fnal paymer was made few days be-
fore the thatre opened"
Mr.. Trud also turned over certain
amount OF documentary evidence among
which, it Sas reported, were cancelled
checks
The paments, he said, were author
lied by Mort IT, Singer. head Of the
Orpheum Circuit and owner OF a ma
jority q stock In the theatre building
compan.
Mr. srude was subjected to a close
examination by Joseph Fleming, and
Senate Daley frequently took part in
the qestioning The witness was very
hazy Is to the unions or the strikes in
volvd. but explained this by saying he
had lot come in contact with the actual
payments at any time.
Y the offices OF the Keith Vaudeville
Ciruit last night officials declined to
NIKE any statement in regard to the tes-
tnony in Chicago of George Trude. that
$3.50 had been paid TO the Longacre
Construction Company OF New York in
cder TO call off an impending strike OF
obstruction workers erecting the State
lake Vaudeville Theatre in 1917-1S.
According to ID. B. Crane. attorney for
the Keith interests. Mort II. Singer, gen
eral manager for the vaudeville circuit
was in Kansas City yesterday wiring
that he would leave for Chicago this
Mr.. Crane lid that he did
not feel competent to speak on the sub
jet. inasmueh as his connection with the
Keith interests did not date as far back
as 1o17-1S.
When a reporter for TIE NEW YORK
HERALD called at the Offices OF the Long
acre Construction Company. 242 West
Forty-ffth street. last night. II was
stated that neither George Thomas nor
Harry Allenberger. officials of the COM
pany. were there. and that no statement
could be made at that time in regard TO
the report.