New-York tribune., 1921-04-16
U(nternyer to
Open Bri1lden's
"Black Book
Will Force Convicted Labor
Boss to Give Up Docu-
1nent Said to Irnplicate
High Public Officials
Prisoner Grows Bitter
Stadtmuller's Bail Is Re-
duced From 100000
TO So, 900 by Court

Samuel Untermyer in all probability
will call the bluff of Robert P. Brindell
and compel the erstwhile labor car to
produce his ''little black book" which
Is alleged to contain matter that would
seriously implicate persons high in po-
litical and public life. Brindell of late
has been threatening to produce this
book.
1t was learned yesterday that Mr..
untermyer intends to put Brindell on
trial for each of the half dozen indict-
ments that are outstanding against
him unless Brindell completes his
threat and produces the book. If found
guilty on all of these indictments
Brindell, who is now serving term of
five years in Sing Sing, would be liable
to further possible total of thirty
years Imprisonment.
Brindell is said to be weakening
under the strain of his Imprisonment
and he is quoted as having said:
All that Untermyer wants of me is
that little black book in which I kent
the record of my donations. If he gets
that lot of birds will go. And he'll
get 1t IT they try to throw me into the
pile. won't be no goat"
DIluQeIl anger Grows
Mr.. Untermyer is now in bed and
consequently is not able to proceed at
once with his plans Of prosecution.
Friends in his confidence, however, saw
that he intends to begin his program
against Brindell when the latter comes
up for trial with Peter Stadtmuller on
charges of coercion and extortion on
May 8.
The extent of Brindells anger at his
present predicament was emphasized,
according to his one-time associates,
by his action in withdrawing the COL
lateral he had deposited with the
surety company for the 100000 bail
lieutenant, Peter Stadtmuller.
Stadtmuller declared that Brindell
had threatened to do this unless he
pleaded guilty to the charges against
him and thus modified the possibili-
ties of the action against them both.
Stadtmuller refused point blank to do
this, declaring he was innocent of the
charges against him. His bail bond
was withdrawn.
1t is said that among the high per-
sonages alleged to be entered in Brin-
dell's ''little black book" is a public
official known to have been close to
Brindell while he was at the zenith of
his power as president of the Building
Trades Council. 1t was to this man, ac-
cording to the report, that Brindell
looked for the political pull that he ex-
pected would save him from Sing Sing.
This official did not at any time go
to the Tombs to visit Brindell while
he was incarcerated there, and appar-
emily turned his back completely upon
the labor boss. This attitude is re-
ported to have made Brindell extreme
ly bitter, and is said to be the real
reason why the convicted labor leader
made the threat to reveal the contents
prosecutor.
Stadtmuller's Bail Reduced
Supreme Court Justice Edward j..
Gavegan yesterday reduced the bail of
Peter Stadtmuller, labor delegate, who
Brindell, from 100000 to $4,000.
Stadtmuller is now in the Tombs as q
result Of the cancellation of his bail
bond by Brindell.
> He (, was brought before Justice
Gavegan upon a writ of habeas corpus
obtained by his counsel, Thomas j.
O'Neill. The latter informed the court
that Stadtmuller was a married man
with two children and had no desire
TO ledVeaCHe JuIlSulCtlOH Oh tne court
Counsel said that the present bail of
100000 which had been set by Judge
Mulqueen in General Sessions was ex-
cessive and prohibitive, and asked that
the amount be set at $4,000.
Assistant District Attorney Robert
L. Johnstone objected. on the grount
that the justice had no jurisdiction, ir
his opinion, to fix the amount of bal
in habeas corpus proceedings.
Il I@4 h. -
conference with Justice John v. Nc
Avoy, before whom Brindell was con
victed, and that Justice McAvoy was o
the same opinion as himself that tn
bail of 100000 was excessive. He thel
set bail at $4,000.