New-York tribune., 1921-02-04
yury, Out an Hour and 20
Minutes, Finds Him
Guilty of Extortion;
Hears Verdict Calmly
Maximum Penalty
Is Fifteen Years
Sentence Will Be Passed
Tuesday, When Counsel
for Labor Leader VIII
Move for a New Trial

Robert P Brindell, labor czar. was
convicted of extortion in the Supreme
Court last night. The offense carries
maximum penalty of fifteen years i'm
prisonment, with no alternative of a
fine.
The jury was out one hour and twen-
ty minutes. The verdict, it was re-
ported. was reached on The first ballot
Following the pronouncement Brindell
was locked up in the Tombs. He prob
ably will be sentenced Tuesday.
Martin w. Littleton, attorney for
Brindeli, announced that he would ap-
peal. Justice McAvoy fixed Tuesday
morning as the time for making such a
motion. At that time, too, Mr.. Little
ton said he would make an effort to OBJ
tain the release of his client pending an
appeal.
Brindell Maintains Calm
Brindeli received the verdict with
out so much IS the wink of an eye-
lash. When the jury filed into the
courtroom at 6:55 p. m.--the same
room that had seen the historic trials
of Harry X. Thaw and Police Lieu
tenant Charles Becker and his gum
men confederates-the labor leader
was standing inside the inclosure re-
served for counsel between Sheriff
Knott and John j. O'Connor, one of
his attorneys. He eyed each of the
jurors as they took their seats and
then fixed his gaze cn the judge.
"Gentlemen of the jury" asked
Court Clerk William Penny, "have you
arrived 1t verdictY'
t'We have," returned Ambrose G.
Linnard, the foreman,
"How have you found the defendant,
guilty or not guilty
eve have found him guilty. came
the reply.
Mr. Llttleton immed ately arose and
said he desired to make a motion for
new trial Justice McAvoy at first
fixed next Monday as the time for the
move, and when Littleton pleaded busi-
ness on that day made it Tuesday
When the tenseness o the situation
relaxed, friends o. Brindeli rushed over
and warmly shook his hand. He turned
from these for second to receive a
Il
Through all tn S Brindell appeared cool
played feeble smile.
A Native of Canada
Court attendants then took Brindell's
personal history. The prisoner replied
to all questions in scarcely audible
voiae. the answers being repeated in 8
loud tone by Captain Thomas Powers,
who stood by him.
Brindel said he was forty-one years
old and was native of Canada. where
both his father and mother were born.
Both parents, he said, were dead. His
father was a naturalized American
citizen, and he himself came to this
country minor. He gave his occupa-
tlon as business agent, said he was
married and was of the Catholic faith.
He never had been convicted Of any
offense before, he declared and lived at
1890 DAILY Avenue, the Bronx.
lie was led TO the Tonos by Sheriff
Knott and guard. Hs made not Q
word of comment.
Mr.. Littleton declined 70 make ary
statement on the outcome of the trick.
Samuel Untermyer, the prosecutor.
was gratifed at the result He re-
gssded it as the first important victory
growing out of the Lockwood commit
tees investigation Of the housing sit
uation and will have something TO say
later with respect co it. Mr.. Unite =
myer was not present when the jury
returned it's verdict, but received the
news at his town house.
1t is the first conviction arising from
the Lockwood committees exposures of
the wholesale extortion carried on by a
ring of labor leaders in the building in
dustry, headed by Brindell. and which
was declared to have practically para
lyzed building operations for more
than year, sending the cost of hous-
Ing construction sky high.
The first criminal case growing out
OF the exposures, that of George S.
Backer, millionaire, builder, indicted
tceatinued on next pssa,