The New York herald., 1921-05-23
BRnDELL'S CHIEF AID
FACES TRIAL TO-DAY
Stadtmuller, Bailed for
100000, Then Surrender
ed, to Make Disclosures.
KNOWS CARS SECRETS
Bad Pineapple Given Wife
of Leader Cost a $4,000
Building Strike.
UNION MONEY VANISHES
Lockwood Committee Members
Again Urge Prison Terms
for Trade Offenders.
UNION MONEY VANIsHEs

The trial of Peter Stadtmuller
known as chief of STAFF for Robert F.
Brindell, the convicted building trades
'czar," begins to-day before Justice
John V. McAvoy in the Supreme Court
Stadtmuller was jointly indicted with
Brindell on charges Of extortion, and
is alleged to have been BrindelPs col
lector and right hand man in the
leaders relations with building con-
tractors.
For the last two or three days there
: have been stories current in labor cir
cles to the effect that Stadtmuller's ap-
pearance in court might be the signal
for still further sensational revelations
In the building situation. They ema-
mated from sources said to be friendly
to Stadtmuler and were that he had
about decided, since Brindelrs SEN
tence to at least five years in Sing
Sing, that he would have most to gain
by making clean breast of his own
connections with the Building Trades
Council and it's workings.
In this connection 1t is recalled that
Stadtmuller was first held in 100000
bail, which Brindell provided. Stadt-
muller was authority for the story that
this amount was supplied by Brindell on
the understanding that Stadtmuller
would plead guilty. When he refused
to do this Brindell cancelled the bail
Subsequently his BAH was reduced to
$4,000. Assistant District Attorneys
Stanley Richter and Ferdinand Pecora
are proceeding on the assumption that
Stadtmuller intends to adhere to his an
nounced intention of going to trial
Dissatisfied with Trials.
Stadtmuller's trial on an indictment
growing out OF Samuel Untermyer's dis
closures before the Lockwood Legislative
Committee Is set for at a time when
members of the committee are openly
venting their dissatisfaction regarding
the courses other prosecutions have
taken. The committee two weeks ago
went on record as favoring jail SEN
tences in all cases of individuals pleading
guilty or being convicted of charges de-
veloping from the committees work.
Since then numerous individuals plead
ing guilty to violations of the State anti
trust law have been let off with fines.
Mr.. Untermyer as chief counsel has
urged legislation that would make prison
sentences mandatory and has expressed
the opinion that unless this Is done much
of the effort OF the committee and the
prosecuting authorities Is being wasted
He is known to have taken the matter up
at length with Attorney General Charles
ID. Newton.
The trial of Stadtmuler, Is is ex-
pected will attract interest in labor cir
cles second only to that of Brndell. ow
ing to the extremely confidential rela-
tionshio that existed between the men.
One story is that Stadtmuller has be-
come influenced by the alleged detection
of several thousand of Brindell's former
followers in his personally organized
dockbuilders and housewreckers union.
This Is the organization that paid Brin-
dell an income at the rate of about
s35. 900 year from monthly assessments
against the members. but since the labor
czars conviction the spirit of revolt is
said to have grown in direct ratio to
q decline I'm membership. The dis
gruntled ones are curious to know
whether Brindell Is still enjoying this
revenue. and If he is. by what right.
A hitherto unpublished sidelight on
Brindell's methods was being circulated
last night by friends of Stadtmuller. 1t
was that last summer just before tho
opening of the Lockwood committees
activities Brindell's wife purchased
quantity of pineapples from a we'll
known Fifth avenue fruiterer.
Bad Pineapple Causes Strike.
One of the pineapples the story goes.
turned out to be at least overrpe, but