New-York tribune., 1921-02-26
Prison Terms
TOBe Asked i'm
Housing Cases
Deputy Attorney General
Says He Will Make Re-
quest Whether Defendant
Pleads Guilty or Not
200 Under Indictment
New Policy Will Affect
So Plumbing Contractors
To BE Tried Next Month

Deputy Attorney General Samuel
Berger announced yesterday that he
intended hereafter to ask that prison
sentence be imposed on every person
convicted upon an indictment found in
connection with the Lockwood housing
inquiry. He would make the request,
he said, regardless of whether tn, de-
fendant pleaded guilty or stood trial.
About 100 individuals and an equal
nuRiber OF corporations are under IN
dictment as the result of che Lockwood
inquiry. Prior to the conviction of
John 7. Hettrick and three co-defen-
dants and their sentence to terms in
the penitentiary, thirty cut-stone con-
tractors pleaded guilty in body. Their
prison sentences were suspended and
they were release upon payment of
$4,000 fine apiece.
The policy of consistent severity
adopted by MIR. Berger is the result of
the conviction and sentence OF Het-
terick and his three associates. 1t will
first affect the fifty~two plumbing con-
tractors who go on trial next month on
charges of having violated the Donnel-
~ antitrust laws of this state. These
men were all members of Hettrick's
code of practice"
Changes Plea to Guilty
John S. Murphy, president Of the j.
s. Murphy Company. one of the fifty
two under Indictment, appeared yester-
day before Justice John V. McAvoy and
Withdrew his former plea of not guilty
and then pleaded guilty. His sentence
was deferred, however, until the cases
against the other master plumbers have
been disposed of.
Hettrick and his three associates who
we're sentenced to an indeterminate
term in the penitentiary, with a maxi
mum of three years, were placed in
cells on the first tier in the Tombs by
Warden John J. Hanley, on their ar
rival there Thursday night. Accord
ing to attendants in the prison, Het
with Robert P. Brindell, the convicted
labor leader, who is waiting action on
his. plea for a certificate of reasonable
doubt.
Yesterday these two, convicted as
leaders in the system o. cXtortion
practiced in the building trades, had
further earnest conversation while eX-
crcising in the prison yard. In this
they. we're joined by William H. Chap
man and William j. Doran, the repre-
scntatiycs of the plumbers unions, and
Herbert Smith, the plumbing con-
tractor, who were convicted and SEN
fenced with Hettrick.
Parole Board May Get Case
Hettrick and his three associates will
remain in the Tombs during the tenn
porsry stay of seven days granted by
Justice McAvoy after he had sentenced
them. During this period their counsel
With attempt to obtain certificates of
reasonable doubt in their cases, but
ailing this they will be removed to
the penitentisry.
There is a peculiar technical con
dltien surrounding their sentence.
Aftcr serving three months of the SEN
tence their cases can at any time come
before the Parole Board. Technically
purpose of reform, and should the
Parole Board deside that they have
mended their ways they can be re-
leased on parole, in which case they
would have to report periodically to
probation officer during the remaining
period of their sentence. The board
however, has also the power to grant
absolute discharge in the event the
committing justice concurs.
In connection with the sentencing of
Hettriek and his associates, Samuel
Untermyer yesterday wired the follow
ing message from Palm Beach. Fla, to
Deputy Attorney General Berger:
Nothing has happened in our CITY in
years that will do so much to DESTROY
vicious mbinations that have proved
alike on labor and the public. few
more such convictions and we will have
uprooted these combinations. and will
have released the public from such
Vicious efforts"