The New York herald., 1921-02-04
Building Trade Car Faces
j. Years in Prison 20.
First Conviction OF
GOuging.
JURY OUT 80 MINUTES
Lockwood and Untermyer
Score Victory in Speedy
Trial to Clear Up HOus-
ing Crisis.
SIX MORE INDICTMENTS
Labor Tyrant's Admirers Sur
round Him After Verdict as
Victims Look On-Sen-
tence on Tuesday.
SIX MORE INDICTMENTS

Robert +. Brindell, car of the
building trades situation of this city,
was convicted last night on the charge
Of extortion, for which he has been
standing trial for upward of three
weeks. The verdict was returned at
G 30 O'Clock, exactly one hour and
twenty minutes after the jury had re-
tired to deliberate.
A few minutes later the door of the
Tombs prison slammed for the first
time behind the man who had previ-
ously been able TO retain his liberty
by putting up bail in any sum asked.
There he must remain until Tuesday
morning, when he is to be taken be-
fore Supreme Court Justice John V.
McAvoy for sentence, which, under
the law may be fifteen years in State
prison.
The conviction is the first to be
obtained upon evidence gathered by
the Lockwood Legislative Committee
at its public hearings in the City Hall.
1t is a decisive victory for Samuel
Untermyer. volunteer chief counsel TO
the committee, who prosecuted it in
person. Although he was not present
to hear the verdict, Mr.. Untermyer
said last night that he felt deeply
gratified."
SIX More Charges Wait Trial.
Six more indictments charging ex-
tortion are hanging over Brlndell. and
1t is possible that he will be placed
on trial again soon in connection with
one OF these additional charges. They
all relate, as did the indictment on
which he stands convicted, to levylng
tribute upon contractors who were
unable to obtain labor without buying
Brindell's good graces.
Considering the length of time which
the trial occupied, and the mass OF
evidence submitted BY both sides. the
jurors were remarkably quick in
reaching an agreement. 1t was under
stood about the Criminal Courts Build
ing that Brindell was found guilty on
the first ballot.
When Ambrose c. Linnard, the fore
man. announced to the court that they
had found the defendant guilty. gasp
OF amazement escaped the labor cars
courtiers, gathered in the back OF tho
room. but their chief displayed no
trace Of emotion. One OF the surprised
ones was Peter stadtmuller. so-called
right hand man. to Brindoll. who Is
himself awaiting trial for extorton
under 100000 bail
The big ruler Of the building trades
| stepped TO the rail with Martin w.
Littleton. his chief trial COUNSEL John
J. OConnor. Tammany Assemblyman
from Charles F. Murphy's district. who
is his personal counsel. and Sheriff
David II. Knott. He gave his pedigree
TO Chief Clerk william Penney in
somewhat bored air.
Labor Cxar Halls From Canada.
Although his hair is iron gray and
his face deeply lined. the largo and some
what corpulent labor czar gave his age
as only Al He gave his birthplace a,
Canada and said HIS parents had come
from the same place. but that his father
had become a citizen BY naturalization.
He gave his residence az 1890 DAILY ave.
rue. The Bronx. and his occupation ss
| business agent" He stated that he had
| 70 previous conviction TO his record and
that he is married Mrs. Brindell was
not in the courtroom. nor had she been
at any time during the trial
After these matters had been disposed
os about thirty OF Brndelrs friends
crowded about him to shake hands and
| express their surprise and sympathy.
| Several contractors who had told stories
| Of the manner In which Brindei gouged
thousands OF dollars out Of them we're
also In the courtroom. but they did not
have anything 70 say 10 the defendant.
/ The prisoner left the room In the
| custody OF Sheriff Knott. after arrang-
ing with several husltics who are known
as part Of his "body9uard' to supply
his supper from nearby restaurant
Mr.. Untermyer occupied virtually ".
entire court day yesterday In eummi--
the caee up for the prosecution flnishh-
his address with an appeal to the jurors
t. save the building trades Of the city
from further suffering at Brindclrs
hands by sending him where he be-
lonSs"
His talk was a summation or the
multitude OF charges OF graft that have
been related against the prisoner. with
especial emphasis upon the par ticular
charge for which Brindell was being
tried. This charge was that on the af-
ternoon OF September 20. 1890. Max
Aronson. a garment manufacturer. paid
\ Brindel $1,000 In cash because strike
had been called upon "a building in
which he was interested and Brindel
had told him that he would not order
the men back to work until he had re-
/ rnI,.nh fNla