New-York tribune., 1921-02-22
Two ON. Trial
WI WitIl Hettrick
Give Testimony
Chapman and Doran Deny
Making Strike Threats
and Indicate They Hold
Lawyer Entirely to Blame
Smith Rests His Case
''Code of Practice" Chief
Makes Stand and Verdict
Is Expected This Week

Counsel for John T. Hettrick and
three co-defendants on trial before Su-
preme Court Justice McAvoy for al
legged conspiracy to force plumbing
contractors into the Hettrick 'code of
practice" clearing house for bids,
opened up their defense yesterday.
Following preliminary statements of
their attorneys, William II. Chapman
and William j. Doran, two delegates
of Plumbrs' Union, Local 463, who are
co-defendants with Hettrick, took the
stand in their own defense.
Herbert Smith, a member of the
Master Plumbers Association. who is
another defendant, announced through
his counsel that his case was rested
1t is probable that Hettrick will take
the stand within few days, and that
the case will go to the jury before the
week ends
Deny Conspiracy Existed
The defense was outlined by Nathan
Cohen, counsel for Doran; William J.
Fallon, attorney for Chapman, and
They denied there was any conspiracy
to force contractors into the Hettrick
'code of practice" group of plumbers;
that there was any scheme to fix prices
and eliminate competition by the con-
troll of bidding, and argued that the
"code" was created to remedy certain
alleged trade evils, such as the "hawk-
ing and peddling of bids"
1t was apparent that Doran and
ba al IL L; ! ~,
for the creation and operation of the
code" on the shoulders of Hettrick.
Both testified on the witness stand that
they knew little of the origin or opera
tion of the scheme beyond the fact that
it was designed to better the condi-
'tion of the laborer and master plumbe
through the elimination of the hawk
ing of bids"
With respect to the visits the prose-
cution showed Doran and Chapman
made to various plumbers not in the
"eode" in an effort to get them into
the organization, the two defendants
testified yesterday that these visits
were in the nature of "a special mis-
sion TO learn why all master plumbers
were not in the code of practice and
if 1t was an exclusive organization"
Both Doran and Chapman denied
that they ever threatened any plumber
WIN bAlO VI 16DoA IL lc hltl
not join, or that any strike had been
called on any contractor who did not
join. They testified that they never
saw any bids made by master plumbers
end knew nothing of any bids being
changed.
Misunderstood Agreement
In explanation of the relation be-
tween their agreement to "see that the
fndp nf oraCtico etri6f1u pOforrnHP
and Hettrick's code of practice" they
delared "they didn't know just what
that phrase in the agreement meant"
A resolution adopted by the plumbers
union stating that "the union reserves
the right not to work for contractors
who did not let their contracts to orig
inal bidders" meant "simply that" they
said.
They insisted that it had no relation
to Hettricks code of practice, pointing
out that the resolution had been
adopted on August 6, while the first
time either of them had seen or
spoken to Hettrick was some time the
following September.
Doran and Chapman told of their
visit to James and Charles Armstrong,
plumbing contractors, whom they urged
to join Hettrick's group. They denied
that they threatened Charles Arm
strong he would get no labor if he did
not join.
when Charles said he couldn't see
the code," testified Chapman, 81 said,
Well, the conditions that existed be-
fore the war are over. You will pay
the regular union wage and no driving
OF workers. Charles then said: is
that threat? l take that as threat.
/ replied that if he thought it was a
threat and wanted TO take it to the
District Attorney l would go down with
Though. We didn't intend to call any
of our men off Of any job. That was
just what we were trying to prevent
The trial will be continued to-day.