The New York herald., 1921-01-29
BRllDELL WARRED
ON !. W. w, SAYS
EX-BALLET DANCER
Russian House Wrecker
Says Accused Man Is
Real Altruist.
HIS MEMORY is FAULTY
Witness, Eight Years in U.
S., breaches Americanism,
but Isn't a Citizen.
Sc FRESH INDICTMENTS
Third Blanket Return by the
Grand Jury as Result Of
Lockwood Inquiry.
HIS MEMORY is FAULTY
Sc FRESH INDICTMENTS

A few years ago when Russian bal
let's were all the rage Vladimir Fanke
cavorted nimbly about the stage of the
Metropolitan Opera House. Yesterday
Fanke become labor union organizer
and took the stand as a witness for the
defence at the trial of Robert p. Brin-
with building construction in this city.
Fanke's transition from a ballet per-
former to head of a housewrecking or
ganization had been an overnight mat
ter. he explained.
Through him and also through John
Ryan, who helped him organize Brin-
dells own band of housewreckers with
Which the alleged labor cZar warred
upon the regular union, Martin w.
Littleton. chief counsel for the defence.
role of a patriot. He introduced testi-
mony TO the effect that former soldiers
had received jobs from Brindell's union,
and that the union which Brindell was
fighting was composed largely of for
eigners who were lacking in American
principles and inclined toward the
standards of the I. w. w. This is one
of the main pillars of Brindell's de-
fence.
While Fanke was on the witness
Jury. which has been devoting its time
to perusal of evidence gathered by the
Lockwood committee, filed into the
court room with William A. De Ford
of the special prosecutors staff and
handed up an indictment accusing fifty
six individuals and corporations of vio-
lation of the State antitrust laws. It
was the third blanket indictment to be
filed against building trades combines
within a week.
To Publish Charges Monday.
This Indictment was not made public.
as tho defendants had not been notified
In time TO appear In court but II was
stated that they were expected to plead
on Monday and that the charges would
be made public at that time.
Fanke, who is tall. slim man, with
pointed mustache. large dark eyes, high
forehead and hair combed pompadour.
fence in that his testimony directly
contradicted the intimation that Brin-
dell had seized control of the house,
wrecking situation for purposes of cx-
tortion.
The erstwhile ballet dancer testified
that he was a walking delegate of the
old housewreckers' union last March,
and that he endeavored to get the men,
bers of the organization to Join Brin-
Hat1fG RmfidinU TradaG ho
behest of we'll known contractor. who
thought that II would improve condi-
tions in the bgilding industry. He told
how he invit I'D Ryan 70 address a meet
ing OF the old Housewives lsers' band and
TO extend an invitation 10 them 20 Join
the Building Trades Council. and lo-
clared that they turned down Ryan's
offer because many were tired Of being
IN the American Federation Of Labor.
which. they said. did not protect the
workingman."
Ryan testified that the members OF
The old housewrecking uniol had re-
iected his offer for tho reason tNat they
did not want TO take out cil.tsnfhip
papers" as he had asked them 70 DO.
and because some OF them wanted the
7. w. w" He said that after they had
rejected his offer he proceeded 10 en-
roll some of them as individuals into
Brindel's 6ockbuilders union. which he
was enlarging 10 include ouseureckers.
and Fanke said that after the rejection
no had left the old housowreckers union
and had sigred m with Brindel as
interpreter IN his compensa ton bureau
Fsnkc's Citizenship Record.
Charactorizing good part OF their
testimony as an attempt 10 raise a pa
triotic issue. Samuel Untermyer, chief
prosecutor. directed severe attack
upon Il. He brought out that Fanl<e Is
not a citizen. although he has been IN
the country about eight years. and that
he did not apply for first papers on
application to become a citizen until the
latter part of last year.
He made Ryan admit that he had
kept no record TO show how many ex-
soldiers he had employed In his organ
ization OF Brindell's own housewrecking
band and that his testimony was based
merely upon his recollection. He asked
rim how he knew that any OF them
were ex-soldiers and Ryan said. BE
cause they showed me their citations
and medals"
The they all had citations and
medal aueried the prosecutor and
there was a ripple OF laughter in the
back OF the courtroom.
NO" said Ryan, mot all OF them
Some had citations and medals"
Tanke proved Just as temper. Mental
upon cross-cxamination as an erstwh.le
ballet dancer might be expected 70 he.
and he pcppered the record with repeti-
tions Of the declaration: 'T don't re-
member" When Mr.. Untermyer tried
10 pin him down TO dates. he refused
10 be pinned and couldn't even remem-
her the year in which certain incidents
took place, although he had testified
20 them. He was questioned about his
trouble with William Zaranko. now head
of the regular housewreckers union.
which IL independent OF the Building
Trades Council. and he was asked II
he had made criminal charges against
Zaranio and caused his arrest for the
purpose OF Wrestling HIS union from
him. but he denied having done so.
lie was asked also " Zaranko had not
obtained n Judgment against him for
false arrest. following his exoneratlon,
bu, he denied this also.
ranisc Denies Knowing Martens.
As there had been some intimation
hat Fanke had been connected with the
Russian Soviet Bureau headed by Lud-
wig C. A. T. Martens. Mr.. Lttleton
asked him II this were true. He de-
clared that 10 was not. and that he had
never known Martens. In the cross
examination ne was asked what manual
labor he had ever engaged in, and he