The New York herald., 1921-07-01
HYLANS LEGAL AIDS
ACCUSED OF GAGG|NC
MEYERS WITNESSES
Senator Hears Police Got
Orders to Be Coached
About Evidence.
ENRIGHT TO EXPLAIN
O'Brien Denies Obstructino
PrObers, but He Will Have
Chance to Amplify.
WILL SMOKE OUT AUTHOR
Motives Of Investigators At.
tackled by NOn-Partisan Wig
lance Committee.
ENRIGHT TO EXPLAIN
WILL SMOKE OUT AUTHOR

Mayor Hylan's legal advisers in the
Office of the Corporation Counsel have
been coaching all city employees
served with subpenas to appear as
witnesses before the Meyer Legislative
committee now investigating the
municipal administration. Members of
the committee and it's counsel learned
tains and other officials in the Police
Department.
Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer, chair
man of the committee, said that adj
mission had> been drawn from the po-
lice captains and others that they had
been instructed not only what testi-
mony to give before the State body
but exactly what to do in the event of
receiving a summons from either the
State or a Grand Jury. Evidently the
citys legal department assumed there
would be Grand Jury proceedings
growing out of the committees in
quiry.
Such an attempt TO block the States
investigation is outrageous on the part
of city officials, Senator Meyer said.
He said that action would be taken inn
mediately to place the responsibility
fer It,
Throughout its preliminary proceed
ings lawyers and investigators working
g.. 4.
the uniform silence of police officials
and others on certain subjects. While
the investigators have been suspicious
that this studied silence was prompted
by some form of instructions, 1t was not
until yesterday that they succeeded in
learning what was behind IL.
To Call O'Brien and Enrigbt.
Corporation Counsel John F. O'Brien
and Police Commissioner Enright will
be called before the committee either
to-day or next Tuesday TO explain
whether they gave the gag order. II
they deny 1t Mayor Hylan will be
called
Senator Meyer said that IL the testi-
mony given yesterday by police captains
can be verified the officials responsible
for the order will be charged with con-
spiracy to suppress information.
1t developed during the hearing that
the police inspectors met on June 81,
when the legislative committee was be-
ginning to go into police affairs and
agreed upon an order which was issued
In the form of a memorandum to all
police captains and other officials In the
department. This in turn was passed
along to all policemen. Similar instruc-
tons were issued from some source to
employees in other departments, wit
nesses stated, but none knew the origin.
The Instructions were that all police
officials and policemen subpoened be-
fore the Meyer committee should report
Immediately to George p. Nicholson. AS
sistent Corporation Counsel. according
to witnesses. They were 70 produce all
records and other data called for by
the subpoenas
II summoned before Grand Jury the
police were told to go Immediately to
NJ. NJ. Dolphin Assistant Corporation
Counsel at Police Headquarters. In
both instances they were to be coached
In their testimony.
Corporation Counsel O'Brien was in
formed what the police officials had told
the committee. lie said:
"It is not a fact
Calls Criticism "Hot Air."
In answer TO the criticism made by
Elon II. Brown. chief counsel TO the
committee. who complained that the
Corporation Counsel had obstructed the
Investigation. Mr.. o. Brien said:
THAT Is all hot air. 1 don't believe
Brown meant that What does he know
about IL. anyhow? lie Is UP in Water
town all the time l have been CO.
operating with the committee. Ask
Wallstein and Berger II have not"
The Non-Partisen Vigilance Commit
tee issued a statement yesterday charg-
ing that tho legislative Investigation OF
the Hylan administration was prompted
and backed by the powerful eight cent
fare traction interests" This Is the
committee of which Francis L. Bent,
Hylan's close friend. is chairman. When
shown the statement, Senator Meyer
said:
why does that COMMITTEES call itself
non-partisan7"
In his statement. Mr.. Bent named sew
eral contributors to Gov. Miller's cam
paign fund. said they elected Senator
Meyer to serve their eight cent fare
purposes and that the inquiry Is prompt
ed solely by the demand OF the interests
that the Hylan administration be dis
credited preliminary 10 raising fba IN re