New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-06
Mayor Silent on Invita-.
ton; Secretary Thinks
He'll Appear Tuesday:
Subpoena if He Doesn't
Victims Of Police
Clubs May Follow
Meyer Gets Evidence of
Aged Woman Beaten by
Policeman 2 Weeks AGO


Unless he falls suddenly i'll or at
tempts to hold up the proceedings by
court action, Mayor John F. Hylan
will be the first witness examined be-
fore the joint legislative graft in
vestigating committee when it begins
its public hearings at the City Hall
on Thursday morning.
Elon r. Brown, former majority
leader of the Senate, and chief coun-
sci to the committee, will conduct the
examination of Mayor Hylan.
Not a word from the Mayor could
be obtained yesterday in response to
the committees invitation" to appear
before it. Tho Mayors secretary. who
is also his son-in-law, and who is also
due later for a grilling before the com
mittee, said that he believed the Mayor
would appear.
II the Mayor does not appear at tne
appointed time he will be served with
a subpoena. backed by the power of
the state, commanding him to appear
forthwith.
Text of Invitation"
The "invitation" to the Mayor was
signed by the committce's chairman.
Senator Schuyler NJ Meyer, and read:
You are requested to appear before
the Joint Legislative Committee in
vestigating the affairs of the City OF
o,lr
10:30 a. M, in the City Hall The ex-
animation viii proceed in reference to
the financial condition Of the city, and
the committee desires the presence of
the Mayor first"
The committee is keeping a closely
guarded secret its plans as to who will
be called after the Mayor is excused
from the stand 1t is not revealing
any of its plans in advance beyond
that the Mayor. unless the unexpected
happens, will be its first witness.
1t is believed that the body will GO
into the clubbing of citizens by police
men under Commissioner Enright At
least half a dozen citizens who have
been clubbed by policemen called at
the headquarters of the committee
yesterday.
Clubbings Investigated
"One of them," said Senator Meyer.
"was badly cut by blackjack. We
are investigating a number of these
clubbings; in fact, ali that have been
brought to our attention.
The chairman of the committee then
named policeman who, he said, had
beaten up an aged woman two weeks
ago and seemingly had not been
brought to trial before any of Police
Commissioner Enright's commissioners.
"This patrolman," said Senator Mey
er, while on sick leave on the night
of July 16, shortly before midnight,
attempted to enter the residence Of
Mrs. Grenville Parker, at 139 East
Thirty-ninth Street, by force and vio
lence. His entrance was resisted by
the aged housekeeper, Mrs. Kuper,
whereupon she was assaulted and beat
en- by the patrolman.
"The attention of a motorcycle pa
trolman was attracted by Mrs. Kuper's
under arrest. The following day the
patrolman was arraigned before Mag
istrate Nolan in the Yorkville court and
Mrs. Kuper failed, for reasons known
to herself and not to this committee,
to Identify her assailant. The commit
tee has learned that charges have been
preferred against the patrolman and
are now pending at Police Headquar-
ters.
"The committee will follow its regu-
lar rule with respect to all cases of
assault by policemen which have been
brought to its attention. No investiga-
tion of the alleged facts in this partic
ular case will be made until the charges
against the patrolman have been tried
and disposed of, provided that such
trial and disposition is not unduly de
layed.
No Wish to Interfere
whenever the Police Commissioner
takes prompt and disciplinary action
with respect to a police offender, the
committee has no desire to interfere.
When citizens obtain justice against
offending policemen in the regular
channels provided by law, the commit
tee receives this information with pro
found satisfaction"
The Kings County Executive Com
nlttee of the American Legion. which
made formal protest against the re-
tentlon of Winthrop d. Lane as an in.
vestigator by the Meyer committee be
cause Of active opposition to the United
States entering the war, and his work
on behalf of imprisoned conscientiou.
DIRECTORS, yesterday addressed a letter
to Charles l.. Blakeslee, State Com.
mander OF the American Legion, re.
qaesting statewide action on Senator
Meyers refusal to dismiss Lane. and
urged the presentation of the facts in
the case TO the Governor The letter
to Commander Blakeslee, which wa,
signed by Peter A. Drum, secretary
! inciosed a copy of the resolutions con
demning the employment of Lane.
Senator Meyer declined to commerl
on the letter. Lanes work with tn
committee will be completed in a wees