The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-03-02
BELIEVED De FORD
NOT IN HARMONY
INLOCKWOODCASE
So TeStifies Mr.. Richter of Mr..
Untermyer in Case of
World Reporter.

Stanley L. Richter, Special Assist
ant Attorney General and son-in-law
OF Samuel Untermyer, Special Assis-
tant Attorney General in charge OF
prosecutions in consequences OF the
revelations made before the Lockwood
Legislative Committee on, Housing.
testified to-day before Justice Nc
Avoy in the Supreme Court in tho
hearing OF Robert scallan. a reporter
of The World for contempt Of court.
IL is charged that Scallan was re-
sponsible for published statements
which Improperly reflected upon the
conduct OF the prosecutions Of the
building material men under indict-
ment.
Mr. Richter described the CORE
spondence between Mr.. Untc~myer,
who recently went to Florida. and
himself and Deputy Attorney Sam
uel Berger, in active charge in Mr..
Untemyer's absence. This CORE
spondence had to do with the atti-
tude of william A. DE Ford, the as
sstant prosecutor in charge of the
| prosecution OF the fifty-two building
material builders grouped as James
A. Ames and Others" Mr. Richter
said Mr.. Untermyer felt from their
reports that Mr.. De Ford was "in-
subordinate"
I'VE felt" said Mr. Richter under
. | fnT,fnrr he. r.Ia
counsel for Mr.. Scallan, "Mr. DE Ford
ought definitely to show the attitude
of the Attorney Generals Office by
demanding jail sentences for all the
defendants. Mr.. De Ford apparently
felt that this would be improper and
that he should merely await an OPP
lpOrtunity to make recommendations
if permitted by the Court. Mr.. Ber-
lger and / pointed out that the Court
might not care to ask for reconmen-
dations and that the Court should
advise and urge Jail sentences with
out waiting for the Courts invitation
or permission. We had been for some
time in doubt as to the spirit of Mr..
Dc Ford's cooperation"
Mr.. Richter said that Mr. Inter
myer directed him by telegraph Feb
JIG to read to william Z. Beazell OF
The World the correspondence re-
garding Mr.. De Ford, and that he
did read the correspondence to Nh.
Bcazell by telephone.
"Mr Untormyer." he continued, Civ
ing the substance of the CORE
spondence. was growing greatly dis
satisfied with Mr. De Ford. Mr.. IN
tcrmyer had heard from New
Yorker that Mr.. dc Ford was nego-
tiating with some OF the defendants
under the indictment OF James a.
Ames ct al. concerning the acceptance
Of pleas Of guilty from them under an
understanding that they should be
punished only by fines.
Then 1t was that Mr.. Untermycr
made the perhaps unfortunate obser-
walton that they are probably dam
Cling before him (Mr. De FOrd) the
District Attorneyship.'
1--WE had been attacked by the
newspapers which Mr. De Ford repre-
SCENTS" (Mr. DE Ford has been OF coun-
sci for the Hearst newspapers) and
thought we might have trouble with
MN ltlbAs TOT llldN ItdSDn 1 NdhAtAA
to ne sure that at least one news
paper in Now York should know what
had happened in case Mr.. De Ford
broke with us and later started
trouble"
On his direct testimony, questioned
by Mr.. De Ford, Mr.. Richter exhibit
ed a telegram which he said he had
received from Mr.. Untermyer. Mr..
DE Ford asked to have the whole
| fa1n frrsn am inf int N apN
tice McAvoy limited the part Of it
? which could he used. Mr.. De Ford
said 1t seemed TO him to be an at
tack on the court.
, Apparently it is an attack on the
court" said Justice McAvoy and for
that reason l win admit IL in evil
, dcnce,'
The court granted Mr.. DE Ford $
request that the entire telegram be
preserved as OF possible usefulness
in the event of a suit for criminal
libel. Mr.. Richter said ne did not
; inspire the publication of any article
| in The World
William p. Beazell of the stan OF
The World told of receiving the mes
sage described by Mr.. Richter, Feb.
IS, He had no knowledge up to that
, time Of any differences between Mr..
Untermyer and his associates. Mr..
Richter told him Mr., Untermyer had
telegraphed from Palm Beach that
, there was nothing in the previous
, story" Mr.. Beazell said he knew
, nothing Of what was meant by
previous story" and Mr.. Richter ex-
) planned the history OF the friction.
{ Mr., Beazell said he informed hiss
[ city editor and later the acting city
, editor OF the conversation, and under
! their instructions made Mr., Scallan
3 acquainted with it as possibly having
, some bearing on Mr. Bergers posi-
tive announcement that Jail sentences
would be asked for all building trade
? defendants hereafter.