New-York tribune., 1921-03-17
Plumber Tells
How He FOUGHT
Hettrick Code
Was Happiest Moment of
His Life, Fee Testifes,
but He Admits Firm Was
Member of Association
Partners Overruled Him
Witness Is Militant When
Contracts Are Hinted as
Reason for Opposition

Frank j. Fee, president Of the firm
Of Wells & Newton, Inc, contracting
plumbers, told the jury in Justice
John " McAvoys branch Of the Su-
preme Court, yesterday how he had
gone to the Office of John T. Hettrick
with the intention of breaking up the
whole Hettrick "code Of practice" or
ganization, and said that it was the
proudest moment of his life.
Fee took the stand in his own de-
fense and proved to be the most mill
tant witness of the trial. He is one
OF the four remaining defendants who
we're indicted with Hettrick on CHARGES
of violating the state antitrust laws
The others are John L. Knight, presi-
dent of the Master Plumbers Associa-
ton; the firm of Wells & Newton and
Charles A. Murphy, one of its officers.
Hettrick and his two labor co-defend
ants were discharged Tuesday on the
ground of double jeopardy.
Fee repeatedly insisted throuphou.
his testimony that he was opposed to
the Hettrick scheme, and that his firm
went into it against his wishes. His
story detailing the attempt to break
up the Hettrick organization came
While he was under the cross examina-
ton of Special Deputy Attorney Cen
erl Kenneth NJ. Spence. The latter
asked him whether his partner, Charles
A Murphy, had Informed him that the
firm of Cornell G. Co. was bidding on
the garment center Job.
Says He Broke Up Code
Il didn't know anything about it,
replied Fee, "and Murphy didn't tell
me. As soon as l found out Cornell
< Co. had violated the code
went down to Hettrick's Office intend
ing to break up his organization.
did it and it was the proudest thing
ever dii in my life"
:. ny were you so anxious to break
It up after losing the Garment Center
job ?" asked Mr. Spence.
1T wasn't because of that" replied
zee; lit was natural feeling with
me. ] was against it because il was
not practical, or workable"
But You violated the code in the
Straus job, didn't you?" queried Mr..
Yes" answered Fee; ~ never in
tended to live up to it because | was
never in IT,
Weren't you party to it
No it was party to me. I was in
it because Long and Murphy were in
It, but Murphy in his heart was op-
posed to it, and cot out tie first chance
he had"
Then Mr. Murphy entered into an
greement "a moral obligation, with
out any intention of living up to it 2"
insisted Mr.. Spence.
IF l weren't under oath" replied
Fee, Il would give you my opinion on
that, but I'm under oath and / can
not say what I'd like to"
No Encyclopedia, He Says
MIR. Spence then asked him some
questions regarding the Job at Forty
first Street and Madison Avenue. Fee,
showing anger, REPLIED
IN not an encyclopedia. I can't
answer that without my papers. You
have had those papers for more than
two months and | have been trying to
get them"
oh You mean the papers we took
from Hettrick's office" said Mr. Spence.
T." ell, if they viii help you we VIII get
them for you"
Fee testified that on one occasion
when he was in Hettrick's office ne
had asked about the legality of the
scheme. and he stated that Hettrick re-
piled:
"The Attorney General has been in
vestgating this office, and two invest-
gators have been here. They have quit
the Attorney Generals staff and have
joined my organization"
Later Fee testified he was introduced
to one Of these men.
Fee said that when he first went
to see Hettrick he told him that he
was from Missouri and wanted to be
shown. Hettrick told him his time was