New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-20
First Deputy Police Com.
missioner Refuses to
Answer Questions; To
Go Before Court To-day
llnpounded Records
Filled Small Van
Documents Guarded by
Armed State Trooper;
O'Brien Pleas Ignored


The Meyer legislative investigating
committee won its first skirmish with
the Hylan administration yesterday,
riding roughshod over the opinions
and protestations Of Corporation Coun-
sci John P. O'Brien and voting to in
stitute immediate contempt proceed
ings against First Deputy Police Com
missioner John A. Leach.
Directed in it's course by its chief
counsel, Elon r. Brown, che committee
took short and sharp methods in over
coming the obstructive measures of
Mr.. 0Brien. The Investigators got
the records they desired from the May
or's office, the Corporation Counsel's
office and che Police Department and
impounded them forthwith, despite the
bitter opposition raised by O'Brien and
Commissioner Leach. The mass of
papers seized by the committee yes
terday would fill small moving van
Mr.. Brown made it plain that he
was in no mood to be trihed with, and
several times he Jared up angrily
when the Corporation Counsel and the
Deputy Commissioner evinced a. dis
position to quibble. The uncompro-
missing attitude assumed by the COM
mittee finally appeared to have cool
ing effect upon Mr.. O'Brien, and the
vigorous antagonism he had displaye d
early in the day was entirely dissi-
pated by the time the Investigators
had finished the business before them
Refused to Testify
Mr.. O'Brien would not commit him
self concerning the action he intends
to take in connection with the i'm
fight the committees move to have
Commissioner Leach punished for con-
tempt. This action was taken against
the commissioner because of his re-
fusal to testify before Senator Schuyler
M. Meyer sitting as a subcommittee
Of one.
Senator Meyer. who is chairman of
the investigating committee, said lsss
night that the contempt proceedings
probably would be taken before the
Supreme Court to-day
Last night husky state trooper
in puttees, gray uniform, sombrero
and business-like revolver arrived
at the Offices of the committee at 3S
Park Row, with pillow under one
arm and a mattress and blanket under
the other. He was 8 decidedly busi-
ress-like looking person, and an at
tache of the investigating committee
told a Tribune reporter that he would
remain on guard at the Offices so long
as any city records are kept there
This armed guard is to be increased
it is understood, and telegram was
sent to the headquarters off the State
Constabulary at White Plains yester-
day calling for additional troopers and
relief detachments.
Early in the day a letter from Cor.
poration Counsel OeBrien was delivered
to Senator Meyer. In this communica-
tion Mr.. O'Brien denied that he was
trying to obstruct the investigation and
such an allegation in statement given
to the press on Thursday was in error
Mr.. O'Brien added that he had trans
ferred the records desired by the COM
mittee to room adjoining his Office
and that they would be at all times
available there.
Brown Is Emphatic
Senator Meyer and Chief Counsel
Brown made it plain yesterday that ex-
amining records in the Corporation
CounsePs Office was scheme Of things
not at all TO their liking. In emphatic
language Mr.. Brown made it plain to
both Mr.. O'Brien and Commissions
Leach that their daylight plan" OF ex-
amlning records would not be consid-
cred by the committee.
1--WE want the records and papers in
this Office" said the chief counsel, $50
that We can examine them during the
day or at night, as we elect We in
tend to work at night, and it would be
a great inconvenience not to have the
necessary documents at hand"
Commissioner Leach arrived at the
Park Row Offices Of the committee
shortly after noon, accompanied by Mr..
O'Brien, William e. v. Mayer and John
Lehman, assistant corporation coun-
sci. They Immediately went into q
private office, where Senator Meyer,
Leonard M. Wallstein and Samuel A.
berger, associate counsel to the com
mittee, We're awaiting them.
Commissioner Leach was under sub
pnna and Senator Meyer began TO plv
him with questions, all of which the
police official refused to answer. He
informed Senator Meyer that his re-
fusal was based on the fact that there
was no minority representation on the
Committee of One and it was, for that
reason, without authority to take testi-
mony. The commissioner held also that
Senator Meyer was not acting within
sS@Etinued on nass four