The New York herald., 1921-12-10
REWARD,NOT REBUKE,
FOR ALMIRALL JURY
New Version of Suspension
Is They Earned Excuse
by Long Service.
ETlLL SUSPECT SLAP
But $3.50 Pay Checks Each
Are Held Up While Hirsh-
field Investigates.
MYLAN'S INFLUENCE SEEN
Meanwhile Jurors Are in Doubt
Whether TO Be Pleased or
HYLAN'S INFLUENCE SEEN
Meanwhile Jurors Are in Doubt
I Whether TO Be Pleased or
Feel Resentful.

Members Of the Almirall Grand Jury
appear to be uncertain whether they
are being rebuked or rewarded by the
action of the Grand Jury board in
dropping their names from jury lists
FOR three years and several of their
number will meet this afternon at the
office of Arthur G. Meyer. 25 Madison
avenue to decide whether action
should be taken TO defend their con-
duct as crime investigators.
While official announcement was
made that tie jurors were excused
and not suspended, most Of them were
convinced that the action of the board
was designed as criticism to put 1t
mildly. and that it was prompted by
Mayor Hylan to get even for the AL
nirall investigation Of the city admin
istration and the indictment OF Tam
many men.
The pay of the Almirall Jury has
been held up while David HirshfieId.
Commissioner of Accounts, makes an
investigation of a complaint that fees
were charged for sessions held uptown
and that the investigators wasted pubic
funds.
Prompted by Mayor, 1t Is snfd.
Such accusations were presented to
the Board OF Jurors and formed the
basis 1g the action taken. Mayor
1sy.an was nderstood TO have prompted
the SUGGESTION that the jurors be
dropped scr life.
Most ciG-ens would welcome being
EXCUSED from jury duty for at least
three years. But 1t happens that In this
case considerable honor attaches TO
membership In a body which has great
powers to investigate any and every
thing In the city government. The
Jurors are Jealous of their regulations
and decords. and being told they are
not wanted Is unpleasant after working
li0 days for the city for SO a. day. When
these men, all of influential position
and most Of them wealthy. were sworn
! an they were told they were the flower
of our ciuzenry.' which they consider
quite different from being told their
names are striken from the honor list
of able jurors
Some OF the more prominent members
were indignant over what they termed
the arbitrary action of the Board.
Others were Indifferent. A few were
disturbed enough so that they talked
fight. and they will meet to-day to
try to start something
Three days after the last city election.
one Of the Jurors said he and his as
sociates were told they might expect
trouble. The first drive against them
was made after the Jurors had row
with District Attorney Swami; that
was followed by the troubles with
Mayor Hylan after some OF his letter
files had been seized and the indict
ment OF Charles r. Murphy
Not n Slap, Asserts O'Byrne.
Frederick r. O'Byrne. Commissioner
OF Jurors, said the action OF the Grand
Jury Board could not be interpreted
as a slap at the Almirall jurors. He
explained It this way:
",rhe five members OF the board were
present when this action was taken on
November g. All voted TO give the
Almirall jurors three years vacation.
The average service OF citizen on
jury Is twelve days: these men
served 10 days. They were not sus-
pended but excused.
Some OF the Jurors had made appli-
cation to be excused for period OF
wears and in acting on those requests
the board decided TO treat all the jury
alike They could not very well be
suspended for three years as there is
no such thing as a permanent jury
list A new one is made up every year
and IL any OF these men wish to get
back on the list they can make appli-
cation to the board next year and then
may have thei- names restored. The
board has unrestricted authority over
.he list and can do anything 1t wishes
next year. Some OF the Almiran Jurors
will be retired automatically before the
expiration OF the three years by reason
of their ages"
This Is the first time that the Grand
Jury Board has taken action against
the full membership OF Grand Jury
Individuals have been dropped because
OF misconduct.