New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-09
Si1lnOtt Bares
Checks at CITY
Graft Inquiry
Member of Hylan's Kitchen
Cabinet, Father of May
or's Son-in-Law, Faces
Legislative Investigators
Meyer Warns of Tricks
Hearings Held in Private
Because of Administra-
toms Attitude, He Says

James P. Sinnott, Commissioner of
the Board of Water Supply, and father
of Mayor Hylan's secretary and son-in-
law, John F. Sinnott, was examined
yesterday at private hearing of the
joint legislative graft investigating
committee.
Commissioner Sinnott, who came
with his bank books, cancelled checks,
check stubs and other documents show
ing his financial dealings since his ap-
pointnlent as member of the Hylan
kitchen cabinet, refused to reveal the
nature of his examination. Like secrecy
was preserved by the members of the
committee.
Charles D. Donahue. minority leader.
Of the Assembly, tried to have the ex-
ANIMATION OF Sinnott conducted pub
licly, but was unsuccessful.
After Sinnott had been examined he
fore subcommittee of five, consisting
of three Republicans and two Demo-
Gratis, Corporation Counsel John P
0'Brien addressed letter to Senator
Schuyler NJ. Meyer, chairman of the
committee, demanding that hencefor-
ward all hearings be held in the omen.
to which the press and the public
would have admittance, and that the
committee "obey the law as laid down
by the court"
Meyers Letter to O'Brien
Senator Meyer in discussing the
o'Brien letter with newspaper men
said that the Appellate Division had
not held that the hearings should be
open, but that the committee could not
punish for contempt witness who re-
fused to be sworn before such a COM
mlttee de also wrote a letter to the
corporation Counsel, which read:
When the city administration hon
estiy and IN good faith cooperates with
the committee instead of by petty sub
terfuges attempting to hamper and de-
!ay It's work, the committee will be glad
to permit your representatives to be
present at the examination of wit
nesses.
AT the proper time the committee
will hold public sessions, when the pub
lie can judge for itself whether it's
work will contribute to the welfare of
the city"
The letter of Corporation Counsel
o'Brien follows in part:
"As you and your committee we'll
know, Mayor Hylan and the heads of
departments under his jurisdiction
have, from the moment when your com
mittee began its work, emphasized their
belief that as matter of law and pub
nc policy the meetings of your com
mlttee and subcommittee at which
testimony is taken should be public.
The Appellate Division, after hear
ing your appeal from the decision of
Judge Whitaker, decided that you had
no authority in law to appoint sub
committees of one to take testimony,
and that your committee had no power
to take testimony in private.
Protests to Committee
Il understand that in spite of the de-
cision OF the Appellate Division you
have continued to take testimony in
private and also before committees of
less than three. AS the chief law Off
GER of the city and representing the
Mayor and the officials directly under
the jurisdiction of the Mayor, protest
against this procedure, and insist that
you and your committee obey the law
as laid down by the court. l shall in
sist upon the presence of three mem
bers of the committee at every meet
ing of subcommittee at which testi-
mony is taken and, further, upon your
holding these meetings in public, open
to the representatives of the press, to
my representatives and to the public at
large"
Through scene created yesterday at
the headquarters of the committee by
Mrs. Mary Gordon, of 172 Essex Street,
it was learned that the probers were
interested in the Rev. DR.. Samuel
Buchler, at one time the jewish chap
lain at Sing Sing and now a Deputy
Commissioner of Markets under Mayor
hylan. DR.. Buchler recently charged
that Max Hirtenstein, the doorkeeper
at the committees Office, had threat
ened to cut his heart out and skin him
and then sell his skin on the streets.
Mrs. Gordon, after having waited in
the reception room of the committee
for three hours, was told that she was
nos wanted yet. She replied that it
was unfair to keep serving subpmnas
on her, dragging her away from her
children, and threw the subpoena on
the floor. She told the newspaper men
that the committee wanted to know Of
the efforts of DR.. Buchler to bring
about the release of her brother, Hy
man Berger, prisoner in Sing Sing.
None of the committee members
would discuss the object in subpoena
ing Mrs. Gordon, but DIR. Buchler
talked freely about the case.
For the last five years." said Dr.
buchler, II have assisted the wife and
Icur children of Mrs. Gordon's brother
| nave seen former Governor Smith,
District Attorney Lewis, of Brooklyn,
and several others in an effort to get
a pardon for Berger, but because of
tue mans record l was unsuccessful
MRS. Berger, the prisoners mother,
ana ms wife, together with Mrs. Cor
don, VINO has been subpanaed by the
committee, called on me about two
years ago. They said that Berger's
family was on the verge of starvation.
hey suggested that they would retain