New-York tribune., 1921-01-27

pany, President Street and Third Ave-
nue., and Hanlein individually.
Before Mr.. Littleton outlined his
plans Of defense he moved that the in
dictment against his client be dis
missed, on the ground that Aronson's
testimony was unsupported and that
the people had failed to make a case
against Brindell. This motion was de-
MED. as was also another motion made
by Littleton that al! the testimony with
reference to transactions other than
that concerning the Aronson case be
stricken from the records. He also
asked that references to conversations
with Pike, Chauman and Stadtm uller
in the absence Of the accused be ex-
plunged. This, too, was denied.
Intends to Disprove Charges
After reference to the specific
charge against his client, Mr.. Little
ton, addressing the jury, said:
Counsel for the prosecution has
Stated that the defendant was head of
Building Trades Council conceived
by Brindell and promoted by him as
Iart of a scheme for the purpose OF
levying tribute on the building indus.
try and holding up contractors in the
trade. Tho prosecution mas further
represented to you that the defendan.
conceived the plan Of putting the
business so that he could form another
organization to further his alleged
scheme of levying tribute on the in
dustry. / propose to disprove these
charges"
Littleton here recited how there had
been board of business agents COM
posed of eighty odd member delegates
chosen by the various unions in the
five boroughs of the city, and that each
borough had its own board of business
agents.
In August of 1919, he said, Patrick
Crowley and David Danahy, two dele
gates, offered resolution fixing a
standard wage and providing for the
organization of q Building Trades
Council. At this time, said Littleton,
Brindell was head Of the District
Council of Carpenters, and his organi-
zatlon was not represented in the Board
Of Business Agents. The council was
organized and received a charter from
the American Federation Of Labor, he
said. Brindell, he declared, was elected
president in a regular way and the men
who promoted the council were ap-
pointed by him as executive committee
men.
Denies Brindell Wrecked Union
Mr.. Littleton said he intended to
show that Zaranko destroyed his own
union, and not Brindell.
He added that it will be shown that
the delegates, despite their election
for a three-year term, could be re-
moved by their locals at any time, and
that the allegations that the three
year term was for the purpose of per-
petuatng men in power was false.
LAS to the story of Jacob Fradus
that Brindell demanded $4,000 to call
off a strike on job Of his" counsel
continued, eve will show that that is q
vicious fabrication and absolute false
hood, and which we shall strangle
under your eyes. We shall show YOU
that Aronson's story Of his conversa-
ton with Brndell about the payment
of $4,000 was also an absolute false
hood. We shall also shoy that Volk's
story was false"
In the case of Louis Cohen, who had
testified that Brindell demanded to see
MS balance sheets, Littleton declared
ne would SHOW there was az arrange
ment between the defendant and Cohen
with respect to commissions for Jobs
obtained by Brindell for the contractor
We shall show you, gentlemen" he
concluded "that there was no extor.
tion."
States Case Is Closed
Before the opening of the defense
Samuel Untermyer, the prosecuting at.
torney, closed the states case with
the examination of few more wit.
nesses in connection with payments OF
money to Brindell. Joseph H. Goldblatt
who testified to giving up $4,000, was
cross -examied, and his testimony was
corroborated by Charles Hardy jr., his
uperintendent of construction.
Albert Herskovits, o builder, of A.
West Twenty y-eighth Street, told OF
paying $4,000 to Brindell to prevent
strike being called on one of his
operations.
Charles s. Weller, vice-president Of
the Gotham National Bank, and Peter
F. Florence, supervisor of construction
told of the trouble they had in con.
nection with the erection of their new
building at Columbus Circle, and how
Florence had been told by Pike that
Brndell was the man to settle the
strike trouble and that the matter
could be settled for $4,000, which he
intimated was to be split three ways