The New York herald., 1922-06-13
Witness Says Jurist Had
Promised to Get After
Nassau's Road Ring.
rs NO LIMIT TO CHARGES
Brackett and Other Lawyers
Clash on Getting Bill Of
Particulars.

Testimony tending to show that JUS
tice Selah B. Strong went into Nassau
county to make things interesting"
for the political ring interested in road
contracts; that he exercised an arbi-
trary dictatorship over the official rec
ords of the John Doe proceedings held
last December, and that he comman-
deered State troopers to guard the
door of Eis chambers were some of
the incidents related yesterday before
the jerks legislative committee, which
transferred it's activities from the
Mineola Court House to the chambers
of the Bar Association in Forty-fourth
street
Justice Strong is under charges by
the Nassau County Bar Association,
and the present legislative inquiry has
been set in motion to determine
whether impeachment proceedings
shall be instituted. Assemblyman Ed
mund B. jerks of Broome county Is
chairman of the committee.
There were frequent clashes between
ex-senator Edgar T. Bracket of Sara
toga, counsel for Justice Strong. and
Harry c. Perkins of Binghamton, coun-
sci for the committee, as to the in
clusion of certain points of evidence
which were objected to by the defense
on the ground that they were outside Of
the purview Of the inquiry.
-RxSx
Charging that the committee was
wandering far afield, former Senator
Bracket described the hearing as "a
general inquisition into the life and
doings of Selah B. Strong" without the
slightest regard for the specifications in
the resolution of the Assembly en-
powering the investigation. He reminded
the committee that he has asked for a
bill of particulars" and the failure to
receive it, he said, placed the defendant
and the counsel at a decided disadvan-
tage.
A great deal of the session was con-
sun1ed in arguing over the general rul-
ings under which the proceedings would
be carried on. Subpoenas have been Is
sued for number of witnesses to ap-
pear tomorrow. and 1t is expected then
that the real underlying political phases
of the proceedings will be fully dis
closed Senator George l.. Thompson OF
Queens county, Assemblyman Thomas
A. McWhinney and G. Wilbur Doughty.
Republican leader of Nassau county, all
of whom have been at one time or an
other connected with the spirited
charges and counter-charges banded
back and forth by the political factions
OF the county, are expected to appear
at that time.
Robert L. Bacon of westbury. l.. l.,
son of the former Ambassador to
France, who repeated a conversation
with Judge Strong last December; Jo-
seph A. Rooney, official court stenog-
rapher who took the minutes of the
John Doe inquiry into the Nassau road
contracts and Samuel II. Geer. news
paper correspondent who told of private
interviews with Judge Strong were the
only three witnesses in yesterdays
hearing.
Mr. Bacon testified that he worked
for Justice Strong's election In 1921 and
during a conversation later the Justice
had announced his intention of inves-
tigating road contracts in Nassau coun-
~, and that he might make 1t inter-
esting" for some OF the politicians, par
ticuarly those in the township OF
Hampstead.
During the testimony Of Mr.. Rooney
a bitter fight occurred between opposing
counsel as to whether or not some of
the witnesses replies might be included
in the record. Chairman jerks finally
ruled that the committee could investi-
gate any charges made against Justice
Strong and could carry on the inquiry
without his presence, just like a Grand
Jury.
Com mittee's Hands Not Tied.
''The committee cannot allow It's
hands to be tied in any way in the
investigation of Judge Strong's acts :"
the chairman said. "If any evidence
adduced is a surprise to Justice Strong
he will be given every opportunity to
explain 1t and offer testimony in re-
buttal.
"If the committee should recommend
a trial for the Impeachment of Justice
Strong, then specific charges will be
filed and these will be made the basis
OF a trial"
Prosecutor Perkins devoted some time
TO trying TO find out whether Mr.
Rooney had failed to file some of the
testimony taken in the John Doe pro-
ccedings.
The memory of the witness was hazy
but he admitted that he acted under
Justice Strong's direction in this re-
spect. He also admitted that he turned
over to Mr.. Nandewater the official
record OF the inquiry and left il In his
possession for some time, later certifying
IL for fling. although II had not been
reread or compared
Judge Strong said he was going to
raise Cain down In Suffolk county" was
one OF the statements of Geer. He testi-
fed TO the presence OF State troopers
outside the chambers OF the Judge to
prevent newspaper men from questioning
him regarding the road inquiry.
Judge Strong, In a private interview
with newspaper men, Mr.. Geer said, an
nounced that Senator George L.
Thompson was the man ne referred TO
In his charge 10 the Grand Jury as hav-
ing been promised reelection IL he
would refrain from furthering two bills
In the legislature designed to prevent a
county Judge and Surrogate from prac-
tising law.
The relation OF this conversation was
etrenuously fought by Senator Bracket
who objected that II was not an official
act of Justice Strong, but a private
conversation given in confidence He
endeavored to show that even relating
II upon the stand was a direct violation
OF ethics.
The hearing will b. resumed at the
Bar Association this morning.