The New York herald., 1922-03-04
CHARGE
AGAINST KENNEALLY
Blickman. Says Picture Re-
vealed That He Never Saw
Man He Accused.
PFEIFFER PLANS INQUIRY
Prosecutor Says There Was
Never a Doubt as to Tammany
Leaders Identity.

William p. Kenneally. former vice.
chairman of the Board of Aldermen, in
dicted February for extortion. took
steps yesterday to have the indictment
dismissed on the ground that the COM
plainant. Saul Blickman. builder. since
had discovered II was not Kenneally
but some other man to whom he paid
81, goo to call off q strike. Blickman has
made an affidavit to this effect for
Kenneally's lawyer. George z. Medalie.
Pfeiffer who is conducting the prosecu-
ton, said last night ne purposed to find
out under what circumstances Blick-
mans affidavit was made.
kenneally Is Tammany leader OF the
Tenth Aldermanic district. in which
Charles F. Murphy lives. He has been
known for years as "Murphy's Alder
man." His indictment resulted from the
Lockwood building trade investigation.
1t names Kenneaiiy Jointly with Robert
p. Brindell. who Is serving five years
in Sing Sing for extortion. Blckman's =
affidavit says:
ION or about February l. 1922, I testi-
fled before the Grand Jury to having
paid money to call off strike on a
building I was interested In III 1870. On
February II. 1922, the day after I testi-
Ned, the New York World published a.
picture OF William p. Kenncally. That
is not the picture OF the man with
whom / had any dealings. Neither the
Attorney-General In charge of this mat
ter. nor the Grand Jury, nor any one
at any other time asked ne to describe
the individual to whom I gave the
money.
saw Briber hut Once.
II was asked IL / recalled whether the
initials Of the man to whom handed
the money we're w. p and I stated
did not know. heard the name of this
man but once. His given name was not
mentioned The man TO whom j gave
the money was between 35 and 40 years
old, weighed about 130 to 100 pounds,
had dark hair, dark complexion and a
thin face.
II have been asked to give this affi-
davit in the interests OF justice because
It Is apparent to me that there Is no
likeness between the individual to whom
gave the money in 1920 and the pic
ture that appeared February IT. 1922.
II saw this man but once. This was
on the day that gave him the money,
and since that time no opportunity has
been afforded me to see him for the
purpose of Identification. I am quite
convinced. however, that would recog-
nize him II were confronted by him."
Affidavit Criticized.
Deputy Attorney-General Pfeiffer said
last night that the identity OF Ken
neatly never was in question. He gave
this statement:
THE thing want to make clear is
this: This matter was brought to the
attention of the Attorney-General by the
Grand Jury itself. A Grand Juror told
1t to Mr.. Robert Appleton. the foreman.
who told II to me. The complainant s
original appearance at this office was
voluntary and not upon subpoena Blick-
man then appeared before the Grand
Jury on two seperate occasions. The
matter OF the identity of William r.
Kenneally. former vice-chairman of the
Board OF Aldermen and delegate of
the Steamfitters Helpers Association. as
the man concerning whom Blickman
testified was never In the slightest
doubt.
"Since his appearance before the
Grand Jury Biickman has given no in
timation to me nor TO any one else In
the AttorneyGenerars office that he
entertained any doubt as to Ken
neaily's identity.
1T is most significant that Blickman'a
affidavit states only that a picture he
saw Is not likeness of the man 70
whom he paid graft
THE Attorney-General proposes to 20
to the bottom OF this matter imme-
diateiy and will utilize every Legitimate
available means to learn the circum-
stances under which Blickman's affi-
davit In Kenneally's behalf was made.
Kenneally. a steamfitter by trade.
was a member OF the Building Trades
Council when Brindeli was known as
the "czar" Of the building trades In this
city. His aldermanic career dates back
twelve years and has been q stormy
one