New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
SecreIaryBaker'sAssistant
and Others Accused of
Defrauding Government
Of Millions of Dollars
Charge Some Men
Pro6ted by Deals
William A.Starrett, of New
York, Among Men Fac
ing Trial for Conspiracy


Crowell, former Assistant Secretary Of
War, and six other wartime officials
OF the War Department were charged
to-day In an indictment returned by a
special Federal Grand Jury here with
conspiracy TO defraud the government
and with delaying and defeating the
administration Of law.
The seven defendants were said by
the jury TO have participated unlaw-
fully in the award Of contracts let by
the government during the war and
after the armistice, involving expendi-
lures totaling hundreds Of millions Of
dollars, and I'm which some Of their
number had a pccuuiary interest
Named as ConspiratOrs
Those named IS eonspirators with
Mr.. Crowell were;
William A. Starrett, Of New York
engineer and architect, said 20 have
been q member Of tho firms Of Starrett
& Van Week and the Thompson
starrett Company, Inc. general con-
tractors. lie was chairman OF the
War Departments committec on
emergency construction. connected
with the Council Of National Defense.
Morton c. Tuttlc. of Boston, said
TO be general manager Of The
Aberthaw Construction Company, and
formerly member Of the emergency
construction committee.
Clemens ". Lundof, Of Cleveland,
Ohio, said 10 be vice-pTesident and
general manager Of the Croweil-
Lundof- Little Company AID general
manager Of the Cleveland Contraction
Company. lie also was member Of
the emergency construction commit
tee.
Claire Foster, reported to live in
Canada. md formerly associated With
the Thompson and the George
A. Fuller companies ano also with ne
emergency construction committee.
John II. McGibbons, Of Baltimore
end Chicago. snid 10 have represented a
bonding company issuing bonds for
contractors and associated during tho
/ war with the construction committee,
James A. Mears, Of Boston and
I Springfield, Mass, formerly general
manager Of Fred y. Lay & Co.
Inc. general contractors. 20 whom the
, first contract Tor construction OF
national army cantonment vas
/ awarded. He was secretary 90 the
I construction committee ia the Wai
Department during The war.
- "a
{ kind TO be returned az o result Of In
/ vestigations Of war frauds cases
/ initiated by Attorney General Daugh-
erty. Others are expected 20 follow
plan TO Get Control
( Each OF the seven defendants. tho
/ Indictment asserted, Conceived the
f fraudulent scheme and plan OF getting
control. for their own gain, profit ane
{ benefit and for the gain. prOnt anc
/ bpuefit OF their past and future clients
and employers and their friends
( III the administration Of the immens,
( emergency construction program ol
the United States during the war IN
, Guiding the determination Of the pol
lev 10 be followed, the form OF con.
tract grossly, internationally an'
( frauduleutlv favorable 20 the contrac
I tors. and i'm n like manner 70 th'
same extent uniavorable 70 tn'
J United States
Twas next charged that the de'
fendants, "eaeh knowing well All ths
PROMISES aforesaid, did unlawiully ano
! feloniously conspire, combine CON
federate and agree together and VIII
divers other persons TO the said CRANE
iurors unknown, to defraud the Oniteo
states bv unlawfully and corruptly de-
LAYING. impeding, obstructing' perveIt'
/ inc. prejudicing, contravening ana oe.
/ feating the administration Of us laws
and lawful regulations"
Violation OF Federal statutes reIat,
inc 10 the procurement OF services OF
contractors for the building, construc.
ticn program Of the War Department
wag charged in one count. In tnla
roeereuee. tho indictment said, the De
fcndants caused al competitive biddine
20 he done away with IN connection
y.itb the administration Of substantlal-
l., al building construction, which IN,
'.,lved expenditures Of hundreds o.
,,,iiiiors OF dollars and included!
arnorC other things, sixteen national
INV canfonmerts, sixteen NationAi
Cr,rd camps. huge port terminals
,,srv warehouses, hospitals. ayietion
scids ordnance plants and fortunes
t;one. comprising over 300 separate
contracts. 1T. ,o,,. 4
The emergency constr uellon rSy..s
80 "a tbe Council Of National Defense
tSe indictments charge, was used a,
The vehicle for carrying out the silegea
nIan. The government eharesa al M
tbe alleged conspirators USED tneif
"" ,r..tl,aed a nna, ffel