The New York herald., 1922-03-22
DIVORCE EVIDENCE
SUPPLIED TO ORDER
BY FAKE SYNDICATE
False Raids Staged When
Sure Accused Would
Have No Alibi.
BANTON EXPOSES PLOT
Has Detective Listen In Oh
Offer to Fix Suit for
$1,000.
CASE UNIQUE In CRIME
Jack Berkowitz Is Seized by
Police as Head of the
Business
CASE UNIQUE In CRIME

With the arrest yesterday of Jack
Berkowitz OF 224 West Thirty
street District Attorney Joab II. Ban
ton announced the uncovering of a
syndicate unique in New York Grim
inal history. devoted to procuring al
legged false evidence in divorce cases.
Berkowitz was arrested by Detective
Bernard A. Flood of the District At
torney's staff in the office of Samuel
J.. Chess, 4 lawyer. of 3S Park Row,
after he was trapped into a disclosure
of his profession, it is alleged, by
woman detective sent to the lawyers
office at the instance of Mr.. Banton.
Berkowtz was arraiGned before
Magistrate Charles A. Oberwager in
~ombs Court on charge of suborna-
ton Of perjury and was held in $4,000
bail for examination tomorrow. A
short affidavit made by Detective Flood
alleges that Berkowitz late last De-
cember procured Mortimer NJ. Foss
and induced him to swear falsely that
he had taken part in a raid upon the
Thirty-scventh street house and there
saw Sidney Hirsch of 500 West 1S0th
street with a woman other than his
wife. The alleged false affidavit was
filed in Supreme Court on a motion
for alimony and counsel fees made on
behalf of Helen Hirsch. who seeks alb
solute divorce from Sidney Hirsch.
says Actors Were Retained.
Hirsch. told his story to the District
Attorney several days ago. substantially
as follows:
Hirschs first knowledge OF the alleged
false evidence against him was when the
affidavit was filed. When he made de-
nial Chess sent an investigator to the
Thirty-seventh street address and the
investigator found Berkowitz there.
Berkowitz inquired whether Chess did
not do a large divorce business. and,
when informed that he had several
clients seeking divorces. stated that he
was in position to help the lawyer.
Chess then had Berkowitz come to his
office, he said, and Berkowitz explained
Thirty-seventh street to stage false evil
dence against defendants in divorce
actions. His plan wes to have a de-
tective shadow the defendant luntil he
was alone and could not furnish an alibi.
That accomplished. Berkowitz ordered
one of several actors retained by him.
Ito makeup" to resemble the defendant
and compromise himself in a room with
GnI k1xsR rlrnxn
Berkowitz then furnished the detectives
to make the fake raid and swear falsely
that the person discovered in the room
was the defendant, Mr.. Banton was told.
Chess said that BerkowitZ admitted
to him that he had "framed" the evil
dence against Hirsch and showed him
a pair Of hornrimmed glasses similar to
the kind Hirsch wears, which had been
used by the man Stimulating Hirsch. The
admission was gained. Chess said. when
he pretended TO be interested In pro-
posal from Berkowitz to furnish EVIL
dcnce" TO his clients at $1,000 an
affidavit.
$1,000 Price Reported.
District Attorney Banton said that
when Chess told that story II seemed
so weird that he could not possibly place
credencc in II uncorroborsted. 50 he
called In Detective Flood ani asked him
to investigate IL. Detective Flood in
stalled a dictograph in the Chess offices
and then obtained the services OF Miss
Helen Thomas. detective of the West
Thirty-seventh street police station.
Flood and Miss Thomas went to
Chess's office yesterday afternoon. they
said. to meet Berkowitz. Flood stayed
outside the office at the receiving end
OF the wire. Miss Thomas went inside
and was introduced to Berkowitz as
Mrs. Thomas" who wished evidence
upon which 10 obtain a divorce from
her husband. II is alleged that Berko-
vitz offered to procure three witnesses
70, Mrs Thomas upon payment OF
1 $1,000. and asked two weeSs time IN
which to catch the supposed defendant In
a position where he could not establish
an albi. Flood then made tho arrest.
Flood and Chess said that Berkowitz
admitted carrying on that sort Of bus
iaess for several years. They reported
4 he had connections with six or eight