The New York herald., 1922-02-17
KENNEALLY INDICTED
NLABOR GRAFTCASE
Tammany Alderman Linked
With Brindell in $4,000
Bribe to End Strike.
LONG AID OF MURPHY
Has 500 a Week Life Job
as Agent of Steamfitters'
Helpers Union.
GAYNOR VETO RECALLED
GAYNOR VETO RECALLED
Accused Man Once Drafted
New Building Code That
Was Killed by Mayor.

William Z. kenneally, for many
years a Tammany member of the
Board of Aldermen, and regarded as
Charles f. Murphy's ablest lieutenant
in dealing with labor organizations,
was indicted yesterday with Robert p.
Brindell, now in Sing Sing, on charge
OF extortion.
The Indictment was returned to JUS
tice Wasservogel in the Supreme Court
ly the Grand Jury of which Robert
Appleton, publisher. is foreman. 1t is
81 result of the Lockwood committees
investigation into housing graft. Dur
ing that inquiry Kenneally's name was
mentioned often and there were ru-
mors that his Indictment was pending.
KenneaIly. with Brindell. is charged
with having on February l, 1920 extorted
5000 from Saul Blickman, who was
erecting a building in Nelson avenue,
Long Island City. The evidence wa'
presented to the Grand Jury by Timothy
n. Pfeiffer, Special Deputy Attorney
General. and Stanley Richter, Assistant
District Attorney.
Kenneally was a member of the execu-
tive committee of Brindelfs Building
Trades Council when Brindell ruled the
building situation in this city with
firmness that gave to him the title of
"Czar" 1t is set forth iii the indict-
ment that Blickman contracted with tn
firm of Levering e. Garrigues for the
erection of the building in Long Island
city, and they were finishing the foun-
dation work when on January z 1921,
the workmen went on strike.
G
Blickman said he went to the offices
of the Building Trades Employers Asso-
ciation in West Thirty-third street and
asked what could be done about the
strike. He was referred to Brindell
Blickman said he then went to see Brin-
dell at the Building Trades Council
rooms at IL st. Marks place. After sew
cral conferences at which Brindell, Ken
neatly and others were present, he saif
he paid 5000 and the strike was called
off He said he handed the money to
Kenneally.
Justice Wasservogel issued a bench
warrant for Kenneally. and Detective
Sergeant Barney Flood found him at
luncheon in a restaurant in Fourteenth
street, across from Tammany Hail.
In the Criminal Courts Building Ken
neatly was taken before Justice Edward
r. Finch of the Supreme Court VIII.
lam Penny, clerk, informed him he hac
been indicted. Kenneally obtained per-
mission to read the indictment. He told
the court he was not represented by
counsel. Justice Finch reminded him
he had just read the indictment and
should know whether he wanted
plead guilty or not guilty. He pleaded
not guilty and asked for one week;
time in which to change or amend the
plea and make necessary motions. The
court granted the request and fixed bail
at $4,000, which was provided. Ken
neatly declined to make any statement
Kenneally's connection with the build
ing trades covers long period. He is a
steamfitter by trade and draws 800 a
week for life as business agent of the
Steamfitters Helpers Union. He is no.
known to have worked at the trade Tor
more than. ten years. certainly not since
he entered the Board of Aldermen as
representative of Charles f. Murphy's
district Kenneally lives at 223 East
Seventeenth street.
stays I'm Reformed Union.
In the old building trades organiza-
tion built up by Brindel Kenneally was
vice-president. and generally was re-
carded as the go-between In negotiations
between Tammany Hall and that faction
u OTEdHlZtu ldOOI represented ny
dell He still retains his place in the re-
formed organization. which. nominally at
least placed Patrick Crowley in the place
Of Brindell when the latter went to Sing
Sing.
In the Board Of Aldermen Kenneally
was regarded as the contract man"
and II anybody wanted anything in the
nature of building ordinance 1t was
Kenneally who had to be consulted. It
was he who assured the Board of Esti-
mate that by letting the court house
contracts as 1t was originally intended
there would be no labor trouble.
During Mayor Gaynor's administration
Kenneally played the chief part In COM
pling a new building code which would
have put into force many regulations
governing building in this city. Mayor
Gaynor, however. vetoed the code and Il
was defeated after bitter fight.
Kenneally's name was brought into the
Lockwood committees inquiry when
william Cetti. sales manager of the
Badger Meter Company of Milwaukee.
charged that Kenneally had used his Of
f1cial position to prevent him from put
ting his meter on sale in New York. The
Badger concern, Cetti testified. had an
approved meter which II offered to sell
at one-third less than others, but was
unable to do so because of local mo-
p1poly euppnrted by Kenneally.