The New York herald., 1922-06-30
Telephone Girl Relates
Woes Resulting From
Wire Tapping Charge.
M'WHINNEY LOAN Barred
Attorneys at Legislative Com
mittee Hearing Tell Of
Judges Arbitrary Acts.

Refusal to accept two affidavits
of a physician certifying to the illness
of a lawyer and later referring to the
lawyer as n damn little skunk were
among the charges made against
Judge Selah B. Strong at the hearing
before the jerks Legislative Commit
tee yesterday at the Bar Association.
The lawyer was Elvin N Edwards,
Assistant District Attorney Of Nassau
county and president of the Nassau
County Bar Association.
Three witnesses testified to having
heard the remark made in open court
from the bench during a trial term of
the Supreme Court in Mineola last
December.
HE was out cunning for Edwards
and wanted the case tried before him."
testified Isaac T. F1atto. lawyer Of
ITO East Ninety fifth street, who took
the place of Edwards as counsel for
the defence when the latter went
South to recuperate. "He didn't ex-
pect to sit in the January term and
ing the case before the December term
closed"
Trouble Over Damage Cnse.
The case was that of Kirby vs.. Ryan.
growing out of an automobile accident.
H. a Ied
from Mathew Ryan, a cotton manufac-
turer living at the Hotel Hargrave In
West Seventy-second street.
DIR. Frederick A. Schirck testified that
Judge Strong told him he believed Ed
wards was feigning Illness to delay the
trial. In a conversation with Mr.. Flatto
Judge Strong is alleged to have said:
II hate to see that damn little skunk
get away with it and the case will re-
main on the calendar" I'd
Subsequently the case was tried at the
January term. with Mr.. Edwards as the
trial counsel and the plaintiff received a
verdict Of $1,000.
Judge Strong's suspicious that wire
tapping was being practiced to learn
some of the secrets in the John Doe pro-
ceedings at which he presided last De-
cember resulted in subpoena being
served by State trooper upon Miss
Adelaide Tydeman. the courthouse op-
orator, who testified she was much hu-
inflated by the manner In which she
was taken to Judge Strong's chambers
and interrogated.
Miss Tydeman er1phatically denie,.
hat she had ever gwen out any infor-
nation regarding ;rcoming or outgoing
Flynn handed her L subpoena she was
convinced she was ufder arrest, particu-
'arly in view of the fact that earlier in
the Cay Neil r. VaLdewater. who con-
Quoted the John Doe proceedings for
Judge Strong, had leaned over he. desk
and said "he had the goods on her.
after the subpoena was served ! was
suspected throughout the county, she
said.
William r. Murphy, an attorney of
Hackensack. ". J., 'estified that Judge
Strong had rendered judgment against
his client In a separation suit after
private trial conducted withou, the
presence of himself Ut his client The
Judgment was vacated later and the
case was tried before Judge Norman s.
Dixie. Other iawyers testified to various
cases in which Judge Strong used
arbitrary and oppressive" measures.
Mcwhinney Tells of Loan.
Assemblyman Thomas A. McWt inney
was recalled to the stand by ex-senator
Edgar T. Bracket counsel for judge
Strong, to explain letter written to
Andrew Weston OF Both & Weston Mas
sau county road contractors. asking for
n loan of 5000. Tho letter was written
by his wife at his request. Mr.. Nc
Whitney said. Will. he was i'll in tn,
Ten Eyck Hotel IL Albany and was
short of money to meet the expenses OF
his sickness. He Lad known Andrew
Weston for thirty yNsrs. had been asso-
ciatcd with him In various local activi.
ties and relied upon lis friendship to adj
vance him a small cash loan.
The letter was as follows:
DEAR ANDREW have written Fred
to borrow 5000 froo you TO deposit to
my account. VIII you kindly let him
lave it. as I can,ct get back before
Sunday or Monday.
THOMAS a. McwHINNsY."
Mr.. McWhinney Explained that the
Fred referred to was Frederick Mac
key his son-in-law. who lived With him.