Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-03-28
FOLEY SAYS HIS
ARREST DUE To
MISTAKE MADE
Miscarriage in Plans of Gov
ernment Dry Agents to
Collect Graft
HE DECLARES ON STAND
Tells His Story-NameS of
Prominent New Jersey Poll
ticians Are Mentioned

NEW YORK March 2S-J. Harry
Foley, New Jersey commissioner of
weights and measures. on trial on
charges of wholesale bribery of pro-
hibition officials, testified in his own
defense today that his arrest was
due to the miscarriage of plans of
government enforcement agents to
collect graft from New Jersey
brewers.
Foley declared that Saul Grill, a
government prohibition agent who
testified for the prosecution. had
first broached to him the subject OF
organizing" the New Jersey brew
ers in order that they might have.
through a systematic payment of
large sums, exclusive rights for the
sale of illegal beer in that state
and New York.
On meeting Grill in Newark last
July, Foley testified the prohibition
agent asked him if he knew any
brewers and remarked that he want
ed to get acquainted with Herbert 1.
Katz, an officer of the Paterson
Brewing and Mailing Company.
Katz and the corncern are 'codefen-
dants with Foley in the trial which
is being held before a jury in Judge
Julian Mack's department of the
United States district court.
Foley said Grill looked him up
six weeks later on his return from
Europe and quoted the prohibition
agent as having said at that time:
The breweries in New Jersey are
running wide open and we're not
getting anything out it. It's all
your fault. You're in a position to
see that they pay
Foley testified that he told Grill
that "he would see what could be
done about it." He then told of
having introduced Grill to Katz,
adding that the agent then urged
him to introduce him to Jesse Sal
mon. Newark political leader.
Every time / saw him on these
occasions, Grill always talked of
graft" Foley testified. adding that
the agent had told him Salmon had
COLLECTED 100000 from the brew
cries. Grill wanted to meet Sal
mon to patch up differences be-
tween them" the witness went on,
adding that he went to see the po-
litical leader as peacmaker. Foley,
who formerly was secretary to Sem
ator Edwards of New Jersey, denied
ever having mentioned Mr.. Ed
wards name in his conversations
with Grill.
1t was on suggestions by Grill and
another agent, William Z. Dunigan,
who also was one of the prosecutions
chief witnesses, that Foley intro
duced the prohibition officials to
various New Jersey brewers, includ-
ing an official of the Peter Breidt
Brewing Company in Elizabeth, N.
j., and to Salmon and Enoch john.
son, an Atlantic City political lead
er, the witness testified.
Foley then told of various par
ties at which the prohibition agents
met others interested in the alleged
conspiracy, which by this time had
grown to include the proposal that
illegal beer manufactured in Penn
sylvania be kept off the New Jersey
and New York markets.
His arrest, he said occurred last
October IS, when he. went to the
Hotel Pennsylvania here in answer
to a telephone request from Grill,
who said "he wanted to talk over a
biT booze deal with me-" Grill took
him to a hotel room into circle
of federal agents, Foley continued,
and he then learned he was under
arrest
"You hadn't any idea what Grill
wanted?" asked Assistant United
States Attorney .Mattuck in cross ex-
animation.
Yes. did," was the reply, 81
went over to see what he wanted and
to do any favors for him I could"
Foley, admitting he had told john
son, the Atlantic City political lead
er, that Grill was "a nice fellow" ina
answer to Mr.. Mattuck's question
concerning his present feeling to-
ward Grill said:
II think he's the worst fellow in
the world
(Gontinued on page 81