Evening star., 1932-08-11
WALKER IN ALBANY |
CONTESTS CUSTER
Appears Before Roosevelt to
Deny Charges of Unfit
ness for Office.
Continued From First Page.)

between the Governor and Curtin de-
yeloped soon after the hearing opened.
Roosevelt twice checked Curtin dur
ing his opening statement, cautioning
him to conflne his remarks to the evil
dence against Walker.
Curtin then arose and said he did
not believe the removal Of Walker came
within the Governors jurisdiction, but
that he would not press the matter.
After stating he expected fair play in
the hearing. he began to review
Walkers political career.
Il propose to call things by their
right names" he said. Il shall speak
plainly. I hope my plain speaking will
be forgiven
Roosevelt interrupted, directing Cur
tin to keep to the evidence and not
discuss personalities.
For Is or Is months the jury has
been led to believe there is something
of New York"
"Mr. Curtin" the Governor inter-
rupted, II must ask you again to con-
fine yourself to the evidence"
Curtin then declared he believed the
Governor should see and hear the wit
neSSeS who appeared at the Hofstadter
Committee hearings.
You must give to this defendant the
right to be confronted by the witnesses
and the right to cross examine them.
Have we the right to be confronted
by our witnesses? Have We the right
TO SS-eXamine them?
II have never heard of any trial in
the world that did not begin with
nesses under oath, and facing the ac-
cused"
Walker. with his hands clasping his
chin, gravely watched the Governors S
as Curtin continued with his argument.
Gov Roosevelt stared intently at Curtin.
Curtin Cautioned.
"I want to make it perfectly clear
that this hearing refers to evidence"
Roosevelt cut in as Curtin began an
attack upon the action of Samuel Sea-
bury in preparing the case against the
mayor. Il hope you will address your
self to that"
II am coming to that" Curtin an
swered. But first 1 want to lead up to
the evidence. 1 hope you will give us
that right, courtesy, perhaps"
Curtin argued that removal power
cannot be exercised until there has been
q public trial, with the occuSers teSti-
flying under oath before the one ac-
cused.
Walker, at the foot Of his counsel
table, beside Curtin, glanced around the
room, winking at friend in the press
section.
Seabury's eyes also roved his glance
several times stopping at the portrait
Of Chief Justice Hughes on the wall.
Curtin held that the evidence piled
up by the Hofstadter Committee has
fk1a rtn ~
Tales"
Amid the cheering of several thousand
persons, band music and din of aerial
bombs that must have been heard even
at the Governors residence, 10 or IL
blocks away Mayor and Mrs. Walker
arrived in Albany last night.
Seabury drove in hours later with
Mrs. Seabury. To newspaper men who
met him he had nothing to say until
some one remarked that the mayor had
received a great welcome. Seabury
answered, 80 did Tweed" And that
was all.
II go with clear conscience. I am
not afraid" read a statement from the
mayor given out as he left New York
And on the train he added:
IF the kidnapers of the Lindbergh
baby should be discovered tomorrow,
Illcy SCl q Ildl.
would have to face them, and they
would have the right to cross -examine
their accusers l do not believe have
been charged with having done any
thing worse than kidnapping the Lind
bergh baby"
Probe Began a Year Ago.
Just one year ago, almost TO the
day Seabury began to delve into the
financial affairs of Walker.
The story leading up to the hearing
revolves about Walkers income in the
days when so many persons were max
ing money in the stock market.
The mayor has acknowledged that
through the generosity Of his friends
he received large profits on investments
into which he did not himself put any
money.
He told the Legislative Committee he
received S246 900 from a Joint brokerage
account established by Paul Block,
newspaper publisher. Block testified he
was inspired to start the account by
the solicitude of his young son, Billy, as
to how the mayor managed to get along
on his salary, then s25 200 a year.
Seabury has charged that accepting
this money and smaller gifts from other
friends was improper.
Seabury has also charged Cand
Walker denied) that Russell T. Sher-
wood, now missing, handled stock trans
actions totaling $950,O00 for Walker
The accusation that the mayor and
travelling companions accepted $4,000
letter of credit. from a bus company
which obtained a franchise also was
among those stressed by Seabury.
Walker said this money was actually
put up by himself and friends
Legal efforts last night and early to-
day to prevent Gov. Roosevelt from act
ing on the charges by securing a legal
writ of prohibition did not succeed. As
Sociate Justice Harold J. Hinman Of
the Appellate Division, refused to grant
a writ of prohibition sought by Sidney
Levine, attorney acting for the secre-
tary of the Bronx Chamber Of Com
merce.