Evening star., 1940-03-17

the congressional committe which
investigated fraud In war supply
purchases, and Of the "Pujo Money
Trust" Committee which in 1912
found reasons for framing consider
able legislation dealing with banks
and banking.
He acted as counsel for several Ia
Dor unions, often defended the
American Federation of Labor from
accusations Of radicalism and fre-
quently was labor mediator In In
dustrial disputes. But once he saw
f1t to excoriate the Jewish Bakers
Union as "dictatorial."
Huge Land Deal Negotiated.
He figured in several famous d.
vorce suits and as counsel for the
Wertheimers, English art dealers,
IN . dispute against the Count and
Countess de Castellane, obtained
from the Castellane estate payment
IN full Of creditors claims amount
ing to 10000, 900 francs.
In one Of the largest land deals on
record, he arranged IN 1921 for the
purchase by an American syndicate
OF the properties of the Archduke
Frederick Of Austria, valued at $780,
100000 and scattered in seven
countries.
He was patron of the arts, giving
freely to musical organizations, and
for years maintaining a sustaining
membership in the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art. He opened his purse
wide to Jewish charities and his gifts
to the Hebrew University in Jerusa-
lem ran into six figures. But he was
active, too. in many non-sectarian
charities, notably the Andrew Freed
man Home in New York, which cares
for aged persons reduced from COM
fort to penury, regardless Of creed.
A gift Of 5000 to the Irish victory
fund" testified further to the
catholicity Of his interests.
It once was said on good authority
that Untermyer received at least
$1,000 for every day he appeared in
court, but there was an exception in
the case Of q penniless woman who
had stabbed her husband to death
in an East Side brawl. Untermyer
defended her, pleading self defense.
In 10 minutes the jury reached a
verdict Of not guilty, and the fore
man then said that most of that time
was spent debating whether 1t would
be proper to give the woman q purse
Of $500.
A bern politician, Untermyer pre-
ferred to be active in inner councils
Of the Democratic party. and con-
sistently discouraged attempts to
make him a candidate for high
ONCE. He was a delegate to the
national conventions of 1904-08-l IL
and was one of New Yorks two
delegates-at-large to the 1916 gather
ing, but when PTS forward for ap-
pointment by President Wilson Is
ambassador to France, he stifled the
plan. William Jennings Bryan once
named him as Sne of the men he
would support for tbs presidency.
He classified himself as a progressive
Democrat and was one of the early
Wilson men.
Son of Confederate Soldier.
A dapper little man, about s feet
inches tall, he used to carry q
damp bag full of orchids into court
50 as to have q fresh flower to re.
place the exotic blooms as fast as
they wilted in his lapel. He was ap-
proachable and s willing listener,
seldom interrupting any one who had
something worth while to say to
him. His replies were couched In
slow and careful but firm speech.
Mr.. Untermyer was born in Lynch
burg, Va, March 2, 1858. His father,
planter, served as lieutenant In the
Confederate Army. but died soon
after the war and his widowed
mother took him to New York in
1858.