Rabbi Buchler Indicted in Charity Inquiry

Rabbi Samuel Buchler, Secretary of the Department of Docks. President of the Federation of Hungarian Jews in America and of the Transylvania Jewish Hospital Commission in America, formerly Deputy Commissioner of Public Markets and a Deputy State Attorney General, was indicted for perjury before the Federal Grand Jury.

Each of the seven counts in the indicument which was handed up to Federal Judge Anderson alleges a separate “false and untrue” statement to the Grand Jury. The alleged perjured testimony was given during an investigation into the sale of pencils for the benefit of the Transylvania Jewish Hospital in Hungary.

Dr. Buchler, who is also a physician and practicing attorney and formerly a rabbi at Sing Sing Prison, was summoned before the Federal Grand Jury last week when it was learned that James R. Klemas, recently convicted and sentenced to serve three and one half years in Atlanta Penitentiary for mail fraud, was setively connected with Dr. Buchler’s movement for funds for the Jewish Hospital.

According to the indictment Dr. Buchler testified falsely that he had never received any money, or other benefit, from the hospital campaign which his organization was conducting; that Klemas had not ben associated with him in the campaign; that he had never discussed the hospital relief work with Klemas, and had not seen Klemas more than twice in his life.

Rabbi Buchler, who was arraigned before Judge Anderson yesterday, had a stormy career as Deputy Commissioner of Public Markets in the Hylan administration.

In 1913 Dr. Buchler was casted as rabbi of the People’s Synagogue of the Educational Alliance as a result of his criticisms of remarks made by Mayor Gaynor abom foreigners. Soon afterward he started the Independent Synagogue at 205 East Broadway.