New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
PRICES NARROW ESCAPE.
REGRET EXPRESSED THAT HE WAS NOT
INDICTED, TOO.

II became known yesterday that Police Cap
tain Price the last commands ar of the Tenderioin
before Thomas, narrowly escaped indictment
at the hands of the Grand Jury. The jurors
asked the District Attorney II he had any evil
dence against Price. adding that they considered
him more bameworthy than Thomas for the
prevalence of vice in that precinct. because he
much longer IN command Of IT than Thomas
The District Attorney. however. replied
that he had no evidence against Price. and so
Price was summoned and examined by the
Grand Jury 10 see II there would not be evidence
enough in his own testimony to warrant an In
dictment. After his examination was over the
Jurors took vote upon his case. and the bal
lots cast to indict him were only two less than
the required number.
There is a great deal OF genuine regret that
the Grand Jury did not indict this official. 1t
would insult the intelligence of child to tell 1t
that Price was not thoroughly aware of the
true nature of every Illegal resort in the Ten
derioiD long ne in charge of 1t. Even
before he became a police captain he was for
years the right hand man of Alexander S. Will
lama when Williams commanded the Tenderlon.
End thus Price had unusual opportunities TO get
acquainted with every nook and corner. every
crook and fakir Of that notorious precinct, which
has been run wide open" since Devery
made Chief. Here is the correspondence
which passed between the Grand Jury ana DIS
trict Attorney Gardiner regarding Price:
Hon. Asa Bird Gardiner District Attorney.
Dear Sir: You have advised us that special testi-
mony has been presented to warrant an indictment
the Nineteenth Precinct 1t appears that Captain
Thomas has been in command of that precinct for
testimony which We have heard it may reasonably
be inferred that the conditions which have existed
ecessor in that precnef. Captain Prize If Gap
tain Thomas be amenable TO the law for his neglect
Of duty is not Captain Price also BILE to the
law if any similar neglect of duty be shown
against him, a neglect which has apparently
US as proper subject Of inquiry. and we desire TO
be informed by the District Attorney whether or
not there may be evidence to be presented of neg
G. II. PUTNAM, Foreman.
The letter answered by District Attorney
Gardiner the same day. and the answer reads:
2 Koq r will observe that the complaint against Cap
before you, founded principally upon report which
he made 10 his chief and which was Immediately
OF the condition of affairs as TO certain disrepu-
table resorts The groundwork of the inquiry into
captain Ihomas's conduct this report.
This is the first time Captain Prices name has
been mentioned and know of no evidence yet
Captain Thomas. over his own signature, with rea-
sonaDle knowledge of the character of the
We may infer what please. but differences are
The only presentment which the Grand Jury
can now make is an indictment. and If the Grand
Price amenabie for neglect of uT IL s ba
shown by legal evidence, the in Captain
Thomas's case. At the present writing 1 have
Agreeable TO what 1 construe to be your desire
propose at once to send to the Police Department
on file which will diGecty charge are apsn phy ps
With kn8wledge of the character of those resorts
IN the same manner as in the case of Captain
Thomas. and where action has not been taken to
ASA BIRD GARDINER. District Attorney.