New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-30
CAPTAIN THOMAS INDICTED
TENnERLoIN POLICE COMMANDER IN
GRAND JURYS NET.
pEvERY DECLARES he WON'T SUSPEND
HIM AND THAT THIS is ALL
NONSENSE"
NONSENSE

SO much has been expected from the March
Grand jury because Of the vigorous way in
which It asserted its independence Of the Dis
trict ATTORNEY that when If took up seriously
the investigation of protected vice many SAID,
"At last we have found Grand Jury with sand
enough in ITS composition t. indict few OF
our supine Police Commissioners for their ma
grant neglect of duty and. IS day after day
went by and only small fry gamblers ana resort
keepers were indicted. the people confidently
said. Just wait They are keeping the best for
the last
There is every indication that the last came
yesterday. when the Grand Jury handed to Re
corder Goff three indictments against Ponce
Captain Thomas OF the Tenderlon AS to-day is
the final day OF the March Grand Jury's existence
unless Recorder Golf prolongs it-and that ap-
pears to be unlikely, that the Third Avenue
Railway case has been dropped-the jurors have
Only few more hours in which to vindicate the
high hopes entertained for them.
''Of course. it is gratifying" said many citi-
sens yesterday. Ito have Captain Thomas in
dicted but. after all, he is only q fgurehead
His immediate superior. Inspector Thompson,
knew that Thomas was not suppressing the dis
orderly resorts of the Tenderloin, and yet did
nothing He too, should be indicted Thompson's
superior Chief Devery. knew well that neither
Thompson nor Thomas doing mis- duty. ana
yet took action. He ought to be indicted
Devery's superiors the Police Commissioners
knew we'll that Devery or Thompson or Thomas
was not doing his duty, and yet took no
action They all ought to be indicted. If Thomas
OF Thompson or Devery had dared to do his
duty he would have been punished; but the
Police Commissioners might do their duty fear
lessly for they can be removed only on charges
The three indictments against Thomas were
found under Section 15i of the Penal Code,
for failing 10 suppress the Tivoli and the Dore,
in West Thrty-ffth-st, and the Haymarket. In
Sixth-ave- No warrant was issued for captain
Thomas, but II was understood that Chlef
DeYery would be asked to produce him when he
wanted.
The indictments against Captain Thomas
were prepared a week ago by the District At
torney's Office. They were handed to the fore
man ot the Grand Jury, but then there came
breach between the District Attorney and the
Grand Jury. and the indictments were put in
the record box by the Grand Jury but were
not signed They were taken out yesterday and
signed. This taken indication that
the Grand Jury would adjourn to-day.
District Attorney Gardiner is reported as say
ing that if the Grand Jury had not affronted
him he was going to lay before it evidence
against men of great influence in the city, which
would have convicted them of protecting gam
bling houses. He will have a chance to make
his boast good before the April Grand Jury,
which will be impanelled by the Tammany
Judge, Warren w. Foster.
When Chief Devery was told that Thomas
had been indicted. and asked if he would
suspend the Tenderloin captain pending a trial,
he gave this characteristic answer:
Captain Thomas has only been indicted for
a msdemeanor and l will not suspend him.
will not suspend him for such nonsense as this,
for that is all that ii is
Being asked what Captain Thomas's politics
was, Chief Devery said;
He is a Republican of the stenchest kind, and
q Democratic Chief of Police refuses TO suspend
him. Captain Thomas has been in the Tender
Join only three months, and the Tender
loin is cleaner now than it has ever been before.
The places up there are operated under the
Raines law, and their licenses issued by the
State. We cannot take their licenses away
from them
President York asked about the matter
and said that present he could not say what
would be done.
Captain Thomas, when told Of the Indictment
appeared 10 be greatly surprised. He said: Il
don't believe il. If l had been indicted / should
have known of il long ago. l don't think they
have indicted me If they have, l am not at all
afraid OF what the result will be. l have friends
who will stand by me, and will be ready when
wanted"
II convicted. the penalty is $500 fine or
entails dismissal from the police force, without
hope of pension.
Several indictments and a strong pre-
sentiment expected to-day, and these will
probably be followed by the dismissal of the
jury.
At $50 o'clock Captain Thomas entered the
Tenderloin station. He found a large stack of
messages and kilograms awaiting him. They
came from friends Offering sympathy, and in
many instances offering bonds. Shortly after
his arrival E. NJ. Friend, the lawyer, called
and was closeted with Captain Thomas for half
an hour.