New-York tribune., 1901-01-04
REFORNERS SCARE DEVERY
FEARING INDICTMENT, THE CHIEF OF
POLICE MAY RESIGN SOON.
TAMMANy sUB-LEADERs SEEKING CREDIT
FOR HIS RETIREMENT. WHICH
THEY CANNOT ACCOMPLISH.

comparatively new factor in the police situ-
alton assumed such strength yesterday that
Chief Of Police Devery may be forced TO resign
quickly, but his resignation, if he hands it in
VIII not have been caused by Richard Croker or
John Whalen the Mayor, but directly by
Deverys own desire to save his pension of So. 600
a year, and indirectly by the action of the Com
mittee of Fifteen and of the Committee of Five
combined with the new District Attorney. Lewis
Nixon. NJ. Marley PIatzek and Mr.. Philbin had
a conference yesterday in the District Attor-
ney's private office. The two members of the
Committee of Five asked Mr.. Philbin If he would
lay before the January Grand Jury any COM
plants they might make against police officials
Mr.. Philbin assured them that he would if the
complaints were backed by evidence which he
deemed sufficient to produce an indictment. He
then introduced them to Assistant District At
torney Schurman. who has been assigned to that
particular class of work, and the conference was
continued
As the committeeman were leaving the Grim
inal Courts Building Mr. Platzek said their evil
dence would be put in Mr.. Schurman's hands
for presentation to the January Grand Jury
He declared that his committee had lost all
faith in the police. and particularly wanted au-
other chief. 1--WE would like" added Mr. Plat
eek. ito see a chief of police who would treat
the suggestions of such a committee as ours re-
spectfully and whom we could trust to carry
them out"
The Committee of Fifteen is also preparing
evidence to put in Mr.. Philbin's hands. No
wonder Devery is apprehensive. The Chief re-
fused to tell a Tribune reporter yesterday wheth-
er he would resign or not but the generally
believed report is that he will take that step
sooner than run the risk of being indicted as
Chief because he could not draw a pension If
he resigned while under charges until the
charges were dismissed. With Mr.. Philbin in
Gardeners old place. the charges. if once taken
up, are not likely TO be dismissed.
Some of the deputy leaders who are endeavOr-
ing to manage Tammany Hall while Croker is
away have been quick to appreciate Devery's
dilemma, and are trying to make the people be-
lieve that they are going to force Devery 70 re-
sign. They have two reasons for this bit of hy-
pocrtsy: they want to pose before the public
as being too powerful for Devery, and they want
TO placate the offended dignity of Hugh Nc
Laughlin, the Brooklyn leader, who has de-
manded Devery's head by making him think
they gave it TO him. when ii falls into the basket
for entirely different reasons
baseless report was published yesterday
that Croker had sent word that Devery must
resign, but that is vigorously denied by all the
Tammany sub-leaders and by Devery himself.
The Chief looked somewhat dOwncaSt yeSter-
day. After having withstOOd much pressure
sent of all that he should remain in power until
the Legislature Gusts his enemy, President York.
and himself from office at the same time, IL
would be gall and wormwOod to him to be
forced to resign because Of the Efforts OF a few
hated "reformers" and leave York stiH in Office.