The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-05-16

New York, May 16.-The positive
proof that white slavery exists in New
York City. and the obtaining of indict-
ments against those participating in
1t has been largely the work of that
strangely united pair. Charles S. Whit
man, reform district attorney, and
John D. Rockefeller. Jr., who has prov
ed himself to be public spirited cit:-
zen of the highest type although he is
the son of the richest man in the
world
Four years ago when the name of
the young multi-millionaire was drawn
from the wheel and he was summon
ed before Judge O'Sullivan for duty on
special grand jury to investigate the
white slavery charges that had come
from several different sources. he
begged to be excused.
Your honor, I'm too young and in
experienced in such matters to be
competent grand juryman," he said.
My health is not all that it should be.
I have certain business interests"
You owe it as a patriotic duty to
your city replied Judge OSullivan.
4 desire you to be not only member
but the foreman of the grand jury en-
gagged in this important work.
Promptly the young man accepted
when it was explained to him in that
fashion and at once set about the task
He called upon District Attorney Whit
man, who had been in office only few
days, and who was equally DESTROYS
that definite results come out of the
work of the grand jury.
Rockefeller Offers to Pay.
What will this investigation cost
the county of New York;" inquired the
newly appointed foreman first of ALL
Something in the neighborhood of
$4,000 was the newly elected prose
cutor's reply after some study. That
was sum, he admitted, far beyond the
usual run of grand jury expenditures.
Young MIR. Rockefeller. already ard
ent in his desire to perform his duty
offered to do more than that. He offer
ed to give personally the necessary
$4,000. This was at the time when
many persons believed that white
slaves were myths and when there was
no tangible proof of the existence of
the traffic in the hand of the law.
Mr.. Whitman although approaching
the offer and the spirit in which it
was made, declined it. He made
stirring appeal to the board of estimate
and was granted $4,000 for the work.
One of his first steps was to engage a
competent assistant instead of taking
to himself all the work and all the pos
sible glory. He retained James r.
Reynolds, already famous as an inves-
tigator OF socialS evals and as sociolo-
gist as we'll as clever lawyer
Mr.. Rockefeller meanwhile had
plunged whole heartedly into his task.
He amazed his twenty-one associates
on the grand jury-all high-type citi.
zens-by his eagerness for the work
and his quick understanding of what
was to be done. He. with Mr.. Whit
man and Mr.. Reynolds, quickly evolved
system of team work. that seemed
bound to accomplish results.
Regardless of his business interests
which had at stake thousands of dol
lars, the young grand juryforeman let
it be understood that, while he was
dCSeptlu6 Iue COUNTY o. udy, he was
employed by the county-for as many
hours as he might be needed. And he
inspired the same feeling in his col
leagues. What goes on behind locked
doors of the grand jury room may not
be told outside, but it became known
and not improperly that Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter always had his hand on the pulse |
of the situation. He questioned wit
nesses with skill of the trained law
yer, and he conducted the affairs of
the jury with the thoroughness of al
capable business man.
Mr.. Whitman, although busted by the
Dennison murder case, the Wolter
murder case and other big criminal
trials which needed careful prepare
ton. was always willing to give advice
to the millionaire or to take it from
him. Between them they evolved the
plan that resulted in the capture OF
this confessed white slave trafficker,
Levenson and opened trail along
which his associates are being follow
ed.
The plan, altogether new in grand
jury work, consisted in the engaging OF
two intelligent and cultured. as wei;
as courageous women who could do the
work that men could not do. These