New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-31
CRIME WAVE INQUIRY ON
Head OF Police First Witness Be-
fore the Grand Jury.
MAYOR. TOO, TO BE CALLED
Cropsey Explains Policies for
Which Head of City Is
Acknowledged Sponsor.

Police Commissioner Cropsey spent an
hour before tho grand jury yesterday.
which is investisatins tho administra ton
Of tho Police Department, and will testify
further to-day
II IS understood that statements made by
him Yesterday were considered to Justify
District Attorney Whitman IN calling him
as the first witness The statements were
frank replies 10 questions b. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Frank Moss. who conducted
tho Police Commissioners examination.
They p lated 10 the routine Of the depart
ment and the policies of the present police
administration.
one result viii o. that Mayor Gay
nor Will undoubtedly be called 10 ampify
commissioner cropseys explanations OF
both The policies and the routine for which.
il was acknowledged, he was the sponsor.
Another result Will ne 10 direct the inquiry
along certain definite lines for which be-
fore there seemed to he no starting point.
The admissions OF the Police Commits
sioner have paved the way for the presen-
tation Of evidence from other than official
sources bearing upon the police situation.
and II would not be surprising II. tho per
sons reported to bo in possession Of such
evidence should be permitted To testify be-
fore commissioner CropSey is excused. in
order that the grand jurors might have an
opportunity 10 hear his explanation Of the
conditions which they will disclose
For this reason Captain Thomas Walsh.
Of the East 1?6th street police station. and
Captain James Farrell. of the West leith
street police station. Who were present out
side the sTand jury room Yesterday. were
not allowed TO testify and probably viii
not testify until later ON this account
also Deputy Commissioners FLYNN and
Driscoll viii not 90 summoned 10 testify
until probably mkt week.
II was reported that lack of men wa one
Of the ess,pS given by Commissioner
Cropsev for the increase in crimes of VIC
lence referred 10 by Magistrate CorriGan
in his public letter that preceded Judge
O'Sullivsn's charge to tho grand jury Iii
rectns an investigation Of tho department.
He is expected - submit TO-DAY records of
tho Police Department required by tho sub
pTna served upon him. from which the
Jurors will get statistics Of crime aud Pc
lice activities not accessible 10 the public.
Judge O'Sulivsu had 2 conference yes
ierday with Foreman MAYNARD ll"llister
and MIR Moss regarding reports maoe +"
him OF conditions m inc TombS prison. llo
supplemented his formal charge by 70
quest that the grand jury make an in
vestiratiou also into the reports that keep
ars i'm tho Tomhs were IN collision with
lawyers runners" 70 prey upon ihc per
Sons locked ~ there. II is alleged that
some Of the keepers assist IN steering
cases 10 certain lawyers aud thereby bone
fting financially.
Tho grand iurv viii endeayor also :"
learn the real reason Of the head ri tho
Police department for depriying the private
police 81 hanks Of their srecial police
hadges In this connection II IS expected
that some of the heads Of institutions IN
the financial district will bo called upon t.
testify
In statement made OF Jul 20. 'N'a 20
lice commissioner Bingham. sitting a.
vitness.tn thc legislative committee inye-
tisation 81 the low er courts said that n"
had objected 10 tho diverting 81 five hun
bred pstrolmen from patrol dutr ~ work
IN the courts
When he was asked If ne mad not enough
men n MI 'he places thus made tempo
rarily vacant. ho said
NO 7 haven't enough mon to pdtrol the
streets Of this city properly. Even when
they arc al on thc job. and not IN she
courts. there - not - sufficient number to
Il" proper police duty.