New-York tribune., 1911-04-08
BATTLE MAY SOON QUIT
Continued from first page.
was responsible. having asked that o"es-

tion.
Among the witnesses Yesterday were
two men. named Rosenberg and silver
stein. who have places OF business on the
East Side. and who were members OF u
delegation that called upon Mayor Eas
nor to ask for better police protection VI
their districts. They presented peu-
toned signed by 80 other East Side
business men According to their testi-
mony Mayor Gaynor told them that II
they didn't like the district In when theS
were living they would do well to go
somewhere else.
Miss A. J. Steers another witness VINO
had asked Mayor Gaynor for better po-
Iicing of her neighborhood. said she
failed to get any promise OF reheo|
from the Mayor. although she presented
letters from leading clergymen and pusi-
ness men urging him TO take some ac-
tlon.
James Forbes. secretary OF the Anu
Mendicant Society. said. among o'her
things. that the word had gone iofth 10
panhandlers OF the country that Nc"
York was an "open town" meaning 10
them that the police here were not o'S-
turbing public beggars and panhanoiers'
Father J. F. Haywood. rector OF the
Church Of the Guardian Angels. in west
ODD street. between Eighth and Ninth
avenues told of three policemen or MS
acquaintance who had been fined thir'y
DAYS pay each on complaint of notori-
Gus gangster named Tanner smith,
who was afterward sent to the peniten-
tiary for assaulting another officer.
The three officers, named Noll. Flaherty
and Brown. had arrested Smith in what
they believed was the performance oi
their duty. Smith appeared in court
with a cut upon his head. lie was not
convicted on the charge upon when ne
was then arrested, and as soon as he was
released charged the officers with having
assaulted him.
The effect of their conviction by the
Police Commissioner upon the testimony
of Smith, Father Haywood said. has had
the effect Of discouraging other police
men. so that they prefer now to neglect
their duty rather than take a chance Of
being fined for trying to perform 1t.
Police Discouraged, He Says.
"A Mayor who has made these people
who live on the edge OF things believe
that he is more interested in them than
in the police" said Father Haywood.
has encouraged them and discouraged
the police. 1t is regrettable that decent
policemen should have had to suffer for
performing their duty"
The rumor that Mr. Battle would in
the near future be induced TO withdraw
as a special assistant District Attorney
gained strength yesterday through the
credence given to it by a high city off,
cial. 1t was said that strong protests had
been made at first against his appoint
ment, and that later he had incurred the
displeasure OF his associates in un-
ravelling the crime conditions.
MIR. Battle. disturbing his associates
first by his defence Of Mr.. Cropsey.
added to the feeling by his statement
Yesterday afternoon that the trip Of
members of the grand jury through TIE
Tenderloin had brought TO light no un-
usual conditions. Both of these state
ments were issued on his own authority
and without consulting any Of the other
investigators involved according to good
authority
IL was held by more than one that thai
smacked too much Of partisanship and
showed bias unworthy of one who was
attempting to arrive al the true status OF
things Mr. Battle was appointed by the
District Attorney. they held, in order
that the charges as to conditions in the
city. which seemed to be pointed directly
at the Mayor. might be investigated by
one Of his party: hut in view of his re-
cent actions and Of the protests which
had attended his appointment they
thought it probable that Mr. Battle
might be asked to accept the judgeship
vacated by the election Of Justice O'Gor-
man to the Senate.
In the same letter in which Mr.. Battle
deftn0e0 tHe fOiICe NOIIiIIiiSSI'h'i ~
marks on the carrying of arms he said
that the reason the West street district
had produced more crime I'm recent years
than formerly was that ii had become
infested with sailors through the re-
moval of the great steamship lines 10
new steel piers above Christopher street.
II was ronted out by another investiga-
tor that that should have made 1t easier
for the police to han1le crimt in the city,
because it tended 10 confine the Grim
inals 70 one district. which could readily
be patrolled. The police. however. II was
maintained. did not seem To find II easier.
II looked as If Mr.. Battle were trying
rather to defenG than to examine. ac
cording 10 those VINO criticised his ac-
tons
A city official VINO is likely 10 be sub
ppnaed by the grand jury said yester-
day that he had the names Of two per
sons who could tell the whole inside Of