New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-12
GIRLS MAY TELL GRAND
JURY ABOUT STOKES
Freschi Holds Them in $5,OOO
BaiI-Whitman Scents Crime
Regarding Letters.
JOINS IN INVESTIGATION
Four Suspended Detectives ana
A. H. Gleason Are Subjects OF .
Inquiry Cut Short by Girl
Refusing to Testify.

District Attorney Chdr1tS =
said Yesterday he believed the testimony
already adduced showed a crime hao
been committed in relation 10 TAX
ing the bundle Of letters from w r. ID
Stokes 10 Miss Lillian Graham from the
girls apartment: that he did not credi'
the police testimony brought out In re-
gard to them and was determined not
10 let the matter drop until those guilty
had been found and punished The Dis
trict Attorney also said A. ". Gleason ;
exclamation concerning the part ne
pIaved in the matter did not explain.
Asked il he Intended 10 lay that matter
before the Bar Association Mr.. WHIT
man replied he had no idea Of dropping
H.
In asking Mr. Whitman to send rep
resentative Of his Office TO the trial OF
the four suspended detectives who
searched the apartments Of Miss Graham
and Miss Conrad, Commissioner Waldo
wrote: 1T would appear that there is
strong probability that felony was
committed BY these men"
A lawyer pointed out that the destruc-
ton Of evidence the acceptance Of
brihe by a city detective for evidence
and perjury are all listed rs felonies in
the criminal code.
While neither the hearing nor the in
curry 70 decide whether the testimony
Of Cumming, house detective Of the An
fp Y
Stokes. which inquiry was promptly
dismissed. shed any light on the letter
mystery, a reporter on a morning paper
told Robert NJ. Moore, counsel for the
defendants. story last night which the
latter considered OF great importance.
Said Telegram Was in Bundle.
This reporter printed in the edition Of
his paper for June the following tele-
gram to Miss Graham:
Have mailed II 10 general postofice
Too late 10 send IL tonight. You don't
give any hotel address.
". z. D. STOKES.
The newspaper man told Mr. Moore
that he found this telegram the night
Of the shooting in the sitting room Of
Miss Grahams apartment. He said he
found It in a pile Of torn letters and
papers which had evidently been thrown
out Of the trunk while It was being
searched. IT was the only paper he saw
signed by Stokes.
Miss Graham has told Mr.. Moore that
the telegram was in the bundle of let
tiers. The detectives have testified that
they found no Stokes letters. although
they searched the apartment carefully,
and took every scrap of paper with writ
ing on II away.
After Magistrate Freschi had decided
10 hold Miss Conrad and Miss Graham
on the charge Of attempted murder for
the action Of the grand jury, Mr.. Moore
had talk with Mr.. Whitman about
having his clients tell their story 20 the
grand jury.
These two gentlemen will discuss the
matter again this morning, and as the
District Attorney has intimated his WILL
ingness to See that the defendants have
a chance to tell their story fairly, it is
probable that they will appear before the
grand jury
If, after hearing them. that body de-
cides their acts tustiiable, there will be
no indictment, and the prosecuting Of
fcer Of the county will himself move
for the dismissal OF the charge against
them.
The Cumming inquiry began after
Magistrate Freschi had held the defend
ants. with Assistant District Attorney
Sullivan representing the people and
Terence j. McManus Cumming and
Gleason.
Mr.. Sullivan did not bother to take an
active part in the proceedings. He sat
tight" so 10 speak, leaving the question
ing TO Mr. McManus. However. when
Detective Devery was called, Mr.. Whit
man left his place beside the magts-
trate. and. took charge of his examina-
ton. He gave both Detectives Devery
and Flynn thorough grilling before he
got through. and then said he would
not ask for a warrant, as there was no
testimony TO show that there were more
than nine letters in the package
Miss Graham Wouldn't Testify.
Such testimony only Miss Graham
could give. and Mr. Whitman asked Nh.
Moore 10 put her on the stand. assuring
him he would examine her only on that
point As her counsel had no assur-
snce that the magistrate or counsel for
Stokes would not ask other questions he
refused 10 consent, hence the inquiry
fell through-for the time.
Mr. Stokes was the busiest man in
court During the hearing he contlnu-
slIy prompted Mr. Sullivan and his own
counsel He was particularly eager to
and ont If Patrick Casey. a vaudeville
agent. had a key to the girls APARTMENT
Then. when Mr.. Whitman examined the
detectives. Mr.. Stokes was right on the
sob with more suggestions. more
promptngs.
Magistrate Freschi fixed the bail at
sb 600 each after he held the defend
ants. and there was some little delay
while their counsel arranged the new bail,
which the magistrate had not the right
20 ACCEPT himself During this delay
Mr.. stokes asked his counsel why Miss
Graham and Miss Conrad were not put
in the pen a word spoken 10 a court
ortcer. and down 10 the pen" they went.
Clark l. Jordan. Of counsel for the
girls. soon heard Of this and was on the
lob In a second He finally induced Pa
troIrnan Tully 10 forego his dinner and
take the defendants up 10 the bail de-