New-York tribune., 1911-04-18
DIGS INTO O'BR|EN TRIAL
Grand Jury Examines Both
Cropsey and His Deputy, Walsh.
EX.INSPECTOR SCAPEG0AT? ?
Police Commissioner, II Is SAID,
Blamed Mayor for Delay IN
Decision in Case.

PoIice Commissioner Cropsey had an op-
ro-tunity YESTERDAY 20 explain 70 the grand
turv investigating his administration OF
-. Police Department why no decision had
been given IN tho case Of former Inspector
O'B-,er He was summoncd TO the srsnd
,,,-v room after the Jurors had cross-eXam-
,ued Trial Commissioner Walsh.
sl-houeh IRE Assistant District Attorneys
connected wi.h the investigation and the
Witnesses themselves refused 70 talk 10 the
nov.naper man. ~ was reported that the
Wal Commissioner had placed the respon-
ssihsv on his superior for holding up ,'e
6.c,sico II was further reported 'ha'
Commissioner Cropsey passed the resPo"-
,,e.lity along 10 Mayor Gaynor.
O'Prf.n was charged with falling TO en-
fotoe ths lsw on Couey Island. which was
Included IN the inspection district OF "hicn
Re was temporarily the head. HIS 'isi
ended nearly four months ago lie mas
been under suspension since the trial.
Il has been rumored that no decision has
teen filed for the reason that q certain
high city official was involved in the al
legged infraction Of tho law for when
C'Brsen was held responsible.
o'Brien cid not appear before the grand
;stion vas sent 20 him 20 come and tell
his side Of the story. As he is under IN
6ictnent IA Kings County on charge oil
ysslecting 10 enforce the law he declneo
,he invitation. by advice OF George W.
Morgan. mis- counsel Mr. Morgan appeared
personally and explained this 10 the jurors
Police Captains Day. Baldwin, Hughes
and McNally were other witnesses yester-
rav In the police investigation. They were
called 70 explain the small NUMBER OF ar
r.e,s compared with complaints in tneir
respective precincts.
Several witnesses were excused until TO-
morrow when the grand jury Will hoIo an
other session Henry Lisak. jeNeiler' OF
10 q E1dridge street, one OF these VII
resses. tainted outside the jury room IRON
,ha e~ects Of a wound on his head received
r.h.n he was sandbagged in his store d
,er. dsvs ago. With Lsak vas Max foH-
W nAishbor. who was member OF the
1.l.sa.ion Of East Side business men whom
Nsvor Cavnor. u is alleged told 70 move
euav II they did not like the lsNlessness IN
ere district Of which they complained.
In compiling the police records the Dis
trjc- Attorneys oflcs has been unable 70
~nd 81 tteacquaFteIs COI'is-~'0 '~
,o-,plaints made 70 different precincts.
The involved card index system, which TOOK
,hs place Of the sinnpMhed book system in
A,riI 1910. when the present Commissioner
.,arted 70 carry out Mayor Gaynors police
rolioics. IS Chinese puzzle" as one or
the investigators expressed ~, so far as
giving any idea OF the efficiency Of the ad-
ministratlon.
Before this can be learned the whole
svsteu will have 70 be analyzeo ana
brouEh, out Of the chaos into which Vt vas
plunged by the change
one Of the interesting fnds made yester-
day o. the investigators was set Of COM
plant or "saueal' books in the West A'th
street precinct. reserved for Juvenile Of
fenders -Four hundred complaints nam
ing juveniles as offenders were noted IN the
hooks since Januarv !