New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-02
PRISONER SAYS POLICE
TOOK MONEY He STOLE
Golf, as Committing Magistrate,
Hears Alleged Extortion
Case Witnesses.
John DOE" PROCEEDINGS
Becker Reported To Be Involved
Waldo and Dougherty Sub
penaed, but Not Called
. to Testify.

Several witnesses were called before
Justice Golf, sitting as a committing
magistrate, IN the John Doe" proceed
ings in the Criminal Branch OF the Su-
preme Court yesterday in an alleged case
OF police extortion. The charges under
investigation ate said 10 involve Lieuten-
ant Charles Becker when he was on desk
duty at the Madison street police STATION
two years ago, and other police officials.
District Attorney whitman said yester-
day that the evidence taken would be
presented TO the special grand jury to be
sworn in by Justice Gofr on Monday.
The case is that OF Joseph Krohl. who
is now serving a term in Sing Sing for
grand larceny. to which ne pleaded guilty
before Judge Mulqueen In General Ses-
sions. Krohl had posed as a physician
on the East Side and stole some $500
from an elderly couple by the name Of
Kossonewitz while pretending 70 treat
them for rheumatism, according TO the
complaint made against him at the time.
When Krohi found himself indicted for
grand larceny and was taken before Judge
Mulqueen for pleading he told the court
n story Of being arrested and taken to
the Madison street station by two detec-
tives, where. he said, the police relieved
him OF the $500. Lieutenant Becker was
on desk duty there when he was taken In,
he said. The money has never turned up.
II is said. but Judge Mulqueen refused to
believe the prisoner. as he had had for
mer police record. and sentenced him on
two indictments to a maximum term OF
ten years.
Says Police Promised Freedom.
Krohl never expected TO be indicted, he
told the court as the police gave him 70
understand when the money was taken
from him that he would get out OF trouble
all right. He was committed TO the
Tombs. and when he learned that he had
been indicted he was prompted to tell
the court the circumstances OF his arrest,
he said.
Assistant District Attorney Bieier in
vestigated the prisoners story after
Krohl was sent away, and examined MS
counsel, Abraham HorowitZ; the Kos
sonewitzes, the two detectives who ar
rested Krohl and other witnesses, but
was unable to get evidence sufficient TO
bring charges against the police officials.
Krohl has written several times TO DIFF
ferent persons about the alleged police
shakedown since he has been In prison.
One of the letters recently fell into the
hands OF Assistant District Attorney
Moss. It is said. with the result that the
investigation was taken up again yester-
day before Justice Con.
Horowitz. Krohrs former counsel. de-
MED Yesterday, az he did at the time his
client was arraigned before Judge Null
queen. II was said, that Krohi had ever
told him the story Of the police taxing
tine money at the time he was arrested.
The old couple who figured as the COM
pIainants against Krohl and several po-
ucemen we're called as witnesses yester-
day. II is understood that Krohl VIII be
brought down from Sing Sing to appear
before the special grand jury.
Waldo and Deputy Subponaed.
Rhinelander Waldo, Police Commits
sioner. and Deputy Commissioner Dough-
erty were subppnaed as witnesses for
the John Doe" inquiry yesterday. Ihey
both appeared at the Criminal Courts
building but were not called to TESTIFY
yesterday.
District Attorney Whitman announced
last might that he was entirely ready 10
try the case OF Lieutenant Charles BECK
or crarpad with the murder of Herman
Rosenthal at the scheduled time on Moh-
day. The swearing In OF the sp.cia'
grand Jury before Justice Con on ihs'
dav however. may occupy most OF the
conr, day. as the District Attorney in
,s,ds 10 examine each grand jury tales
man for possible bias. he said. In tna1
svent the getting OF the jury IN the
pa,,,a- 90 Go will probably not begin until
/ Tuesday. 4.
| w whitman believed. he said. that X
WOULD not take more than two days 20
get the Jury In the Becker case. he sa'o
no AID not intend to go into q long eS'
animation Of the talesmen as they were
called. and would concede great dea'
20 Recker's counsel to facilitate the get
,,ro 10 the fury. The District Attorney
s,id he was satisfied that almost any
twelve good citizens or men OF ana'rs
would make an impartial jury
John T. Mcintyre, chief counsel ior
pscker was OF the opinion that IL wou'd
take much longer to select an unbiased
tury. He said he intended to interrosa'e
each talesman at length, and he was III
cI,ned TO think It would take from ten
davs 70 TWO weeks to secure the Jury.
Mcintyre Says Hes Puzzled
ucrrtvre said Yesterday that he could MOI