The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-13
THREE HIGHER Up
NAMED BY BURNS
Tells Whitman He Knows
Chiefs of Blackmail
Syndicate.
TWO ARE PROMINENT
one is a Lawyer-Politician
Second Hotel Man, Third
Petty Officer.
GRAFT ALL SYSTEMATlZED
Politics. Administration and
Police supposed to Have Been
Represented by Them.

William j. Burns named to the District
Attorney Yesterday three men who have
made i, possible for policemen to black
mail gamblers and disorderly houses
} keepers.
one Of these. says Burns. is a lawyer
,olitician. who claimed to represent the
tity administration. Another is a hotel
man with influence in the Democratic
uarty. This man represented the organi-
ga,ion. The third. less prominent and
a minor official Of the Police Department.
made it appear that he spoke for the
tolice.
II has been their custom. says Burns.
TO meet frequently in an uptown hotel
not far from Fort second street and
Broadway. The hotel in which they met
was not the Metropole. nor was it resort
uf common gamblers or lawbreakers.
In addition to information which points
20 these three as the board OF directors
Of graft MIR. Burns has grounds. he in
formed the District Attorney. for stating
iha, two police inspectors, at least. were
prohting richly through the looting Of
gamblers and other persons outside the
law
Mr.. Whitman had two conferences with
Mr. Burns yesterday. The District At
,orney was anxious to know i'll the first
pare IL Burns had obtained any graft
evidence by running real or pretended
gambling house or real or pretended
dsorderly houses
i WAS very much surprised said the
District Attorney. TO read what purported
10 be descriptions of q method used by
by you In obtaining evidence against
corrupt policemen. II you had obtained
such evidence 1t was my right to have 1t
r YOU have not such evidence your name
should not have been connected with
such stories"
1T is absolutely untrue" Mr. Burns
replied. that have been obtaining evil
dence by any such means. would have
informed you. Of course. il l had taken
such measures ] did not lend my name
10 these stories. 1t is not my habit to
trumpet nv work while the work is under
vsv"
Having had it out with the detective
the District Attorney talked at length
with him as TO what had been accomplished ed
since Bur took charge personally Of the
graft investigation. Burns had been at
work two weeks yesterday. He not only
was in active charge but he assigned his
best men. They have foil owed up clues
and suggestions that have not been made
public Some Of Burns's information
had not even reached the District At
iorney
Neither Mr. Whitman nor Mr.. Burns
would give hint as to the actual methods
that have been employed. because il
would be ruinous to the investigation tc
have such publicity. The facts are, how
ever. that the information obtained b,
Burns in his characteristic way points
10 three men, two OF whom are OF som'
prominence, as the general managers o
the graft system.
The story is that the ring has been oper-
Hng extensively since about the tim'
That William j. Flynn the secret servic'
man. left the Police Department. Whether
or not Mr.. Flynn has talked to MIR
Burnsis not known. But Flynn has talket
70 the District Attorney. At any rate
mo collections from gambling houses
disorderly houses and other sources O
'ainted money have been systematized
and active for upward of o year.
According to the information laid be
ore Mr. Whitman. policemen had beer
srafting extensively on their own aocoun
before shrewd men introduced the dis
oIplne and system such as Ia used by |
o'g business concern. Previous to tn
rule of the men named by Burns, in
Sttc'Ors roltOoVno
hdd been fattening their bank account
'Y N" old time methods OF intimidation
ana Protection. But very often ther'
were complaints from the victims TO poll
'"ians or others who We're able to max
great deal Of trouble for the grafters
me business lacked system.
,ae'ul and skilful grafters were afrai
'' getting into trouble because of preyin
vi som" gambler who had infuenc
'nouSh 10 get their jobs away from them
% N" game, according to MIR. Whit
"ah Information, was In Il disorganize
"td uncertain condition. although eve
'neh very profitable because OF the i'm
"'hs"ly ricn field. But powerful infiu
'n'es ""r" necessary to block the CON
paints Of the victimized and to make
~salhI" for the collectors to cover large
''!d han they had before. 1t was neces
A'y' Burns said, to have some assuranc
- po.'lcil prutection-that ia to say. thu
AZ "fsaniza,ion usually in power woul
"' give heed to the mulcted. II wa
necessary 10 have some Influenza with tn
''Y administration
"h'thcr ~ not the man who made sue
N'h'"s actually delivered influence
"' yet shown. And that will be one
'' points II the Burns inquiry. 1t wa
'''Nst'Y 10 include in the triumviral
WIT OF" who could represent the polio
~ '"'sl max" tho gamblers think tha
w.t. l"ir"s-ntlng the police,
'' i1nvcs5 Of selection brought abo'