New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-02
Underworld Leaders Order from
CITY Every One Who Might
Aid Whitman as Muir
der Witness.
DRIVEN TO LAST RESORT
Command to Take Flight Is Car.
ried to Each Person Suspect
ed of Being Unable to
withhold Secrets from
District Attorney.

Gamblers and keepers Of disorderly
houses Joined forces Yesterday at a
meeting held in the early morning
hours at which an ingenious plan was
devised to hamper District Attorney
yhuman not only in the trial of Her
man Rosenthal's murderers. but In any
investigation which he might contem-
ol,te of the alliance between the under
world and the police.
Finding that all other efforts To stem
the tide of investigation and disclosure
have made no impression upon Mr..
Whitman. the leaders of the social sub
strata decided that the only thing left
was TO remove from the District Attor-
news reach the strcng corroborative
evidence that he cannot obtain except
from men who were really familiar
with conditions by having been well
come members of gambling and other
"sportv" circles for a long time.
The men who have grown rich on
vice have come TO the conclusion that
Mr.. Whitman will be sOrely pressed in
the Rosenthal murder trials for cor
roboratve evidence from witnesses in
somewhat better regard by jury than
those whom he already has. 1t is up
10 them" iow TO take out Of the way
every nan who might prove sue
cessful witness for the prosecution.
either at the trial of Lieutenant
Charles Becker or during the investi-
cation by the special grand jury which
will convene tomorrow.
Rusticaton List.
The name of every man who knew
conditions and was in possession Of
damaging facts was submitted to the
most careful scrutiny at the conference
held yesto day. His record was care
fully scanned for signs of weak fibre.
lack of stamina or the least indication
Of yellow streak" that might be the
cause of a complete breakdown and a
giving away of all the secrets under
he stress Of a pressing examination
at the trial or before the grand jury
in the John Doe" proceedings. Those
found not absolutely Trustworthy
were marked for a sojourn of several
months in some part of the country
where they could not be easily
reached
Particular attention was bestowed
upon men who have been closely con-
nected with gambling and other vice
fraternities and yet have retained a
certain degree of respectability. which
would give weight to their testimony
should they break down. Every pow
er will be used by the gamblers and
the vice syndicate" 10 induce them
TO take a trip TO Europe or to the Pa
cifc Coast.
II was learned that no special fund
is to be raised for the purpose of send
ing these friends" out Of town. IT
ternity would use a part of the defence
fund already raised, and that the vice
trust" would utilize as much as neces-
sary OF the $4,000 collected to stop
the investigation of disorderly houses
begun by the District Attorneys office.
Word Goes Forth.
Emissaries Of the conferrees were
busy all day yesterday carrying in
structions TO those who were designated
as the ones who must beat it," II
was considered that the sooner they
got out Of town the better II would be
Tor the cause, as there was little time
Continued on second page, first column.