Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-19
POLICE SCANDAL
GROWS AS QUIZ
CONTINUES
Former Official. Mentioned in
Connection With Graft, Now
Threatens to Sue Waldo.

NEW YORK. Sept. 1S.-Before the
aldermauic graft committee assembled
today to continue its investigation into
the police department. A J. Johnson,
former public official and assistant
manager OF Mayor Gaynor's campaign
whose name has been dragged into the
scandal threatened to sue Police Com
missioner Waldo for libel, and demand
ed that he be called as a witness before
the committee
Johnson's was one of the names
mentioned in an affidavit made by Po-
lice Captain John T. Reith, of the Mac
Dougal Street station. who swears that
he could have bought a captaincy four
years ago for $4,000
johnson also threatens TO sue Reith.
II was this affidavit which Waldo
promised to produce before the COM
mlttee today, although at the time the
alleged offer was made to Reith, Theo-
dore Bingham was commissioner of po-
lice
johnson alleged the story is simply
"a backfre," designed to discredit him
as a witness before the committee.
Going After the Facts.
An important point. In view Of the
charges made against him which En-
ory r. Buckner. counsel for the com
mittee said he would try to clear up
today is where, when and why the af-
fldavit was made by Reith Reith was
promoted from a lieutenancy in May
1911. Members Of the committee ex-
pressed a determination to get all the
facts. If possible. Everybody mention
ed in connection with the affair was
subpenaed. it is said. Thus far Cap
tain Reith's affidavit is uncorroborated.
Reith states that he did not pay the
sum demanded of him, and was passed
for promotion, although he stood at the
top OF the list Of lieutenants passed by
the civil service commission. Accord
ing to Reith, il was Johnson who first
approached him with the offer, al
though the police officer got the impress
sion that Johnson represented others.
Long before the doors Of the court
room were opened a large crowd had
gathered in the hope Of getting a
glimpse of "Gyp the Blood and Lefty
Louie" who had been summoned be-
fore Justice Golf to answer the charge
of participation in the murder of Her
man Rosenthal. The two gunner
pleaded not guilty and demanded an
Immediate trial Then the couple
were taken back to the Tombs. The
whole proceedings lasted only few
moments.
Former Magistrate Wahle. counsel
for the accused gunner, said he would
be able to produce evidence at the
proper time to prove an alibi for his
clients.
An Abb For the Gunmen.
Neither Of these boys was near the
Metropole hotel at the time Rosenthal
was killed" said Mr. Wahle.
a telegram from Hot Springs, Ark,
where District Attorney Whitman and
agents for Charles A. Becker, the ac-
cused police official, are seeking evil
dence, said that the taking of deposit
lions was being held mp awaiting the
arrival of counsel for Becker, who was
expected to arrive today Lawyers for
DtNhtl, sam oNAi'PAN, tilC tiIlthtu llllA =
der paymaster" and others who are
under arrest in connection with the
murder seemed satisfied with the trend
of events.
According to the Hot Springs adj
vices, a motive for the killing of Rosen-
thai existed outside BeCkers rage
against the informer. Becker's lawyers
will introduce a deposition containing
an alleged statement from Schepps to
the effect that Tenderloin characters
who existed by traffic in white slavery
were in a murderous rage against Ro-
seminal because the latter won their
cadets" away from them and success
fully competed against them.
Beckers lawyers will try to show
that the man whose murder had
brought about the scandalous exposures
was a white SLAYER as well as a gam
bier.