Evening star., 1912-09-06
WALDO PLACED ON STAND
Police Commissioner Proves to Be
Refractory Witness.
MAKES SWEEPING DENIAL
Declares He Never Gave Instructions
to Inspector to Refrain From
Raiding Disorderly Places.

dtuluue on the city sO-Calieu vice dHu
excise problems, and the extent to which
the department followed his public dec
larations OF his attitude. formed the basis
of relentless cross-examination under
gone by Commissioner Waldo today in
the trial of Cornelius G. Hayes. an in
spector suspended on charges Of making
false statements rejecting on the COM
missioner.
For nearly an hour Thomas Thacher.
Hayes counsel, sougth to read into the
record the mayors speeches and utter
ances on the vice problem. Thwarted in
his efforts by Terence Farley. assistant
corporation counsel, appearing for the po-
lice department. the lawyer finally gain
ed recognition from the trial commits
sioner. Douglas l. Mckay.
Purpose Of Questioning.
"I am merely trying to prove that
Mayor Gaynors policy was one under
which the social evil was recognized as
an uncomfortable problem which had to
be endured, but that the evil had to pre-
sent a front Of outward decency: that in
the failure Of Inspector Hayes to raid dis
orderly houses he was merely rejecting
this policy. and that any orders issued to
directly in violation of that policy MT
Thatcher was then permitted to proceed
with his cross-examination along the lines
he desired.
Does not Mayor Gaynor direct your
policy toward vice?" he asked Waldo.
Snaps Out Denial.
He does not" snapped the commits
sioner.
Have you ever observed the mayor 8
views on the excise question"
..rhe mayors views" MI. Waldo re-
piled, almost before the question had been
asked, "were given to the police In Cen
eral order No. IL. in 1910. That order Is
still in force.
Don't you know the mayors views on
vice are that we have to suner TINS evil.
II do not know anything about the
mayors views. except what he told me;
he never told me anything like that"
Has Mayor Gaynor ever instructed you
how to deal with disorderly housesr'
He has never given me any instruc-
tions on that subject"
..As a matter Of fact. you didn't expect
Hayes to raid disorderiy houses within
his district, now. did your"
Raids Were Expected.
II expected him to raid every disorderly
house as to whose operations he could OBJ
tain evidence"
you knew, didn't you. that disorderly
houses had hourished for six months In
Inspector Hayes district; that these
houses were operating every day. and
that they were not being raided?"
Yes. / knew 1t. I knew that dis
orderly houses had been flourishing in
that district for a year. But I presumed
that Inspector Hayes was making every
effort he could to close them up"
Commissioner Waldo was q refractory
witness. His replies were long and
couched In general terms. and he had
frequent encounters with Mr.. Thacher.
Commissioner Waldo testified that he
called before him on August 16 the va
rious inspectors to ascertain which one
of them. II any, had given an anonymous
interview, published that day, to the ef-
feet that orders had been given by Waldo
that no disorderly houses should be
raided without his instruction.
Statement Of Hayes.
Inspector Hayes then told me that he
understood his orders were not to raid
disorderly houses without specific instruc-
tons from me-" the commissioner con-
tinued.
Had you ever given him such orders?
asked Terence Farley. assistant corpora
ton counsel. representing the depart
ment.
"No. I gave him no orders other than
the general instructions to observe peace
and good order and to enforce all the
laws. The inspector was personally re-
sponSible for the enforcement of the laws,
Including the excise laws and those
againt gambling, in his district and to
aid him and other inspectors. who main
against gambling, in his district, and to
did you ever instruct Inspector Hayes
to refrain from obtaining evidence against
disorderly houses?" Mr.. Farley asked.
HE was never given any instructions
Of that character in any form whatso-
ever" Commissioner Waldo replied.
Speculation Is Rife.
There was much speculation as to
whether Hayes. taking the stand. would
make good" any statement attributed
to him, notably that he would reveal de-
partmental secrets embarrassing to the
commissioner. Although Hayes denied in
writing yesterday that he had said he
could force Waldos resignation within
twenty-four hours. he has not repudiated
other features Of his recent conference
with District Attorney Whitman.
The district attorneys office expressed
satisfaction today in the discovery OF
Salvation Army lassie. who had rooms
near the Hotel Metropolis ana was an
eyewitness to the murder OF Rosenthal.
1t is said that she can identify several
II not ali the men involved in the shoot
ing, and will mako q valuble state wit
ness. -
Another witness q member Of the Elks'
club here, has been traced to Troy, n.
r.. and an assistant district attorney
was dispatched thither last night
Libby Before Grand Jury.
Louis Libby, part owner with William
Shapiro of the murder car in the Rosen-
thai case, was called before the grand
Jury which indicted Police Lieut.
Becker for the murder of RosenthaL He
denied having been told by Shapiro, it
was learned. who the occupants of the
car were, and professed ignorance Of
any knowledge Of the murder plot
The investigation by the commissioner
OF accounts into alleged graft levied on
owners Of newsstands resulted last night
in the arrest Of Benjamin f. Strauss. an
election district captain, on the charge
of grand larceny According to the evil
dence of a witness at the investigation,
Strauss acted as the agent of an alder
man in the collection of graft.