Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-08-20
SCHRPS SAYS
HE PAID MEN
Whitman Gets Story on Train
from Albany.

ed by Lieutenant Becker. Schepps also
said hat he had been the messenger
between Becker and Rose while the
latter was in hiding.
AS soon as the train bearing Mr..
Whitman and Schepps got here detec-
tves, acting under orders from Com
missioner Waldo and Second Deputy
Commissioner Dougherty to deliver
Schepps at police headquarters, made
two attempts to take the informer away
from the district attorney. Mr.. Whit
man warned the detectives that II they
laid a finger on Schepps they would be
arrested for oppression.
They backed down and reported to
Commissioner Waldo, who rescinded
the order. But by that time the in
former had been rushed by Whitman's
nen to the West Side court, arraigned
for vagrancy and held for one week
long enough for the district attorneys
purpose to work out.
The efforts to snatch Schepps from
the district attorney forced the first
open clash between the police depart
ment and the county prosecutor.
Trouble has been simmering for weeks,
until It boiled over. The district at
torney charges that the police wanted
to intimidate Schepps before permitting
him to talk about the murder of Rosen-
thai or the matchmaking operations OF
policemen. Commissioner Waldo re-
plies that bis action was based on the
belief that Schepps was under arrest
and that he did not want the procedure
to be any different in Sehepps' case
thun in the case of any other prisoner.
D~ouqherty Makes Apology.
To this explanation the district at
torney replied that the police depart
ment was aware that Schepps was not
u prisoner, but merely a witness vol
unfairly returning to this state, Il
charged with murder the police officials
knew perfectly well that the first place
to take Schepps was a magistrates
court, not to headquarters. And to this
comment Deputy Commissioner Dough-
erty, saying that he spoke for Waldo,
answered by saying that 1t was all an
unfortunate misunderstanding. Dough
erty a%pologized to Whitman.
Back Of the conflict which fared up
In two places in the sight and hearing
of hundreds Of excited or amused cit1-
zens, the One Hundred and Twenty
fifth street station of the New York
Central and the Grand Central station,
were three kilograms sent by Deputy
Police Commissioner D~ougherty to De-
tective Albert Thomas, who, although
a member Of the district attorneys
staff, is a department policeman. The
kilograms show that as far back as last
Thursday Dougherty was preparing to
receive Schepps. Commissioner Waldo
says that Dougherty asked for orders
on Friday. At any rate, Dougherty sent
this telegram to Thomas last Thursday:
Detective Albert Thomas. en- route New
York, st. Louis. Iron Mountain and
Southern Railway Train:
Extra rush. Advise when and what
route you take with Schepps and when
due here. GEORGE s. DOUGHERTY.
Deputy Police Commissioner
To this Detective Thomas made 10
reply. His position was extremely deli
cate. Under orders from the district at
torney on one hand to use the utmost
caution in handling Schepps and
pressed by his immediate superior In
the police department on the other, he
took counsel with discretion and wish
ed he was In Buffalo.
The following day, Friday, Thomas
received this telegram:
Detective Albert Thomas, Care of Con-
ductor Train or Pullman Conductor on
Train 4. Big Four R. r., Cleveland. O.:
Report ut police headquarters with pris-
oner upon arrival at New York. Answer
that you x understand.
GEORGE 8. DOUGHERTY.
Second Deputy Police Commissioned.
tx" is the department code letter for
20. K"
The harrassed detective consulted
with Assistant District Attorney J.
Robert Rubin, who vas in charge Of
the party. Mr.. Rubin suggested that
Mr.. Thomas wait until the party got to
Buffalo and well within the state OF
New York before replying.
Thomas Answers Dougherty.
When they arrived at Buffalo Thomas
sent this telegram:
George 8. Dougherty, Deputy Police Com
missioner, 2o Center Street, New York
City:
Leave Buffalo H:S a. m. Aug. 10; due
D:1 a. M, via New Yor!, Central
At Hot Springs Thomas saw that
Dougherty WAS in a hurry, but he was
under orders from the district attorney
not to communicate news concerning
schepps until schepps had been put
on the soil of New York state. Thomas
therefore sent no reply. When the
party arrived in Buffalo Thomas found
this telegram awaiting him:
Albert Thomas, Hotel gtadtlAr.
When you arrive in New York city re-
port at police headquarters with prisoner.
Advise date and what train and what
route you will depart on.
GEORGE 8. DOUGHERTY,
Deputy Police Commissioner.
Thomas meanwhile had been In
communication with District Attorney
Whitman, who was In Manchester, Vt
He was ordered by Whitman to state
the case to Dougherty, which he did
In a telegram to Dougherty stating
among other things that schepps con-
scented to waive e~xtraditton.
Forewarned Of the attempt to be
made by the police department 70
satxa SoboDp. Distrlct ATTORNEY Whit