New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-29
INQUIRY PUT OFF LEST
BECKER'S CASE SUFFER
Investigation of Gambling
Likely to Prejudice De-
fence, Says BuCkner.
GOES OVER FOR A WEEK
Whitman Denies He Ever Said
THAT Miserable Little Cur
ran"-Justice Golf Turns
Down Hart.


Lest evidence which might be brought
ort NJ the Curan inquiry be prejudicial
to the cases Of Lieutenant Charles Becker
o,d other defendants charged with the
murder Of Herman Rosenthal, the alder
manic committee took an unexpected ad-
Ioyrnment yesterday for a week to allow
r,,,orv z Buckner its chief counsel,
,imc 70 prepare another phase for investi-
cation apart from the gambling situa-
lion which he had intended to take up
with Commissioner Waldo on the witness
stand.
The committee met formally at the
stated hour in the aldermanic chamber at
the City Hall, and Mr.. Buckner promptly
urged an adjournment. \ big crowd on
hand to hear Commissioner Waldo on
gambling seemed TO find II hard to reallze
that its curiosity was not TO be satlshed'
The reasons for asking an adjournment
were stated in part by Mr.. Buckner as
follows:
had intended to so on with the inves-
iieation into the administrative policy OF
the Police Department, as eXempllhed py
Commissioner Waldo's methods or reSU-
Iating and suppressing vice, but II always
has been the intention or counsel not 10
get into the record any evidence that
would affect the guilt or innocence OF any
man. ~..,i.ro.
waldo on this subject might bring out
certain things that might anect me men ~
under Indictment. We cannot pretend 10
control witnesses in regard 10 Voluntar!
statements which they might make that
might be regarded as pre1udiclal 10 these
men Counsel for a man under lnai c,o
testimony brought out here would aHeCt
Tho Interests OF his client, and we cannon
be too scrupulous in such matters; al.
Counsel for such men might make dla-
tory or other motions that would emoar-
rass the District Attorney in the hlShiy
;roIortant work which he is doing. 1t is
tbe duty of this committee TO uphold lhe
hands of the District Attorney. CoutieeI
has kent I'm close touch and cooperation
with the District ATTORNEY tnTo or pss
This Investigation. although the WORK mas
besr along wholly different lines. tnnk'
however, that we ought 10 leave OF III
vestigating vice. and examine tIe yin
missioner on other matters touchlns VI,
AZ administration OF his department.
$1,000 urge that an adjournment be
taken.
Don't Wait, Say Democrats.
incidentally. Mr.. Buckner also declared
that some Of the Democratic members OF
The committee would want to be absent
In Syracuse in attendance upon the Demo-
cratic state Convention. Alderman DoWi-
ing and the other Democratic members
declared that the committee could go rlght
ahead without them, and suggested that
their absence did not offer good reason
Tor adjournment. The committee finally
decided 10 adjourn until next Saturday at
0:30 q. m.
Mr.. Buckner said after adjournment he
would prepare TO interrogate Commission
or Waldo on the organization and admin
istration of the Detective Bureau at Po-
lice Headquarters at the next session.
District Attorney Whitman and John F.
Mcintyre counsel for Lieutenant Becker
both commended the decision Of the COM
nittee TO adjourn and not go into the
gambling situation at this time, just prior
10 Becker's trial Mr. Whitman said II
would avert any possibility Of complica
lions which might embarrass himself or
the defence in the Becker case, and he
considered It the right thing to do. Mr.
Mcintyre expressed himself as grateful 10
The committee in adjourning at this time
District Attorney Whitman emphat-
eelly denied last night the reports pun
nshed yesterday that he had seen fit TO
criticize the work Of the aldermanic com
hittee so far He said such rumOrs had
probably emanated from the fact that ne
had INDUCED in a little tilt" with AL
derman Curran the day before. lie said
he had been in touch with Mr.. BucKner,
counsel for the committee. since the
hear aud a
him whatever assistance he could.
Further Amenities.
Assuming that the District Attorney
had been correctly quoted yesterday I'D
referring 10 Alderman Curran, chairman
Of the Investigating committee, as that
miserable little Curran" who circulated
TIE story that he Uhe District Attorney
had urged the appointment Of Max d.
steuer as counsel for the committee IN
reference 10 Mr. Buckner, Mr.. Curran
issued the following statement last night;
With some people nothing hurts Ike
ne truth. ] have no desire 10 MAKE ti5s
matter public but Mr.. Whitman saw III
to do so and. unfortunately. lost his tenn
Der. / suppose he will quiet down aftef d
While. like everybody else. III is 10 DC
hoped for the sake Of the city that the
iiNeSuRdtlOn may pTOcScI NilIiNNt 49,
Their personalities or abuse.
Nr. Whitman was also quoted as say
Ing that the committee was pretty poor
stuff. anyway" and that 1t had not ac-
complished much
Justice Golf. sitting in the extraordinary
term Of the Supreme Court. yesterday de-
Med the motions OF John w. Hart. OF ,
counsel for Lieutenant Becker. to inspect
the minutes Of the grand jury which In
iicted Becker. Mr.. Hart was called be-
Tore tho grand jury to testify in regard to
certain conversations he had had with
Bald Jack" Rose, a witness against
Becker and he contended that his testi-
mony had violated the privileged COM
hunicatcn between lawyer and client.
In denying the motion Justice Con
Pointed out that Mr.. Harris testimony had
not been adduced at the hearing before
the grand jury on which the indictment
Vac founded He declared that Mr.. Hart
sought to inspect the minutes for the pur-
pose Of discovering a flaw or defect in
me Becker indictment which would FUR