Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-31
THREE HIGHER OFFICIALS
AND CIVILIAN IMPLICATED
Department Heads Brand Blackmail
Story as Ridiculous.
NO MERCY FOR LIEUT.. BECKER
Will Be Shown No Leniency, Even
Though He Exposes System
Samuel Schepp, Another Gum
man. Likely to Surrender.


man, Likely to Surrender.
NEW YORK. July 31.-Money sup
planted murder as the CHIEF Issue, in New
York's police scandal today Stirred by
/ the amazing stories of Jack" Rose the
1 gambler. that the tenderloin's tribute TO
! the system" for protection reached
81, 100000 annually. the murder OF Her.
| man Rosenthal was thrust temporarily
into the background while the authori-
| ties bent their energy toward confirming
Roses assertion. He maintains that be-
sides Becker. the police lieutenant
charged with instigatng the RosenthaI
| killing. three higher police officials and
| civilian employe OF the department
were sharers of the graft. District At
| torney Whitman will hold another con-
| ference with Rose and his associaes this
| afternoon.
Far from discreditfng the tale OF
$2.400.000 as a fantastic yarn OF
| gambler seeking to ease his own
plight. MIR. Whitman believes the
amount to be a conservative estimate.
Story Ridiculous, Say Police.
The police authorities. on the other
hand. said today that the story was
| ridiculous. statement made with
4 the authorization of Commissioner
| Waldo said that with the system OF
checks and counterchecks employed
in the department IL was impossible
| for any individuals or any branch of
the service to collect blackmail in any
thing like the enormous sum men
| toned by Rose.
Inspectors and other officials below the
commissioner were quick to deny that
| they had any finger in any funds collect
ed. 1t was conceded that gambling exists
| In the city. but IL exists. the police au-
thorities maintain. because of the attitude
or the courts. which they say makes con-
vfction of gamblers well nigh impossible
| Corrupt individuals within the depart
ment. il wal admitted, might be able to
levy blacknlsii. However. II was held
that Lieut.. Becker, when In charge of the
supng-arm squad and engaged in gam
bhng raids, never had authority that
would enable him to go ahead with the
wholesale collection OF graft such as Rose
and. Others have described.
Investigation Courted by Police.
| The police department announced today
| that 1t was ready for the most searching
| Investigation. While the heads of the
department admitted that in the ramifi-
| cations of the organization unworthy in
dfviduals might be discovered, they de-
| clared that never before In it's history
had the department been better able tv
stand a thorough probing
Although the gupners who did the ac-
tual shooting OF Rosenthal are still
| large. one more Of these. directly or in
/ directly involved in the crime, came
| within the reach OF the authorities to-
! day.
He is Samuel Schepp. an occupant or
the gray car in which the murderers rode.
| bernard II. Sander. counsel for Schepp.
| appeared at the district attorneys office
| today and said his client was willing TO
| surrender. provided he were accorded the
| treatment given Rose, WALTON and Web
| ber. He WAS told that Schepp would be
used as a witness If he could show that
| he was not an accessory to the shooting.
and II is probable that Schepp viii sur
| render by tomorrow.
| Lieut.. Becker maintains his silence in
the Tombs. receiving no visitors except
| his wife and counsel.
Investigation to Be Thorough
| Every trail and lead is TO be followed
| persistently. no matter where il ends 10y
District Attorney Whitman. to learn to
wnom. il is asserted, s2.4ep."o graft none,
| was finally distributed. Bald Jack Rose
whose confession put Police Lieut. Becker
behind the bars for the alleged murder o.
the gambler Herman Rosenthal. has toid
the public prosecutor that this huge sum
of money was obtained 10y police black
mail from gambling and disorderly houses.
and that Lieut.. Becker told him the
money went to four police officials.
The public prosecutor has arranged to
keep the grand jury In session all sum
mer to investigate the relations between
the gamblers and the police which, ia
| the opinion of the district attorney. is
matter of more public Importance than
| the Rosenthal case.
ctyie a
| break up the relations said 10 exist be-
tween the gamblers and the police. and
he has indicated that he will do so il IL
has to protect every man involved ia
the murder OF Rosenthal except those
| who fired the shots.
To Summon Over Fifty Witnesses.
Whether Lieut. Becker will care 10
avail himself OF an opportunity To make
his own position easier by telling the
Iprosecutor the recipients of the graft
| money which Bald Jack" Rose says he
| turned over to Becker is doubtful. Ii
| Becker is disposed to tell his story IL
must be complete In every detail. the
district attorney is reported 10 have said
More than fifty witnesses Will be
subpoenaed to appear before the grand
Jury to tell what they know of alleged
police blackmail.
The information obtained from Rose.
/ gambling houses, will be susceptible OF
proof said the district attorney.
| All records of gambling arrests will be
closely scrutinized to obtain evidence In
| the case and District Attorney Whitman
is in possession OF a list OF names OF big
and little gamblers given him by Rose.
who. in his accusations against Becker,
said that when the police lieutenant took
charge OF the strong arm squad he asked
for the names of gamblers who could be
made to give up for police protection.
Some Paid $500 q Month.
Rose says that Becker took the list and
determined how much money each gam
bier was to be assessed for the privilege
of doing business unmolested- Some
gamblers. Rose said, paid as high $500
a month, while the little fellows got off
with anywhere from $50 to 500 a month.
Meanwhile Police Lieut.. Becker. a
prisoner in the Tombs. is saying
CONTINUED on Second Pase)