New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-09
SAY POLICE W|NKED At
WIRE TAPPING SW|NDLE
Whitman Has Major Pennlng-
ton, Who Lost $4,000,
Before Grand Jury.
FLEECED LAST WINTER
Private Detectives Dig Up Evil
dence and Prosecutor
Starts Proceedings
Long Deferred.

Major Edward Pennington. whose city
home is at the Waldorf and who is said
to be well known at Palm Beach, paid
Lelated visit 10 Police headquarters yes
tcrday 10 thy to pick out from the
RoGues' Gallery the features OF the
men who relieved him Of $4,000 last
winter By means OF the wire tapping
san. Through that visit it became
L.. ,.yn not only that Major Pennington
had been feeced. but also that the Dis
trict Attorney was investigating alleged
police connivance at the fleeing.
Major Pennington, ii was learned, was
a witness on Monday before the con-
tinued July grand jury, the body which
indicted Lieutenant Charles Becker ana
has been continued for the purpose OF
investigating charges of police graft as
thew come up. II is expected that he
will be called before the grand jury
again tomorrow Detectives employed
by William j. Burns brought the case OF
Major Pennington TO the District Attor-
ney's attention
Since last spring when there seemed
10 be An epidemic Of wire tappers. hints
have been brought to District Attorney
Whitman that the police were not as
Jealous as they might be in suppressihs
the evil. Several alleged wire tappeTs
were arrested, out some OF them were
insistent in their contention that others
we're allowed TO operate without MN
drance and in some cases even with the
connivance Of the police.
Prosecutor 6ides His Time
Bjts Of confederation drifted into the
district Attorneys Office, but neither the
cbarges nor the corroboration was DEN
mite enough to Justify any criminal pro
cedure. All the bits were careluhS
labelled and fled away, however 10.
1pt,,re reference Every hint that seemed
70 promise a solution Of the problem was
carefully Investigated. Last summer
Joseph Du Vivier, an Assistant Dis'ii''
Attorney, was recalled from his vacd-
ton and sent post haste to Mount Glenn
ems. Mich. to investigate case in whlch
II was believed some evidence could De
found against certain policemen
Al considerable trouble and expense the
complainant was brought here, and IL was
found that there was no tangible evidence
~, which to proceed Moreover the TWO
men charged as principals In the swinule
umped their bail and could not be found
There was little or no evidence against
the others. and after the complainant had
testihed that the police entered the place
before he had really bet any Of his own
money tney were discharged
when the Burns detectives dug up the
case Of Major Pennington the District At
torney felt that at last there was some
chance of getting valuable Information
The Burns men assL-ed him that NOT Only
had Major Pennington, reputable man.
been swindled in the most barefaced man
ner. but the police had apparently mao~
little or no effort to bring the onendsrs
to Justice In fact It was not until yes
terday that Major Pennington looked over
the Rogues' Gallery.
]. Robert Rubin, the Assistant District
ATTORNEY. who presented Major Penning-
ton 10 the grand jury, would not discuss
the matter yesterday, although he admit
ten that the case had been put In ana ne
seemed hopeful Of the result
How the Job Was Done.
II was said that last January Major
Pennington ran UP TO New York from
f1or,da for a few days, and that he made
the acquaintance Of an affable man at the
waldorf. who told him an interesting
story OF a cleanup" planned by an en-
ploye Of telegraph company VINO was
about to be discharged and intendeo 10
make some money or the ponies" before
he got his walking papers, Major ZEN
ninRton was told that racing results would
be withheld until favored persons had
placed their bets in poolrooms.
In company with his new friend he
went TO a house in West 4stb street. and
was conducted to room fitted up as
poolroon. 1t is said that Major Penning-
ton made a bet Of $4,000. ana in an as
tonishingly short time found that he had
won. 1t was pretty big bait but ap-
parentiy the wiretappers knew their man
At any rate. according to the story the
next day Major Pennington put up S2o'-
600. An unfortunate mistake was mace
nv some one, the money was placed on the
wrong horse and was lost. The majors
friend offered to make 1t good out OF his
own pocket and regain the amount on the
next race.
The inference was plain, and It is said
that Major Pennington not only appreci-
ated It, but rose to the bait and decided
20 recoup his own losses. Accordingly
he nut I'D $4,000 on the next race and
lost that also.
The Burns detectives reported to the
District Attorney that when Major PEN
nington denounced his friend" the "tele-
graph operator" and all their acquain.-
ances as scoundrels and swindlers, he was
told that not only was he party to an
illegal transaction but that big men" in
the Police Department were interested
and that Il would be useless for him to
take his complaint 10 Police Headquar-