New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-24
Indicted Lawyer PLEADS with
Whitman for Two Hours
in EndeavOr to Escape
Prosecution.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY FIRM
Tells Sipp's Counsel Evidence
to Help Clinch Case Against
Harlem Police " Ring
Must Be Given-Hart-
igan in Quandary.

Edward j. Newell. the lawyer whose
trial is 10 begin on Thursday before
Justice Seabury. pleaded with District
Attorney Whitman for more than two
hours yesterday afternoon in a vain
effort to gain immunity from prosecu-
ton without giving anything fatty in
return.
Newell is indicted under Section 2440
Of the penal law. which makes 1t
felony To- tamper with q prospective
witness in a judicial proceeding, and
the charge is that Newell handed over
500 to George \. Sipp in the con
tinental Hotel in Newark. i'm an en-
deavor to keep Sipp from appearing as
a witness against Patrolman Eugene f..
Fox. Captain Walsh's graft collector
Former Judge w Nj. *. Olcott. New
ellis attorney, called on Nh. Whitman
at his home about o'clock yesterday
afternoon He talked over the case
with the District Attorney for an hour
and was told that nothing could be
done until Newell offered 90 plead
guilty unconditionally. Mr.. Olcott went
away and returned an hour later with
Newell in tow. The indicted lawyer
and his attorney went all over the case
again with Mr.. Whitman, taking about
two hours and q half for their confer
ence. and finally made arrangements I"
meet the District Attorney again to-
day.
Unsatisfactory TO Newell.
From Newells standpoint it Was an
unsatisfactory conference. for while ne
offered 20 plead guilty II the District
Attorney would guarantee him a sus-
pended sentence, Whitman stood firm
on the proposition that he would prom
Use nothing except that he would do
tho best he could for Newell, and that
only after Newell had pleaded guilty
and provided the evidence which ne
offers to clinch the connection Of the
Harlem police ring with the Sipp
silence fund" is corroborated after in
VestigatiOn.
When Mr.. Whitman was asked after
ward whether Newell had confessed, he
said Newell and his attorney. Judge
Olcott, called on me to-day and con-
ferred as to terms on which I would
deal with Newell They will see me
again tomorrow, and unless the situa-
ton changes Newell viii be put on
trial on Thursday"
The District Attorney is confident
that the evidence he has in his posses
sion will convict Newell. and in view
Of that he could see no reason why he
should treat Newell any differently
than he treated Fox and Walsh In
similar position those two men were
forced TO plead guilty TO the indict-
rnents against them before Whitman
would deal with them.
Newell at first wanted an immunity
bath as a grand jury witness. but when
he found that was out Of the question
receded from that demand and is now
ready 10 plead guilty If he is certain
that he will get nothing more severe
Than suspended sentence.
The indicted lawyer can. If he viii,
according 10 the belief Of the District
Attorney. give evidence which would
put former Inspector James L. Hussey
in imminent danger Of indictment un-
der Section 244O OF the Penal Law,
under which Newell himself was in
dicted Former Inspector Dennis
sweeney also was first indicted under