New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-28
PLANTED" JUROR FEARED
FOR INSPECTORS TRIAL
Tip Abroad That system" Has
Men Among Special Panel
to Face Whitman.
GREAT LEGAL BATTLE SURE
Each of Four Indicted Men Has
Two of City's Best Law
yers to Parry Moss
Thrusts.
GREAT LEGAL BATTLE SURE

on the eve Of the trial for conspiracy
of four inspectors. highest ranking uni
formed officers OF the Police Department.
which begins tomorrow morning before
Justice Seabury. the District Attorney S
Office has discovered signs OF the most
brazen attempt yet disclosed by the "Sys-
TEN" TO plant Juror who would pre-
vent n conviction.
The scheme as found by the investga-
tors is 10 have one man report as pro-
spective juror with n summons bearing
name other than his own. and name
that. having been hurriedly investigated,
was found to be clear OF police connec-
lions. Mr.. AS summons. in other words
was appropriated by Mr.. b.. az Mr.. A. is
absent from town and will not be back
until the trial IL thing OF the past. Mr.
A. has no police connections. Mr.. r. has
but. taking the jurors seat under As
name. ne could emphatically declare that
he was of an open mind and would be
governed by the evidence.
During the course OF the preliminary
moves In the trials OF Ilartigan and Rob-
inson Mr.. Whitmav was in possession Of
information which gave him strong
grounds for suspicion that the same thing
was being attempted there. but having
nothing az strong as legal evidence. and
having a large number OF peremptory
challenges AT his disposal. he contented
himself with shutting the suspected men
OF the jury.
In the conspiracy trial against Sweeney.
Hussey. Thompson and Murtha. which be-
gins tomorrow. however. each side has
but four peremptory challenges. and the
District Attorney will hold up the trial. IL
necessary. to expose this substitution OF
names II 1t develops that talesmen are
answering TO names other than their
own.
These talesmen would be liable TO two
penalties IL their scheme was exposed.
First. they might be cited Immediately
for contempt OF court and. second. they
could be indicted and prosecuted for per-
jury
IL is thought that the System" has
worked out this last resort defence" in
the belief that acquittal is hardly TO be
expected unless emergency measures are
taken. 1t Is fact known to those who
have followed the course of the police
graft inquiry closely that the policemen
who have fallen into trouble through ex-
posure have never confided entirely even
I'm their own lawyers and the present
scheme is set down as one Of the under
workings Of the system" which the
frfcpAo of a.. Ia.
been afraid TO mention even to the big
four" inspectors, let alone 10 their coun-
sell
There have been as many az five or six
different moves in connection with the pre-
liminaries in the trial OF the four inspec-
tors. accomplished either by the defend
ants themselves or by their friends. which
have only come to the knowledge OF their
lawyers from outside sources.
The beginning of the trial itself to-
morrow morning will bring together the
greatest array of counsel that has yet
been seen i'm the police inquiry. George
Gordon Battle and Alfred J. Talley for
Sweeney, John Il. Stanchfeld and Arnold
l.. Davis for Thompson. Francis l.. Well
man and Herbert c. Smythe for Hussey
and Abraham S. Gilbert for Murtha will
make up the line OF the defence. Mr..
Wellman. 1t is understood will carry on
the entire work OF cross-examining wit
nesses.
on the District Attorneys side. In addl-
tion TO Mr.. Whitman. will be Frank Moss.
fhe first assistant District Attorney. and
John Kirkland Clark, Frederick j. Groehl
and ]. Robert Rubin. Of his staff.