New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-24
BATTLE ON SYSTEM
TO Be WACED IN MAY
/ Whitman Plans to Keep TWO
Terms of Criminal Court
Busy That Month.
THOMPSON'S ODD MOVE
Elk Inspector Calls on Assistant
District Attorney Ito Get Copy
of Indictment -Sweeney's
Defence Outlined.

Two terms OF the criminal branch Of the
Supreme Court, running simultaneously
, and each concerning itself almost solely
& with police graft trials. is the prospect
during May. according to information re-
ceived at District Attorney Whitman's
Office yesterday. Mr.. Whitman. il was
learned. will apply TO the Appellate Di-
vision within the next few days to have
Justice Seabury's term continued through
out the month of May. and on May D
Justice Gon will return from the civil
court to resume the extraordinary term
Of the Supreme Court convened by des-
ignation of Ex-Governor Dix for the eX-
press purpose of handling the police graft
situation.
The District Attorney has the prospec-
tive police graft cases in such shape now
that he is ready To go 10 trial at once.
and with almost thirty-fye separate in
dictments pending ne believes that two
courts will be needed to clean up The
cases before witnesses begin To scatter
or begin to be scattered" by the "Sys-
tenn
In any event. whether one or two
criminal branches of the Supreme Court
are available. the graft accusations
against Inspector Dennis Sweeney will be
the first TO be brought TO trial after the
impending conspiracy case against the
-four nspectors-Sweeney. Hussey, Murtna
and Thompson-is finished.
Thompson was responsible for a mild
,1uror Yesterday when ne appeared at
the Criminal Courts Building. inquiring
his way to the Office of John Kirkland
Clark. Assistant District Attorney. Ru-
,mors that he was contemplating the prop
osition of telling what he knows of po-
,lice graft 10 the District Attorney brought
a grinning denial from Thompson. AS he
explained that he was merely seeking a
copy Of the indictment in which he, with
sweeney. Hussey and Murtha, is charged
J with conspiracy.
In spite of his denial il was considered
peculiar that Thompson should be going
to the District Attorneys office for a
copy of the indictment when a copy is
now. and has been for some days, in the
hands of his lawyer. Arnold Davis.
When Mr.. Whitman was apprised OF the
Thompson visit later he intimated that
even if Thompson had decided 10 fore
stall prosecution by becoming grand
Jury witness 1t was extremely doubtful
whether such an offer would be consid-
cred. With the additional evidence ad-
duced against the four inspectors from
the statements of Jacob Rouss Mr.. Whit
man is so confident Of conviction that
he is not seeking any breaks from the
inside of the ring"
The District Attorney with two assist
ants. Mr.. Clark and Frederick }. Groehl,
continued his conference with Rouss yes
terday. and after a talk with the lawyer
Edward j. Newell, formerly Sips attor-
ney. and Patrolman Eugene +. Fox were
added 10 the gathering. As on Tuesday.
the conference was held AT the Bar Assoc
cation. and it was learned that the pros
'pective witnesses confined themselves 10
the evidence in the conspiracy case
against the four inspectors in the matter
of the sipp "silence fund
The line Of evidence leading to Police
Headquarters. disclosed by Rouss on
Tuesday was not pursued further. and it
is understood that 1t will not be until the
conspiracy case is out Of the way.
NJ Whitman went uptown TO see Cap
.ence. and went over again with the cap
tain Mrs. Walsh and the professional
nurse. Mena Michel who testified in the
Hartigan case. the events 10 which they
can now give evidence bearing on the
conspiracy case.
I George Gordon Battle. Of counsel for
iSweeney. said yesterday the defence in
the conspiracy case which will begin on
lTuesday before Justice Seabury. would be
biased primarily on the proposition that
levery vital point III the case would be
Testified to by accomplices. a line which
rwas indicated by his preliminary motions
hast Friday. In addition, the defence
will maintain that the four eX-inspectors,
far from trying to keep Sipp out of the
jurisdiction. were trying 10 have him
brought back. and 10 that end had him
iarrested in Atlantic City.
I They will contend, as was cOntended in
1.-THE Hartigan case, that the money which
f,Hartigan carried to Fox and which later
Invent along to Sipp. was furnished ex-
clusively by Captain Walsh. On this
point. however. they will be facing the
proposition that this same story, pre-
tsented 10 the Hartigan jury by Inspector
Sweeney. as a witness. was promptly dis-
icarded in favor of the whispered words
Of Walsh TO the effect that So or the
, money was brought 10 him from Sweeney
by Hartigan.