New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-09
Make OvertureS to District
Attorneys Office, But Little
Hope of CIemency
Is Held Out.
WALDO HAMPERS WHITMAN
Gaynor Also Steps In BY
Giving Instructions That
Police Shall Be Posted
at Hotels Alleged
To Be Disorderly.

SWeeney, tne accused ponce OHlcer, WI
is said to have been the chief dividen,
taker from the graft system" in Har
lem disorderly hotels, made overtures
flee looking toward clemency for
Sweeney.
District Attorney whitman himself
was out of town yesterday, and AL
though sweeney's friends were able TO
get no definite answer until he returns
to-day, 1t was understood that Mr..
Whitmans representatives did not hold
out much hope to the accused inspe:-
| tor
From previous expressions Of the
District Attorney it is believed that he
! would agree to support plea for Glenn
| ency for Sweeney II he confessed, only
| If Sweeney would deliver" not only
his own Immediate superior in the
scale Of graft-the deputy commis-
sioner 10 whom he gave a share Of his
colections--but also with the provision
| that Sweeney should go over the entire
! graft System" and the connections OF
all the inspectors and captains who
are known to have made modest for
| tunes far in excess OF any legitimate
pile they could have obtained by salary
saving and honest investment.
Sweeney Could Give Much Aid.
| It is believed that Sweeney could give
Mr.. Whitman such a resume Of the
systems" operations. and If he should
elect to so that far it is still possible
that the District Attorney will seek TO
| aid him in escaping the penalty for his
own grating.
Waldo's examination Of Sweeney was
advanced yesterday as another possible
point OF defence that might be brought
forward by Sweeney's lawyers, the idea
| being that the department "heckling'
was practically By way Of making a
man testify against himself, and a.
such might be used as the basis for
plea Of immunity.
Sweeney's ten plainclothes men who
were questioned yesterday by Third
Deputy Newburger might also escape
punishment by tho same plea, II was
said, although the legal point Of pos
sible immunity because Of such exam
ination within the Police Department
has never before been brought to the
attention of the courts.
In spite of Waldo's letter maintaining
l.. 10
trict Attorney, those who have followed
the course of Whitman's work believe
that even If Waldo's invariable cross
examinations of accused police officers
do not bring tho.L immunity from
criminal prosecution, the course the
Commissioner is following on that line
cannot fail to hamper Whtman's work
of getting cases on accused men. II
nothing else, the men gain from
Waldo's precipitate action An advance
warning of the fact that they are under
suspicion.
1t was pointed out yesterday that al
though Whitman had obtained tho
original confession from Walsh, no
mention Of Hussey or Thompson was
made by the District Attorney. He
made no secret Of the fact that
Sweeney was implicated by Walsh, be-
cause his case against Sweeney was
practically complete when he had heard
Walsh's story, but II had been his plan
to complete his case against Sweeney
and then proceed to investigate and
seek corroboration Of Walsh's charges
against Hussey and Thompson.
Waldos suspension Of Hussey and
Thompson, of course, gave those two
captains fair warning that Walsh had
involved them in his accusations. and
they were enabled to begin the building
Of their fences Of defence.
Transfer Of Dillon to Brooklyn.
Particular pains were taken yester-
day at Police Headquarters to explain
that the transfer of Deputy Commits
sioner Dillon to Brooklyn was not made
as the result of anything that Waldo
had learned in his graft inquiry. Dill
lions shift was made necessary, it was
said, by the fact that the new deputy,
Newburger. was not we'll enough ac-
Iouainted with the Brooklyn police ad-
minlstration to step Immediately into
that command, while Dillon has had
previous experience there as an in
lspector
| Dillon was borough inspector IN
brooklyn when Judge Gaynor was run
ming for Mayor, and his subsequent ap-
pontment to a deputy commissioner
ship was said TO have been made at the
Mayors desire.
The fourth deputy's service as an
inspector. il developed yesterday. also
Included the command of the 9Th Dis
trlct, which is the Harlem district, be-
cause of the graft In which Walsh,
Sweeney, Hussey and Thompson were
suspended on Thursday.
Back of the sudden and specific whirl
Of graft charges that have enveloped
the Harlem district. and through 1t the
whole police-political graft system"
which eliminated In the confession OF
Captain Thomas w. Walsh, strange
tstory Of personal revenge was disclosed