Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-07
GRAFT INSPECTORS
MAY NOT APPEAL
Convicted New York Police Of
ficiaIs Face More Serious
Felony Charges.
MURTHA OFFERS TO MAKE
CONFESSION IF RELEASED
Whitman Sees Opportunity Now
of Reaching the MAN
Higher Up"

NEW YORK, May Until sen
tence is passed Friday no one knows
lust what move will be made by
counsel for the defense in the case Of
the four former police inspectors
Sweeney, Thompson, Hussey and
Murtha-a1 found guilty last night
of conspiracy to obstruct justice
Each faces a year in prison and
each is also under indictment for
bribery.
It was intimated at the district at
torneyss office today that it may rest
With the defendants themselves
whether or not they are to be tried
on the bribery charge,
II their lawyers make a fight
against the verdict just returned 1t
is understood that District Attorney
Whitman will press the bribery cases,
which involve a felony. and carry, OH
conviction. a much heavier sentence
than the prisoners now face. If. on
the other hand, the defendants expi-
ate the crime of which they now
stand convicted, Mr.. Whitman may
not push the remaining cases.
The results thus far of the ten
months war to end the police sys-
tem's Carnival of graft have in
cfuded the conviction of or pleas of
guilty by ten policemen and the con-
vietion of several associates in
crime. The list begins with Lieuten-
ant Charles Becker. who was con-
victed last October of the instigation
of the murder of Herman Rosentha
in July because the latter threat
ened to expose police graft. In No
vember four gunner were convicted
Of the same crime and sent to Sing
Sing, where. with Becker, they are
awaiting the execution of death SEN
fences.
Due TO Rosentbal Murder.
The Becker osenthal case led to
a general investigation of the sale
Of police protection for vice and crime.
Revelations were made which forced
Policeman Eugene Fox and Captain
Thomas w Walsh to pleas of guilty
of bribery, a confession to grating
by Policeman James e. Wrenn, the
conviction of John j. Hartigan,
patrolman. on charges of perjury
tho conviction of Policeman Thomas
F. Robinson on charges of extortion,
and many other convictions
District Attorney Whitman was
non-committal as to his further pro-
cedure in the Thompson, Hussey
lMurtha and Sweeney cases. He pre-
ferred to await the courts action on
sentence day before declaring him
self, he said. In summing up, how
ever. he called the jury's attention
10 the fact that the defendants face
further prosecution. He explained
why he called the conspiracy case
before trying the four individually
on the bribery Indictments
wanted to hear the testimony of
Captain Walsh. and I think it is APP
parent to you that he is in the valley
of the shadow of death"
Walsh confessed to grating at a
time when his physicians believed he
was on his death-bed, a grand jury
taking testimony at his home. While
this testimony was material in the
conspiracy case it does not figure in
the bribery indictments against Hus-
sey, Thompson and Murtha, accord
ing to the prosecutor.
The quick decision by the Jury. as
well as the conviction of all four
men, came as a surprise to many
When the jury filed out of the court
room at 7:35 last evening, after hear
ing the charge by Justice Seabury,
the general opinion was that the
twelve men would be out practically
all night, and that the indications
We're strongly in favor of the acquit-
raj of at least one of the men or
disagreement over the fate of the
-four. =
Verdict Marks Long Stride
The verdict of guilty marks long
stride in the graft investigation con-
Quoted by District Attorney Whit
man. The case of the four former in
spectors, now captains under sus-
pension. was felt to be the most i'm
portant to be brought to trial follow
ing the long list of sensational expo
sures IN which men close to the graft
ring literally fell over each other to
turn informer with the hope of saw
ing themselves.
After the verdict had been returned,
Justice Seabury ordered the four po-
lice officers returned to the Tombs
TO await sentence. which will be made
Friday.
Counsel for the four men said that
they will apply for a writ of reason
able doubt in each case next Friday.
This served but little to cheer the
prisoners.
Sweeney was apparently the most
affected. and Murtha was dumfound-
ed at the verdict. He had expected
that he would be freed, even in the
event Of his brother officers being de-
clared guilty.
Friends of Murtha approached Dis
trict Attorney Whitman last night in
an effort to secure clemency for the
former Inspector, provided he would
make confession. To all Of these
the district attorney said that he
would consider a confession in which
the real men higher up" were dis
closed.
IN his summary TO the jury District
Attorney Whitman spoke two hours
and thirty-seven minutes. Only once
during this speech did the prosecuting
officer mention the name of John j.
Murtha. That was when he spoke of
Murtha's alleged statement to Detec-
tive AL Thomas, during which the
detective testified that Murtha told
him that ne was willing TO chip in