New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-22
IMPORTANT WITNESSES
IN VICE CASE LINED Up
One Is Rouss, Fox'S Lawyer, but
Whitman Keeps Other a
Profound Secret.
CAUGHT CHANGING TRAINS
District Attorneys Trump Card
Served with Subpoena First
Moment He Set Foot
in City.

Two now witnesses each Of them con-
sidered Of great Importance TO the prose-
cution Of the four inspectors, sweeney
Hussey, Murtha and Thompson, who will
come up Cor trial a week from to-day
were lined up yesterday by District Attor-
ney Whitman.
one Of them is Jacob Rouss, the lawyer,
whose firm represented Patrolman Eugene
T. Fox i'm the preliminary moves before
Walsh's graft collector pleaded guilty.
The name OF the other is being carefully
gdarded by the District Attorney, but it
was learned that he is man VINO LETT
New York State directly after George A.
Sipp disclosed the Harlem police graft
from the witness stand of the aldermanic
committee.
This man has never been back in the
state since that day until yesterday. lie
was coming through from Philadelphia.
hound for Boston. and had not planned
70 stay 81 New York any longer than II
would have taken him to change trains.
when Whitman's men. who had been on
his trail, served subpoena on him.
After talk with the District Attorney
this prospective witness was allowed 10
continue on his way. but accompanied by
one Of the men from Mr. Whitman S
office. who will bring him back in time
for the trial of the big four" next Tues
day. In addition to his value as wit
ness in the conspiracy case against the
four inspectors. this new witness Will also
be an important factor in two of the graft
cases against Sergeant Peter }. Duify'
Sweeneys thrifty henchman. who put his
savings into Yonkers real estate.
Rouss Evidence Completes Chain.
Jacob Rouss. the lawyer who repre-
sented Fox has been an uncertain guam
tty in the calculations of the prosecutor
until Yesterday He was named by Fox
in the patrolman's story Of the Sipp Isl
lcnce fund" for their activities in which
the four inspectors were indicted for con-
epiracy, and although he was frequent
caller on the District Attorney it was
understood that he was seeking informa-
ton rather than offering it,
His evidence, it is believed. will supply
,hc missing link in the trail Of the money
that was raised for Sipp. between the
lire after it passed through Harugan s
hands to Fox. and the time that it passed
Ncwelrs TO Slpps
Rouss viii be additionally important
as A witness. il is understood, because lie
cannot he accused Of being an accompice
i'm the conspiracy, and can thus furnish
corroborative evidence that will tend 10
,.linch the testimony Of those who have
admitted having a part in the conspiracy
The story Of the Sipp "silence fund,
which will form the basis OF the con-
spiracy case against the four inspectors
Sweeney. Hussey, Murtha and Thompson
will be testified TO in the main by Pa
trolman Fox. Captain Walsh, lawyers
Rouss and Newell and Sipp himself. OF
these five Sipp and Rouss Will be- in the
position Of witnesses whose evidence will
have 10 be accepted at its face value. and
ON that account are of prime importance
to the District Attorneys case.
Assistant District Attorney John Kirk
land Clark moved before Justice Seabury
Yesterday for a special panel Of two hun
bred tales men for the conspiracy tTia. at
the same time asking that tie date Of trial
be set for Tuesday. April %. Alfred J. Tai
lev. of counsel FOR Sweeney. opposed the
calling Of the special panel, and made
other formal motions for the dismissal Of
The indictment. all Of which were denied
promptly by Justice Seabnry
Five Challenges the Limit.
The District Attorney will have the
benefit Of only five peremptory challenges
in the trial OF the four inspectors be-
cause the Indictment is for INSIDE
meanor The law provides for an in
trease in this number by concession from
the defence. but it is not expected that
counsel fer the four inspectors will make
any such concession, in view Of the de-
termined fight that has been IN evidence
even I'm the preliminary moves toward
the trial.
Mr. Whitmsn's investigators will
cover every one of the two hundred
ialcsinen as soon as their names are made
public by Thomas Allison. Commissioner
Of Jurors. and will be prepared TO sub
stantiato challenges for cause against
every one Of whom there is the slightest
suspicion.
Harry Kopp, OF counsel for Parolman
Thomas Robinson. who was convicted last
friday OF extorting graft from Luigi Tan
.reGi. announced Yesterday that no would
apply for a certificate Of reasonable doubt
to-day The grounds for the application
are that the evidence was not sufficient TO
warrant conviction and that the court erred
IN admitting certain evidence over the 90
lection Of the defence and again I'm rul
ing out other evidence presented by the
defence. Mr. kOpp said. ard II the applica-
ton for = certificate IS denied he viii
larry the case 10 appeal on the same
grounds.