New-York tribune., 1913-11-19
Cohen, Ex-Detective, Sick
Man to Grand Jury, but
Sees Prosecutor.
RILEY IS ON HAND,
ALSO WIRE TAPPERS
Whitman Has Evidence and Can
Dictate Terms-Victims of
SWindlers May Aid.

The illness of "AI' Cohen, the former
Central Office detective, who made his
debut few days ago as a witness in the
police-wire tapping graft exposure, caused
a postponement yesterday in the presenta-
ton of the wire tapping case to the grand
jury. Incidentally. Cohen became some
thing Of a puzzle. for although he was too
sick to appear before the grand jury In
the morning he appeared at the District
Attorneys Office late in the afternoon and
expressed a wish for a conference.
He was accommodated in this, being
closeted for some time with Frederick
Groehl, the Assistant District Attorney
whom Mr.. Whitman has placed in charge
of the wire tapping investigation The
result of this conference was that Cohen
was served with new subpoena calling
for his appearance before the grand Jury
to-day
The passing illness which incapacitated
Cohen as a witness was particularly in
teresting in view of the rumors that be-
came current about him the day before
Mr. Whitman had said he was informed
first that Cohen was going to quit, and
secondly that he was going to stick. y
On top OF these opposing reports came the
Illness of yesterday
Another rumor had 1t that Cohen was
willing to tell a part Of what he knew,
but not ALL IL was said, however, that
Mr.. Whitman had some information OF
his own by which 1t was demonstrated
to Cohen yesterday that the whole truth
was the best policy.
Cohen's sudden illness caused consider
able inconvenience to other witnesses
who were subppnaed with him TO appear
before the grand jury. Among these
were Dominick Riley. the recently retired
police captain. He appeared according to
schedule. but was unable to see Mr.. Whit
man because Of the latter's occupation
with the John Doe inquiry. Riley. how
ever, had conference with Mr.. Groehl.
George McRae, the wire Taper who
started all the trouble by telling his story
TO the District Attorney was present,
also Frank TarbeauX. "Curley' Carter
and Paper Collar Jo," alias John Kay,
all OF them with records as wire tappers.
who are believed to be able TO give first
hand information about the graft that is
alleged to have been paid 10 the sus-
pected men at Headquarters. All OF
these men were served with subpPnas
calling for their appearance again Mon
day.
Mickey" Shea, the man who is said
to know all about the payments made 10
the same Headquarters ring by the as
ISOLATED clairvoyants in return for the
privilege OF carrying on their operations
with impunlty. was also within call. al
thought not under subpoena. He has
agreed 10 come in and talk voluntarily.
Mr. Whitman said yesterday that one
promising feature OF the situation was
| that there were indications that some OF
the smal-fry victims of the wire tappers
were going TO lend him their aid. Ac-
cording 10 his information, many persons
who lost small sums were kept from
pressing their cases by the police. who
advised them TO accept part OF their
money back from the wire tappers and
keep silent
There were Indications yesterday at
Headquarters that preparations were afoot
FOR building up a defence on the part OF
the suspected men. The imposing array
OF records OF wire Taper arrests were be-
ing gotten into shape in the expectation
they would be subpGnaed for the grand
Jury.
There was also talk that the removal
Of the pictures of unconvicted men from
the Rogues' Gallery by Mayor Gaynor S
order would be used as a defence TO the
assertion that complaining victims were
not shown the pictures OF all the wire
tappers when given chance to see If
they could identify the men that had
feeced them. Another report was that
the main defence would be that the con-
fessions OF the wire tappers were actu-
ated by desire TO get even with the
police because they really had been
honest and had broken up the business by
frequent arrests.