New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-29
Skilled Cross Examiners will
Battle for the Four Ex.In-
spectors When They Go
On Trial To-day.
WHITMAN TO OPPOSE THEM
District Attorney, in Personal
ChargH of Prosecution, Sud-
denly Moves to Forestall
Attack on Character
of Sipp.

The trial of ex-Inspectors Dennis
Sweeney, John ]. Murtha. James f.
Hussey and James F. Thompson for
conspiring to keep George a. Sipp
out of the jurisdiction of the court
will commence at 1880 this morning
before Justice Seabury in the criminal
branch of the Supreme Court.
District Attorney Whitman himself
will have charge of the cases and will
news Frank Moss and j. kirkland
Clark. The defendants will have an
array of counsel tha has cost them a
small fortune. Francis l.. Wellman.
a former District Attorney. and an au
thority on cross examination. will
appear for Hussey. John Is. Stanch
field, also famed as a ross-examiner.
and Arnold Davis will represent
Thompson George Gordon Battle
and Alfred a. Talley will be Sweeney's
attorneys, and Abraham S. Gilbert will
look after Murtha's interests.
The District Attorney hopes the jury
will he selected before the close of the
DAYS session. and with the long string
of convictions already secured in cases
growing out of the Rosenthal muir
der he has not the slightest doubt that
the four former inspectors will be
found guilty by the jury in less time
than was taken by other juries to con-
vict Lieutenant Becker, the four gun
men and the rest.
The defence has carefully refraincd
from making known its plans. and
whether any of the defendants will be
put on the stand is problematical.
Sweeney. who appeared in Hartigan
trial as a witness fer him, is likely to
testify if his counsel permits. But his
poor showing when he took the stand
before to try TO free his wardman of
q perjury charge is ground for the be-
lief that his counsel will suppress his
desire 10 speak in his own behalf.
Whitman Anticipates Attack.
on the eve of the trial District At
torney Whitman made an unexpected
move 10 forestall the defence in d con-
templated attack on the character of
Sipp. the chief witness against the four
former inspectors. He summoned be-
fore the grand jury yesterday after
noon everybody who was suspected OF
having a hand in the arrest of Sipp in
Atlantic City on a baseless charge.
The District Attorney obtained the
Information. under OATH that the affi-
oavits of the two women on which
Waldos men predicated their action
were known TO be false TO at least three
members of the police force. one be-
leved 10 be Inspector Sweeney.
While the New York police did not
ask the New Jersey authorities TO ar
rest Sipp until December ~. a couple
Of davs after he made his confession
10 the authorities. they actually had the
afidavits signed and in their possess
sion for nine days. So that this bears
out the District Attorneys belief. IN
lis opinion. that the police only intend
ed to use the affidavits if sipp
"squealed.'
The witnesses before the grand jury
we're Deputy Police Commissioner
Dougherty. Chief Inspector Schmitt-
berger. Lieutenant Richard O'Connor'
Patrolmen Morris Grossman and AT
thur T. Brooks and Martha Miller.
The Miller woman swore she told the
police that the charges were raise ana
that they assured her If she would only
stick 70 them" they would procure her
Continued ON sixth page. second column