New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-25
MOSS TO RETIRE
AS WHITMAN'S AID
Resignation of Assistant
Prosecutor Will Take
Effect February |.

Frank Moss. assistant prosecutor, mas
rendered his resignation TO District At
torney Whitman. II takes effect on Feb
ruary l. He intends TO devote his time
to his private practice. There is not
word of truth. Mr. Moss and the District
Attorney said last night. in rumors Of
friction between them.
Last December" said Mr.. Moss. II
told Mr. Whitman that ] understood that
the Arrangement made between us four
years ago terminated December 81 When
I Joined Mr. Whitman's staff It was with
the understanding that my connection
with il was TO last for four years. I told
Mr.. Whitman last month that if it would
please him / would stay month Longer.
He asked me to stay as long as | could
and told him ! would stay another
month. That month expires on Febru-
airy /.
Conditions have changed since joined
the staff The staff is now more numer-
Gus There are more men 10 handle the
cases. so that last year there were not the
demands upon my time and ability that
there used to be. Consequently, ! felt free
to take up my private practice again
There has never been a word Of friction
between myself and the District Attor-
ney."
Il am extremely sorry 70 have MI MOSS
leave the District Attorneys ONCE sald
District Attorney Whitman HE has rem
dered a great deal Of efficient service and
has been extremely valuable 10 the pub
lie. Any rumor Of lack OF harmony be
tween Mr. Moss and myself Is aosoiutey
false. He has been wanting TO get INTO
private practice for some time.
REPORTS Of friction between Mr.. Moss
and his chief became current soon after
the trials of Charles Becker and the four
runmen. in which prosecutions Mr.. MOSS
WAS active. \ few weeks later "'eh
Joseph c. Robin was sentenced report
was fled with Justice Seabury by MI
Moss declaring his belief in Robins inno-
cence That District Attorney whitman
held directly opposite views was evident.
81 believe that the defendant is guilty OF
the crime with which he Is charseu
and 70 which he pleaded District Al
,ornav Whitman told the court. i nave
never had any doubt of that. There mas
and there is not now.
Since that time it has been notceaoie'
as Mr.. Moss said yesterday, that there
were not the same demands upon ms tifne
and ability" Others have handled the
big" cases that came into the Office
Mr. Moss had charge Of the investiga-
,ion into the affairs of the Carnegie trust
companv and of the prosecutions which
touowed lie prosecuted both Charles ii.
HYDE and William J. Cummins. That case
ne considers the most difficult ne hao u
handle. It was more difficult ne sd'u'
than the Becker case which came later
Mr. Moss prosecuted Charles Becker ana
the four gunner, and was in charge OF
tho searching inquiry into police matters
which followed their conviction. Many OIL
the policemen whose prosecution TOT
er,fting followed Becker's conviction
were prosecuted by Mr.. Moss.
Since he has been I'm the District Attor-
rev's office he has tried sixty Defendants
nm homicide charges. Ten Of the sixty
we're acquitted. twenty-five were CON
,ictod Of murder fourteen OF them OF
murder in the first degree anu c'eN'"
murder I'm the second degree. Twenty-Five
we're convicted Of manslaughter
one OF his first murder cases was that OF
Albert w. Wolter, who was convicted on
Aprn % 1910. Of the murder OF Ruin
Wheeler.
Mr.. Moss in his ffty-fourth year ne
was admitted 10 the bar in 1881 lie was
associated with John w Con. now JUS
tce OF the Supreme Court. and William
Travers Jerome. as counsel for the LeXow
Committee. lie was counsel 10 the Mazet
Committee Under Mayor Strong he was
chairman Of the Board Of Police Commits
sioners. For many years he has been as
.ociotod With the Society for the Proven
lion OF Crime. and in 1905 was its presl-