New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-03
WHITMAN ORDERS
CAPT. RILEY FREE
Says He Has OnlyOne Wit
ness to Tell of Taking
Wire Tappers' Brides.
TWO CAPTAINS ARE
MADE INSPECTORS
Another, J. H. Gillen, Fined ~
Days Pay for Failing TO
Clean Third District.

Captain Dominick Riley, whose re-
tirement last fall from the Police De-
partment preceded his Indictment on
charges that he received protectlorf
money from members of the Gondori
gang of wire tappers, had his baii as
missed ard was released yesterday oy
Judge Grain.
District Attorney Whitman recon-
mendeG that this action be taKen;;
though his representations constl'uteu
an indictment rather than an exonera-
ton of the former captain. Inc prose-
cutor said the state would have been
able TO prove .hat Riley took $500 from
the wire tappers. but that the case was
fruitless because there was no corroD-
Grafton OF the testimony OF the prioe
giyer. On this point he said:
"rhe peoples case rests on the uh-
eorroborated evidence OF the brioe
eiver. who. as matter OF law. IS an
accomplice. therefore recommend
that the bail OF the defendant be DIS
charged and that he be leased on
his own recognizance; that his case be
adjourned to the October term OF
court. when the District Attorneys Of
fee. in the event of not being able &c! 70
present corroborative evidence, VIII
ask Tor his dismissal:
PiIpv was retired November IL on
pension of 81 200. He had been dong
some work in Chinatown, and it was
said at the time that the job had-proVed
too much for him. He presented doc
tors certificates showing that he was
in and nervous" and needed change:
Former Commissioner Waldo said OF
ais retirement: -, -.
most active men. Captain Riley Ola
excellent work and was an efhclen'
officer"
Then. few days later. came the
accusations from the wire tappers'
Riley was subpoenaed to appear before
the Grand iurv. His indictment took
nlace on December 3. He protested
his innocence, furnished bail and was
reIeascd. He was arraigned December
~ before Judge Swami, in General
Sessions, and pleaded not guilty. On
January / he was indicted on new
counts. a,
Waldo's estimate Of Riley was the
accented one at the time of the cap
tain's retirement. He was former Dep
,;tv Commissioner Dougherty's right
hand man and was credited with many
shrewd CAPTURES. He had been mem>
Der of the force eighteen years.
Two captains became inspectors yes,
tcrday and one was fined thirty y days
nav. The promoted ones are. THOMAS
II. Murphy and Frank J. Morris. Muir
rhv. who has been acting inspector IN
the Coney Island district, was, mace
full inspector because Of his good WORK,
and Morris is now the new commander
Of the Tenderloin.
The captain who was fined IS James
II. Gillen. who was suspended Marcn
10 for failing to clean up the Third
Inspection District after he was or
dered to do so by former Commissioner
Mckay. Commissioner Woods sustains
the charges of inefficiency against Gli-
len, who is now captain in the Fourth
av. station, Brooklyn.
detectives William Reardon and
Samuel Van Damn, Of Inspector Ryan $
staff. we're discharged in the Harlem
court Yesterday on charges OF ,disor-
dcrlv conduct made BY Ruth Coleman
a negro girl whom they arrested.