The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11

Commissioner Mckay suspended from
duty Police Captain John r. Sweeney.
who was IN command of the Fifth street
station. aud ordered Sweeney to trial
on charges that he had neglected to take
such action in regard to II publicly pia-
carded gathering of men OF criminal
record as might have prevented the
murder of Mr.. Straus.
At the same time the Police Commits
sioner began an investigation of all
circumstances OF the police laSity and
notified the force that he would not
tolerate the slightest neglect on the part
OF any policeman in protecting life and
property.
Also Commissioner Mckay sought for
legal authority to ban such dances and
gang gatherings as the affair OF last Fri
day night In Arlington Hall his intention
being to make II impossible for the JACK
Siroccos the Chick Truckers and tho
Dopey Bennys to congregate and quarrel
That there is 10 DE II policy OF repres-
sion and correction more severe than In
the preceding administration WAS made
plain by the Mayor and the Commissioner
Such thieves and associates Of evil women
as cannot he sent to Jail or driven from
New York are to be dubbed into inactivity
If there Is no other way TO go about pro-
tectng the citizens.
Th. Mayor said yesterday that the
RallkS tnuSt 20 anu tiat thS P'hNS' "'''
adequate powers, must see to IT, .ar.
Mitchell, through his secretary. Arthur
Woods. who was Fourth Deputy Police
Commissioner under Gen. Bingham, issued
this statement:
We cannot expect to stop these gang
outrages the first week Of the admins
tration, but they must be stopped.
am not at all satisfied with the manner
in which the police have handled this
question In the past. They have been.
IL apIsars, too tolerant of the existence
OF organized gangs and gangstcrs in this
city.
"rhcy may have been handicapped by
the idea that is abroad that the police
may net use their clubs In dealing with
gangs shall see that the police are
given adequate powers and shall hold
them to strict responsibility 10 put an
end TO all this.
I'VE mean to look fully into condi-
tions which tend to develop these gangs,
Every one knows that much has been
done In the past few years by way OF
recreational facilities. athletics and the
influence Of the schools to minimize this
evil We must do more to correct as
| well as to suppress
but IN the meantime ] shall insist
that there Is no compromise with the
gangsters."
Then the Commissioner took up the
specific matter of investigating the failure
to police the Harry Lenny and Tommy
Dyke Association at Arlington Hall
on Friday night. He questioned Capt.
Sweeney, who admitted that he had not
known the dance was to DO held The sus-
pension followed and the Commissioner
gave out the charges against Sweeney.
The Commissioner obtained from Il
shop window in the neighbOrhood OF Ar
iington Hall a placard printed In red and
black, which had advertised the gang
sters ball and which bore the names of
Vaccarelli paul Kelly, Chick Thicker
and other notorious leaders OF the old
Jack Sirocco and Paul Kelly gangs. The
ball had been well advertised. Policemen
OH the street knew that II was to be held.
But Capt Sweeney insisted that he had
heard nothing about 1t.
On Friday night. after the murder.
while Assistant District Attorney Deacon
Murphy and Coroner Feinberg were In the
Fifth street station house investigating
the circumstances Of Mr.. Strauss death,
Policeman Rosenstock entered the station
house. RosenstOck pointed TO Edward
(Bull) Morris. the man under arrest.
Y know that fellow" said ROsenstock
"IIe told me last Sunday night that there
would be fight at the dance"
Mr.. Murphy and the Coroner turned tc
Capt. Sweeney.
ibid you note that remark. Captain
said Mr.. Murphy.
Eyes. but it's the first time anythni
| was said to me-" the Captain replied.
Murphy asked Rosenstock: you heart