The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-21
NO REAL HALT
In BAFF HUNT.
SAYS WOODS
Explains That Police Waited
to Get Proof Before
Arrests.
WHITMAN TO ASK FOR
TWO INDICTMENTS

On the eve of the session OF the Grand
Jury to-day at which 1t is confidently ex-
pected by both the police and the District
Attorneys office that indictments will be
returned against two men now in custody
for the murder of Barnett Ban In West
Washington Market on November "a Po-
lice Commissioner Woods issued a state
mcnt In answer to those who have crlti-
cis,d the police for not making arrests
more quickly.
made by Inspector Faurot on numerous
occasions during the last month--thst
there was Little to he gained by arrestinc
an, body unlts IS a case could be made out
against him. II was known within a
week after the murder who the gunner
we're. or AT least the police were so sure
O, he men that they were never out OF
sght OF a detective. but ther was no proof
such a. jury would require. And this
is the Commissioners defence. He says:
THE question has been asked; why
were no arrests made before in the Ban
murder? II took place November -. why
we're so many days allowed 10 go by be-
fore an arrest was made?'
Well a good many days went by. but
W. believe that the developments show
We were wise in building up "A structure
OF evidence before making an arrest.
Va Two Cases alike. lie Says.
Remember. no two murder cases are
alike. Sometimes clue is left of such
character that II leads the detectives
richt TO the murderer In a few hours or
days. Since Mr.. Ban was shot. for in
stance murder took place where the
guilty men were arrested in short order.
Patsy Doyle was shot on the evening If
November IS in a saloon at $40 Eighth
avenue There were a number OF eyewit-
nesses VINO could and did give close de-
scriptions. Arrests followed within two
days
In the Rosenthal case the number OF
the car was noted and this led straight
along. one step after another. under the
sAlful handling of the District Attorney.
In the Schmidt case a pillow slip was
found with one part OF the body With
the valuable help OF the Jersey police this
seemingly slight clue was rapidly deve-
oped by Inspector Faurot through the
dealer OIL Eighth avenue and the apart
ment on Bradhurst avenue straight to
the murderer.
In the Ban case there was no such lmme-
date clue The eyewitnesses for long time
either could not would not identify:
the early descriptions Of the number and
appearance OF the car were vague and
c'oudcd by conflicting statments; revolt
yer was found with two chambers empty.
but several blocks away.
CLUES like this can lead the police
20 the guilty persons. but they are not
what might he called immediate clues.
Ike the Rosenthal car, the Schmidt pill
low slip or the observant and helpful
eyewitnesscs in the Doyle case. IL takes
much LONGER to get enough evidence to
Justify an arrest. where the clues are as
Do
Md premature arrest might spoil the
case.
During tho period leading up To- the
arrest there was incessant activity. Every
clue Was minutelS investigated, innumer-
able persons were interviewed and grad
uallv the facts began TO emerge. Sus-
pcctcd men have been kept covered night
ard day by detectives, that an arrest
could bc made as soon as the case de-
vc,opcd to that point.