New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-05
WHITMAN SETS new
CONVICTION RECORD
Clerk Reports Work of Last
Year Surpassed That of
Three Preceding.
~ GO TO JAIL FOR
ARSON AND GRATING
Verdicts of Guilty Returned in
1882 Cases-AcquittalS 1863,
FeWest on List.

A preliminary report made by Henry ID.
Saver. District Attorney Whitman's chief
clerk shows that the last year OF Mr.
Whitman's first term OF Office was the
busiest OF the four More cases we're dis
posed OF last wear than i'm any of the
three years preceding, and IN addition
there were numerous Investigations re-
sulting in prosecutions and convictions.
The result OF the investigation and
prosecution OF the arson trust Is shown
not only in an increase in the number Of
arson convictions. but also by decrease
in the number OF fires In the last year
there have been eleven convictions for
arson. The greatest number OF arson
convictions in any one year before was
seven, and In the ten years preceding
1913 there were but thirty. AS the result
Of the prosecution Of the arson trust
by ROYAL II. Weller. OF District At
torney Whitman's staff. the fire record OF
the last year will be less by two thou
sand. according TO the estimate OF John
=. Prial, fire marshal.
The methods OF the larson trust were
revealed by Isidor Stein. known as Icy
the Painter" who was himself convicted
OF arson and Is now doing a long term In
state prison. He testified that he was
hired by the ring to make fires for them.
1t was customary. he said, for broker
TO overinsure small shopkeeper who
would agree TO have fire. The insur-
ance adjuster. also a member OF the ring,
would make a settlement with the COM
pany. The money was split up among
the adIuster, the broker, Stein and the
shopkeeper. The shopkeeper was lucky,
Ivy said, if he got 80 per cent OF the
money collected from the insurance COM
pany.
Mr.. Weller obtained thirty indictments
on the testimony given by Stein. Crooked
adjusters and brokers who were not in
dicted were driven out OF business, and
MANI of them are now fugitives from
Justice Convictions were obtained not
only for arson but also for making false
claims for loss.
The police graft investigation. which
followed the conviction of Charles Becker
and the four gunmen. resulted in the
conviction OF nine policemen and @ law
yer The four former inspectors. Swee-
ney, Thompson, Murtha and Hussey,
were convicted OF conspiracy. Captain
Thomas w Walsh, now dead. pleaded
guilty OF bribery. Sergeant Peter j.
Duffy was convicted OF bribery, Patrol
man John J. Hartigan of perjury ard
Patrolman Thomas +. Robinson Of ex-
tortion. Patrolman Eugene f. Fox
pleaded guilty Of bribery. Edward j. New
ell. counsel for some Of the accused po-
licemen. pleaded guilty of wiifully dis
susding a witness from obeying SUBJ
ppna.
Other noteworthy convictions during the
past year we're those OF state senator
Stephen j. Stilwell and John Nicholson
Anhut. Stilwell was convicted or bribery
in connection with legislation after the
State Senate had exonerated him He
was prosecuted By Charles c. Mott, tr..
and John X. Clark. Anhut. lawyer re-
taned by Harry X. Thaw, was also con-
victed OF bribery. He was prosecuted by
William A. De Ford.
During the past year there were forty
SIX convictions in homicide cases the
largest number on record. Six were con-
victed OF murder in the first degree. nine
OF murder I'm the second degree, twenty
five OF manslaughter in the. first degree
and six OF manslaughter in the second
degree.
The bail department OF the District At
torneys office, which Is In charge OF
George A. Lavele shows record break
ing increase not only in the amount OF
bail offered and examined but in the
amount OF forfeitures turned into the city
treasury. The number OF forfeitures de-
creased last year. but. Notwithstanding
the amount collected was HE.47s. which
exceeds by nearly $4,000 the amount col
lected in 1912 and Is more than twice the
amount collected in any previous year.
Felony charges disposed OF during the
past year numbered 6.s22 the largest pum-
Der In District Attorney Whitman's ad-
ministration. There were SOS convictions
by verdict OF juries and 1854 pleas OF
guilty, making total of 3.2S2 convictions.
The number OF acquittals-lss-is the low
est on record.
A comparative statement OF the dispo-