New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-06
Ex-Secretary Depicts Late
Inspector Russell as a
MAN from Egypt"
LEAK IN OFFICE
CAUSED TROUBLE
Reporter Learned of Friction at
Headquarters-Why Raids
Failed Is Shown.

=
V. Ortelero. who was a confidential sec
Rotary 10 the police official. Ortclero is
now suing for 100000. charging libel
and Islander. His suit is based on the
alleged action of Dougherty IN an
nouncing that the stenographer had
been dismissed from the department
for revealing confidential matter to
newspaper man.
On the stand the plaintiff admitted
that he had taken certain data, follow
ing his dismissal, TO the Office Of the
District Attorney. This he considered
evidence Of the evil doings Of Mr..
Doughcrty.
Verbal Lava CLOVIS in Court.
The trial yesterday before Justice
Donnelly and jury was like the re-
vival Of an extinct crater. Testimony
brought 10 the surface some burning
verbal lava. which the numerous Police
Department explosions in the Gaynor
administration failed TO produce. Head
quarters was a house divided against
itself. William J. Flynn. predecessor OF
Dougherty, according to Ortelero' not
having the cooperation Of all his high
subordinates, one Of these being the
late Inspector John II. Russell.
Ortelcro declares that Dougherty's
accusations have prevented him from
obtaining other employment. Trouble .
started when Harry &. Hatfield
formerly a reporter. caused to be pub 7
lished a story that there was friction
between Commissioner Waldo and
Doughtcry. This being denied, Hat
field sought to justify his story. 1t 10
alleged he obtained certain informa-
ton from Ortelero for that purpose.
This. too. contrary TO an understand
ing. it is alleged. was also circulated.
Then the top blew of.
Thomas Price, Assistant Corporation
Counsel. who appeared for Dougherty,
asked Ortelero. on the stand yester-
day: "You liked him at one time. did
you not?'
yes, | did at first. but not after l
found that he was CRATER"
"You were willing to stay with a
CRATER and steal records and, like
snake in the grass, offer them 10 the
District Attorney
81 did it in the interest Of the
public
Why Raids Failed.
Ortelero said that Dougherty asked
him one day after the failure of raid
on a gambling house where the leak
was. The secretary replied that he
knew Of many successful raids con-
Quoted By Flynn, and told Dougherty:
81 don't know. II you don't want infor-
nation TO get out keep Inspector Rus
sell out Of this Office. Flynn would
rot have him here. Russell has offered
al kinds Of money for tips on places
10 be raided.'
The ex-secretary said that he was
engaged BY Flynn, who wanted man
he could trust, and that when Dougher-
" became Deputy Commissioner he Of
ltitN ~ itNlSIs bul NNf new iINAuDfHN
asked him 20 stay. Flynn expected 70
succeed Commissioner Cropsey, said
the plaintiff. Gradually his work was
turned over 70 police stenographers,
the witness explained. One day Dough
cry told him he had better find an
other job, because he had been insub-
ordinate 20 Mr.. Young, his secretary.
"'He wants me 20 get evidence
against gambling houses" Ortelero
said he told his superior. adding, ~
think that is undignihed
"'Well, politics is politics." is the
reply DOughcrty made, according 20 the
plaintiff, who said the Deputy Commits
sioner accompanied his remark with d
wink
One day the Deputy Commissioner
reproved his stenogrspher for talking
70 Hatfield az suppose Russell told
you ] was talking with Hatfield" Or
telero said he replied. "'When you
were talking with Dan O'Reilly, charged
with receiving stolen goods IN the Ban
croft case, Inspector Russell said 20
me, 'O'Rcilly has the goods on Dough
erty, and | have, TOO. That big stiff
Flynn -
81 turned 20 Russell and said: You
are sore because didn't sell Flynn out
20 you; because Flynn wasn't in with
the crooks
Russell said: T1l have 20 drive you
out Of the department. az ! did every
one here who was with Flynn"
Lie Passed in Row.
Dougherty tried TO ascertain from
OrtclerO something about the Hatfield
article. The stcnographcr said he
knew nothing about them. acquire a
4 Zee. "a
reply. said the witness. al ought 90
have fred you long ago
IL told him he wa afraid 20 fire nc,
Ortclero declared: chat my eyes had
been open since I was in the depart
ment and that ! was thinking Of going
20 the District Attorney. he replied
that n ] did he would send me 20 sing
Sing. I've done ~ 20 others Re said"
y answered that he could not do u
70 me. said that he Was IN with Dan
O'Reilly ~ the robbery case, that Rus
sell was running the department, that
Russell understood the situation. Look
what Russell made you do 20 Vachris.'
SAID. He made you remove Vachris
a. head OF the Italian bomb squad, lust
wnsn ne was cleaning up and you had
waldo transfer him 20 City Island. al
tnonyh ne ilyes a long distance away.
ana ne could do no good there. "
on cross-e1afnination Ortelero nd
united that he had taken pages from a
stcnographic book a. Police Headquar-
ters. lie explained he did II TO catch
yrongdoer"
Lindsay hcKenna. a reporter, tcsti-
hed mat Hatfield had given him copics
81 letters with the explanation that
they came from Ortelero. DOughcrtv
VINO Will take the stand ~ -dav 70 do, =,
the story Of the plaintiff, said ~ the
end Of me days. rcssion. that he in
Tended 20 protect himself with his en-