New-York tribune., 1916-07-14
COnSults with Swami and
Acting Commissioner
Cooley.
COSTIGAN ASSIGNED
TO SIFT CHARGES
Fifteen Policemen Likely To Be
Indicted for Selling
Privileges.

'hV hNHS LUZ tHe Indn HiEHcT up
and in fact all the policemen connected
with the alleged new graft ring was
begun in earnest yesterday. when Act
ing Police Commissioner Cooley, after
a conference arranged by Mayor Nit
chel between Cooley. District Attorney
Swami and Assistant District Attorney
James E. Smith. announced that Lieu
tenant Honest Dan" Costigan had
been assigned to ferret out the Of
tenders.
Nothing that would tend to confirm
the rumor that high civilian employe
Of the department was involved in the
scandal disclosed by the arrests Of De-
tective Sergeants Enright and Foley,
the "honor men" of the White Slave
Squad. was forthcoming from the Dis
trict Attorneys Office yesterday.
But the persistent rumors were given
considerably more credence when, in
answer to direct question as to
whether a civilian was implicated, Act
ing Commissioner Cooley would only
say:
81 have appointed Lieutenant Dan
Costigan to take absolute charge OF the
investigation. He will follow the per-
son who may be accused and find II the
charges are true.
Costigan Has Free Hand.
at makes no difference if the oficial
is high, low or intermediate. He will
be tried at Police Headquarters and the
evidence taken there will be submitted
to the District Attorney. l have di-
rected Costigan to follow the scent
wherever il may lead and into any IN
spection district"
Complete harmony exists between
the District Attorneys office and the
city administration. Mayor Mitcnei
and Acting Commissioner Cooley have
pointed out that the majority of police
men want the department kept clean
and would aid in exposing those who
would bring discredit on it. The Dis
trict Attorney welcomed the aid Of
fered, and when it was proposed that
"Dan" Costigan investigate for the
Police Department end he remarked:
Everybody knows that Costigan IS
straight and will not mlnce matters
or shield the guilty. The present
trouble seems to be entirely local IN
one inspection district and among
few individuals. Costigan is the man
who will carry this matter through 10
it's yerv end, regardless Of who gets
hurt"
Fifteen Arrests Likely.
It was decided at yesterdays confer
ence that at least fifteen cases OF graft
ing on the part of individual policemen
will be presented to the Grand Jury.
Most of the men until recently were
members of a West Side inspector
staff. All were sent to uniform duty
after the transfer Of the inspector sew
eral months ago.
Thus far evidence that will stand the
test of court shows only individual
cases of grating, it is stated. But IL
;s known that the District Attorney Is
in possession of evidence that. II the
necessary corroboration can be Sc
cured. will prove the existence OF q
more powerful ring than that exposed
during the Becker case.
N Is this ring that, the District At
torney has been told, is headed by a
Police Department employe who levles
tribute on disorderly house keepers,
To expose this man Costigan has been
relieved of his Headquarters assign
ment and sent to the District Az
torney's staff.
MAY Parallel Becker Case.
Members, of the Police Department
are wondering if the perjury indict-
raert against Enright and Foley is the
means by which the District Attorney
hones Ia Law bare a scandal more re-
voitine than the Becker revelations,
which showed the system Of selling
privileges to gamblers. .u
This case, they point out, indicates
an attempt to revive in New York the
existence of vice privileges that were
.LAnnht To he wiped out IN New foIk.