The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-20
POLICE TAP WIRES
WITHOUT A PERMIT
Telephone Company Not Con-
suited in the Case of Lewis
in Brooklyn.
DETECTIVE A LINEMAN

Evidence tending 70 show that the
Est Of telephone wires tapped by the po-
Ice ard submitted TO the Thompson
committee Is by no means complete and
that Commissioner Woods was wrong In
his expressed belief that taps were never
made withou, the knowledge and con-
sent Of the telephone company came to
light yesterday In Brooklyn, where II
had laid for more thar a month hidden
away IN Grand Jury minutes.
This evidence, in tho form Of testi.
mony by two policemen, one of them an
expert wire Taper formerly employed by
the telephone ompan was originally
PRESENTED TO the Grand Jury that in
dicted Burt q. Lewis of Coney Island
a. a common gambler.
The minutes of the Grand Jury be-
came known when County Judge Hylan
srantei France X. McCaffry. counsel for
Lewis. permission to inspect the min
utes. despite objections by then District
Attorney Cropsey. The testimony OF
the two police witnesses. Detectives Al
Wing and David DAILY of the Fifteenth
Inspection district, was known 10 only
a few. no ever prior 10 yesterday after
noon.
II Is nov known that Detective Wing,
the former telephone llneman. did the
actual tapping OF the wire which re-
suited IN the conviction Of Lewis before
supreme Court justice kelby. and that
he explained in detail how the tapping
1T. - ...s A-a. Il.
consent ~ the telephone COMPANY. but
In such a way that the fact OF the tap
pins would be known to none save tn.
police.
Lewis's wire was tapped In January,
1915. Detective Wing testified that he
made the tap 10y instruction Of Inspector
Thomas +. Murphy. He explained TO
the Grand Jury just how 1t was done.
There were two pairs of wires, one Il
ground wire, the other a battery wire.
The tap on being connected with one
OF these wires was run from a rear
corner " Lewis's house ~ West Seven
tcenth street and railroad avenue,
Coney Island, over regular telephone
cables to a house across the street.
about 500 feet away. Asked by Il Grand
Juror II 1t was legal to tap private
wires. Wing rep)i.d,
II didn't ask tor "A permit when
tapped them and the telephone company,
] don't think. objects. | think II IS law
ful when the Law IL being violated over
IN" Phone, because n we told the com
paty wc ver" going to tap the wires
there have been cases where the ,els-
phone girls were paid to give tips.
u hay. heard tho telephone girls.
when We got on the wire. say. Whit
number Is this. operator? and she thinks
YOU are a lineirdn and testing out the
line. | have had Instances where She
had her doubts and have heard her call
up n party and say. BE careful. there
y some one on the line
know they do s.. PM" 10 hand
ont tips IL there j. anything going on.
For that rcason We amt t.. them
Whether this phase Of the question
as presented 70. Wing and DAILY has beer
considered at the overlapping inquiry
Of thc Kings county Grand Jury could
not De learned. Tn. Grand Jury is ex.
p.ctrd to wine w its inquiry Monday.
District Attorney Lewis puts the mat.
'-- # possible Indictments up to the
Grand Jury, discld!ming all knoWledg.
If what may be in the JHurs' minds
He has held all along that the Crane
Jurs began the inquiry on its own INT
tiative and that he has merely act.a
m an advisory capacity.