New-York tribune., 1916-07-28
Lawyers Say That Many
Women's Guilt Is Not
Legally Proved.
WILL TELL SWANN
OF "SYSTEM'S" ACTS
Prosecutor to Protect Terrified
Witnesses Who Fled Police
Inquiry for Fear.

Evidence is being prepared for
submission to District Attorney Swami
which may enlarge the scope Of his
police graft Investigation to include an
expose of a system alleged to control
certain operations of the Women's
Night Court, at Jefferson Market. In
formation gathered for nearly Two years
is said to indicate not only "framed-up'
cases against women of the streets, but
also working agreement between law
yers, policemen and oondsmen by which
certain attorneys are enabled 70 prey
upon prisoners.
1t is the intention Of group Of law
yers and others who have studied
the operation of the court for many
months TO bring these alleged abuses
to the proper authorities in such a way
that radical change in the method of
handling cases may be brought about.
These persons say they will try 20
show that the Women's Night Court as
it is conducted now is not expeditions,
merciful or just, and that its opera
tion breeds not only grating police
men but grating lawyers.
To Submit Evidence Next Week.
According to information obtained by
a Tribune reporter yesterday those who
would obviate alleged mistakes of justice
in the court have evidence which sat
isfes them that in approximately 75
per cent of the cases which result in
the conviction Of accused women their
guilt was not established legally, re-
gardless Of their moral guilt.
The evidence upon which District At
torney Swami and Chief Magistrate
McAdoo will be asked 20 act. accord
ing TO the present plan. Will be sub
mitted next week. The lawyers who
seek an investigation Of the Women's
Night Court, have been cognizant of
the evils they allege for some time
past and intended 70 submit their evil
dence to Chief Magistrate McAdoo in
September. The present grand jury
investigation, however, seems 10 them
TO offer timely opportunity to ask
District Attorney Swami to act now.
The District Attorneys investiga-
tion of alleged grating by the five
policemen already under indictment
traversed new ramications yesterday.
OWlNR u inc dDStllCt VI hcFtihA wiz
nesses, whose testimony is needed by
the grand jury before the present in
qury can be closed. il was considered
unlikely yesterday that any additional
indictments would result before next
week. No doubt is entertained,
though, that other charges will be
lodged against alleged police grafters
who were intrusted with running down
vice.
Women Spirited Away.
Several women witnesses were
spirited out Of the city for their own
protection when the District Attorney
began his inquiry. One is woman
who has not yet recovered from a beat
ing said TO have been administered be-
cause she would not pay protection
money to certain policemen. To pro-
tect three witnesses District Attorney
Swami sent a squad of men out yes
terday to bring them to his Office and
guard them while here.
Atiidavits now in the possession Of
District Attorney Swami and his as
sistant, James Z. Smith, who is con-
ducting the inquiry before the grand
Jury, show that the alleged grafters
did not confne their activities 10 prey
ing upon women of the streets, but also
had gambling houses on their string.
The District Attorneys informants
charge, too, that several Of the police
stool pigeons were on gamblers pay
rolls and hat the policemen them
selves and their tools obtained money
from clothing and other manufacturers
who needed protection froL strikers.
Several afidavits made 10 Assistant
District Attorney Smith cover cases of
alleged graft as far back as the latter
part of 1914, and centre upon the as
sociation of Detective William J. En-
right with the now notorious ball held
in Arlington Hall on April 10, 1915.
Informer Beaten.
One, incorporated into the minutes OF
the grand jury, concerns q poolroom
tip which resulted in beating OF Max
Terkowitz, one of the District Attor-
ney's informants, because he told the
police Of certain poolroom.
Another incident described in one of
the affdavits relates directly TO the
Arlington Hall ball. One Of the patrol
men under investigation Is allered 70
have turned over his revolver. BLACK
jaeK and shield TO Red Levine. a stool
pigeon and one Of the District Attor-
ncy's informants, who was a doorkeeper
at the ball, because they interfered
with the policeman's dancing. Subse-
Glently the affidavit continues. he be.