Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-30
MAYOR AND WILSON
REFUSE TO REPLY TO
GRAND JURY CHARGE
Director, in Defiant Mood,
Scorns Accusation of Alleged
Failure to Put Down
Vice Here
MAY ANSWER TODAY

Mayor Smith and Director Wilson refuse
70 talk about the criticism they are sub
iected 70 in the report filed by the Septem-
ber Grand Jury. but they are expected TO
oonfer today over the presentment and de-
eide on what they had better say
The report is frank. open criticism OF
the administration for Its alleged failure to
keep vice down, as II started to do last sum
mer
Director Wilson was as short as he has
been since he was appointed to his place.
injector Wilson admitted that he had
heard Of the findings of the Grand Jury,
but said he had no comments to make.
II am running my office and 1 am doing
II to suit myself" he said.
''Then you are going to ignore the
charges?" he was asked.
eAs I said before. l am making no com.
ments apd have nothing whatever TO say
about IT,"
Mayor Smith, when asked what action he
was going TO take concerning the request
Of the Grand Jury for a continuance Of the
investigation of vice conditions here, said
that he had no comment to make.
81 have not seen the report" he said. "and
until do so 1 am not going to speculate
about the Grand Jury's findings"
"Are conditions in this city as bad as the
Grand Jury has said II finds things?"
81 do not want to discuss that or any
other phase of the report. The Grand Jury
NAV know a whole lot that l do not, but
know some things that the Grand Jury
does not When l read the report / will
think II over and then, perhaps, shall have
something to say"
The efficiency of the Police Department
also is attacked in the statement that the
fury regrets that, although the July body
found that disorderly houses existed, this
condition is virtually the same today, and
that it is the belief and knowledge Of tho
fury that these places are known to the
Police Department as a matter of report
and record. Another fling is taken at Di-
rector Wilson'S department, when the re-
port states that during the last term the
evidence given by policemen in, ciSorccrly
house cases was insufficient, and recon-
mends that the magistrates and police pro-
duce moro convincing testimony In the fu-
ture.
As further evidence Of "a lack OF conf
dence in the police the jury recommends
that some one well informed upon the
subject and without affiliation In any way
with the Police Department" take charge
and cooperate with the District Attorney
X IN widespread invese eation of the condi-
tions here. In excusing their attitude in
taking the vice matter up, the jury, in a
public-spirited manner, declared that 1t felt
the report would be incomplete without a
strong and specific reference to the ques-
tion of vice and the open operation of
gambling and disorderly houses and speak
easles.
Chartered clubs are also taken to task.
The jury finds that a number of them are
nothing more than spealseasies, legalized
by a charter, but operating in an Illegal
manner. The report says the jury be-
lieves that this Is contrary to the law and
morality of the community, and is dan
gerous special privilege. The report, In
part says
The names of the police officials whom
the jury say should be tried before the
police board are not mentioned in the re-
port, but those implicated at the time were
Superintendent Robinson. Police Captain
Kenny and Lieutenants Singer and Var
Horn Robinson was never brought to trial
on the ground, II was said, that he had no
superiors In the department who could act
as his judges. Kenny. Singer and Var
Horn were reinstated. This is the personnel
Of the jury that filed the report:
M. Bolgar. clerk oil North warnocl
street; 2. X. Dannenhower, cabinetmaker
221S South Fairhilll street; Joseph Kline
knitter, 3OO9 wittee' street. Albert Laurey
molder, "a South Thirty-third street; Alexi.
Limeburner. publisher. 1895 North Twenty
second street; Alexander ]. Martin, spring
hnisher. 1915 Homestead street; James
Owens, laborer. 1919 South Thirty-firs
street. Edward Palmer. weaver. 1862 Nortl
Hartvlle street; Harry Pote. carpenter
1891 East Montgomery avenue; Samuel r
Rosenthal. telephone operator, 2447 Soutl
Sixth street; Robert Smith, candy maker
2020 Sterner street; Peter ]. Stewart, sales
man, 421 Locust street Alexander Taylor
llveryman. 1919 North Opal street; w. II
Thorne Coreman), no occupation, 1902 Pin,
street: Paul e. Walz, real estate, 5401 Law
renee street; William Watson, salesman
lis North Fifty-fourth street.