The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-19

tapping" OF telephone wires used by |
ihen prominently connected as witnesses
with the charities Investigation. This |
disclosure was made after the District
Attorney learned from the general coun-
sci of the New York Telephone Company
that the cutting In had been done at the
behest OF "a high city official"
Mayor Mitchell issued the following
statement last night regarding the case;
"On Information that crime had
been committed. lodged by the Commits
sioncr OF Charities. the police listened
TO telephone conversations over three
telephone wires. No other wires what
ever were interfered with. This the
police did under authority Of law. II
am informed that the evidence obtained
may lead to indictments II will be
developed publicly at the proper time
l understand. at an early date"
While the Deputy Commissioner was
divulging facts which bore out the accu-
sations by persons allied with Catholic
charities that eavesdroppers had over
heard some OF their talkk, word came
from Albany that the bill OF Senator a.
w. Buriingame. Jr., to restrict police
espionage on the telephone had been
rushed through the preliminary stages in
, both branches OF the Legislature with
record breaking rapdity.
The outlook indicated that the measure
would come UP for "a vote late to-day.
Commissioner Woods went to Albany
yesterday. having left the city about
noon.
Expected PerJured Evidence.
In explaining how the police came to
enter the tangled charities situation.
Deputy Commissioner Lord told the Dis
trict Attorney--and later the reporter
that Commissioner Woods had found
that perjury had been and would he
committed in the inquiry before Com
+ missioner Charles II. Strong. appointed
by the Governor to examine charges
brought by John A. kingsbury. Charities
Commissioner. against the State Board
Of Charities.
THE information" said the Deputy
Commissioner. came from reliable
source. On the strength OF this the Com
missioner directed the detective bureau
to tap the wires
Mr.. Lord told District Attorney Swami
that the Police Department then took
the regular step of sending q form lettA.'
to the New York Telephone Company
requesting permission to cut in on tn
! lines to get Information for official pui
poses. Three applications were filed
successfully. according to Mr. Lord. on
March !. u and 20
on those days the lines that were
thrown open TO the police led to the
homes of the Rev. Father William u.
. Farrell. pastor Of the Roman Cathohc
Church OF IS. Peter and Paul. Brooklyn :;
D.. Daniel q. Potter. eN-Baptlst clergy
man and former head OF the ambulance
board. and Dean Potter, his son All
Commissioner Strong in his inquiry to
fix the authorship OF the so-called Far
rel, pamphlets attacking the commits
sion.
StenOgraphers Copied Talks.
For several days after the wires were
tapped stenographers in downtown po-
lice station listened in and made notes
OF the conversations. Neither father
Farrell. Dr. Potter nor his son. the Dep
uty Commissioner asserted. was involved
in the perjury charge, but II was thought
trat they would furnish information con-
cerninR the statements OF fourth man.
What we did get was OF value, Mr
, Lord said. I'VE did IN this case wha'
We have done In hundreds or others
in the Ciondorf case, for instance. There
is no difference between this method and
that of placing a dictaRraph III man :
been an invaluable aid TO the department
in the detection OF crime. ! can say
that from my experience a. head ol
I ! the detective bureau.
The Deputy Commissioner had gone
to the Criminal Courts Building aftel
receiving notification from the Distric
Attorney Of the latters visit at noon tt
G the Office OF John J., Swayze, senera
counsel for the telephone company
There Mr.. Swayze explained with :
diagram the mechanical arrangement BY
which an outsider could Jack In oi
a wire. He also gave Judge Swami tn
name OF the member OF the city admins
= tration who had authorized me com
pany to tap the three wires In Brooklyn
There is no charge against the teie
phone company at ALL, SAID tne Dis
tric, Attorney on his return. THE OF
: ncials are Obliged to furnish informa
,ion to any officer whose duty II is Il
prosecute offences.
l. AS the District Attorney had beei
: assured that officials of the compail!
we're ready to relate their story 10 Tn
Grand Jury. Judge Swami. was aske'
l. if he would have this body take up tn
: case.
Inauiry Far From Closed.
= "I don't think" he replied. "fron
II what | have learned to-day that ! vii
!, present the matter to the Grand Jury
8 i don't know what further steps l wi
Q take. But my investigation IN not close
by any means.
. when asked II he did not think tn
= .snying' was counter to section 55.
q suhdiyision /. OF the Penal Law.
q said the paragraph reads as follows:
II "a person who 'vrongfully obtains O
u attempts to obtain any knowledge Of
Is teleQraphic or a telephone message b