New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-22
Most of Victims in
City, U. S. Begins
Great Vice Hunt.
KNOX IN CHARGE
OF PROSECUTIONS
Dupes, Despite Wealth or
Prominence, Must Be
Witnesses.
'By Telegraph N n. Tribune J

Washington, Sept. 2l.-A vice hunt
that promises bigger game than the
white slave investigation is to start in
New York under the supervision Of
special agents Of the Department of
Justice. The trail OF the blsckmail
syndicate unearthed in Chicago leads
20 New York. and the indications are
that not only was the headquarters Of
the ring there. but most of the victims
were Fasteners.
John c. Knox, Assistant United
States Attorney General in New York,
was designated to-day 20 take charge
of the prosecution of the cases against
the men already arrested and that in
which Mrs. Regina Klipper, Of Phila-
delphia, is the complainant, will be
tried there, probably next month.
When the Department of Justice men
gathered for consultation and compari-
son Of notes to-day it was found that
oil the evidence pointed TO New York
as the headquarters of the blackmail-
ers. There were indications that some
of the richest hauls had been made
there, and that some of the victims
were men and women whose names are
we'll known.
Victims Cannot Stop Action.
Neither wealth nor official position
is TO be allowed to stop the hunt. 1t
is believed that with the Federal gov
ernment behind the inquiry New York,
with its reputation for Investigations
that never reveal so much as they hint
at. will be shocked out Of its COM
placency.
ave have not yet found any case
that does not have a New York end"
said A. Bruce Bielaski, chief of the in
vestigation bureau, after to-day's con-
ference. "All of them trail in the East.
There are some more cases of bogus
arrests about which We have informa-
ton. They occurred in the East. and
they are part of the operations Of the
same gang.
There are undoubtedly good many
other offences which are not within our
urisdiction-cases of regular shake
downs without violating the Federal
laws by posing as government officers
or threatening people with prosecution
under the Mann act. About one-third
of the cases we have so far found in
this blsckmailing investigation have
been violations OF the Mann act, the
other two-thirGs being blsckmailing in
connection with immoral relations.
$50 far we nave record OF twenty
five members Of the gang, although
this number, because of aliases, may
include some Implications"
Informer Is Threatened.
Although the revelations of Frank
Crocker. who is the principal witness
for the government against the others
accused Of the conspiracy by which
Mrs. Klpper was swindled, are expect
cd TO be of the utmost value in the
New York quest, it is doubtful if he
will be taken to that city before the
trial.
Despite the guards that have sur
rounded him. threats against his life
have reached him. To take him TO the
headquarters of the gang he has be
trayed would be an unnecessary risk.
it IS thought. The precautions taken
to protect him will be doubled. and
until the trial takes place next month
few will know his hiding place.
After the Klpper case has been dis
posed of the others will be brought to
trial as fast as they can be prepared.
The preparation of the cases for trial
and the prosecution of the search for
the blackmsilers who still are at lib
erty are regarded as separate enter
prises, and neither will be neglected