New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-18
Officials Can Cut In on
Telephone Talks With
out Discovery.
DISCLOSURE FOLLOWS
CHARGES BY PRIESTS
Conversations Used in Charities
Investigation, Catholics
Allege.

An investigation Of the charges made
by Catholic priests that their telephone
conversations had been overheard by
,nies has disclosed complete systems
maintained by the New York Telephone
Company and the New York Police De-
nsrtment by which officials of the COM
psny and department can, without the
knowledge Of the connecting operator
~. in on any telephone in Greater
New York.
District Attorney Swami, following
conference with Alfred J. Talley,
counsel for the Rev. William b. Farrell
and DR.. Daniel c. Potter, announced
Yesterday that a Mr.. Dryer, chief CLERK
n the telephone compsny's general
managers Office, and a Nh Onasch,
commemorative Of the executive depart
ment Of the company, would appear IN
his office this morning 10 explain how
tabs could be kept on telephone con-
versstions.
For a time after the priests are al
legged 10 have discovered that their
telephone talks were being intercepted
II was thought that it was being done
by means Of tapping the wires. This
system is followed by the companys
men in locating trouble on telephone
wires. They use portable telephones
which they can connect with any tele-
phone at the street poles, roofs or
fences where the wires are located.
system Found Successful.
The SECRET service" system now IN
use. however, is much more complete
and brings better results. Tapping
telephone wire has its danger in that
the operator making connection may
possibly detect the cut-in unless the
tapping is done by ar expert. Inc
other system prevents the operator
from knowing that the conversation Is
being heard By a third party.
Some years ago the company learned
that many of its operators were lnso-
lent or unbusinesslike and that others
wasted considerable time holding per
sonal conversations with subscribers.
They had the supervisor OF the eI-
change equipped with a telephone that
permitted the supervisor 10 go IN on
any wire in the exchange. But the
system was not a success. Inc opera
tor could always say, IN her deience'
that the supervisor was wrong.
Il was, therefore, decided 10 expert
ment with stenographers. a special
switchboard vas installed and operated
bv men. When an operator was sus-
pected, one OF the stenographers would
watch the wires she operated, keeping
a record of all conversations not strict
ly in the performance of duty, or IN
solent answers.
Board of Control Installed.
The system proved so successful that
further experimenting was INDUCED H.
with the result that II was found prac,,
ticable 20 install q board with control
over all telephone exchanges, lnciud-
ing those in Brooklyn.
This proved even more successful
than those who planned it had hoped
for and IL was decided TO use the sys-
tenn for other purposes than TO check
up employees. If the company had rea-
son 10 suspect thar subscriber was
not I'd TO the standard insisted on ny
the company. for instance, watcn
would be maintained.
The Police Department, learning Of
the new system, hailed II with JOY. -
meant for them the elimination OF al
risk 20 policemen and detection OF their
designs in seeking evidence against
violators Of the law, particularly
rambling houses dependent on the tele-
phone for results Of races, etc.
Several Men Work System.
II was impossible yesterday TO get
INV executive OF the company TO de-
scribe in detail the working Of the
system. but II was learned that there
are several men assigned 20 the system
In Police Headquarters one man does
the work, usually one Of the patrolmen
assigned as telephone operator on the
regular department switchboard. The
policeman is put on the work only when
conditions warrant II.
When a telephone is being watched
the lifting Of the receiver Of that IN
strument causes light 20 appear and
a drop" 20 fall, disclosing d ngure
The operator consults his list and fnds
the name Of the subscriber. lie then
cuts in on the line and makes stcno-
graphic notes Of what IS said II rs I'm.
POSSIBLE. however, for the operator Of
The secret service" board TO tell where
an incoming call is registered from.
The priests who have made the
charge that their telephones were tam
pered with Father Farrell. MonNgnors
Nooncy and Dunn, the New YORK d.
rectors Of Catholic charities, and The
Rev. DR.. Higgins, supervisor OF Cath,
lie chari'ics In the Long Island diocese
have charged that their converse
L IONS we're used by william ii. Hotch-
kiss, counsel o. the Strong state Board
Of Charities investigation, 20 BRING oLt
testimony.
Farrell Lays Trap.
Father Farrell said last night that
be and William S. Butler, mis- personal
counsel, suspccting that their telephone
conferences were being checked up de-
liberstely, planned a catch message %
verify their suspicion. Father Farrell
said he asked Butler 20 bring the
little yellow bag with the papers" 70 a
certain Williamsburg restaurant. The
next day, he charges, the proprietor OF
the restaurant was summoned before
commissioner Strong and asked what
he knew about "a little yellow bag
There being no such bag, the restaura.
teur knew nothing about il.
Yesterday Senator A. ". Burlinganc
OF Brooklyn. left for Albany. after an.
nOuncing tina, he would 10 into confer.
ence with Majority Leader Brown, with
view o. introducing legislation q
prevent the cutting no on telephon,
conversation, except iu tie course % a
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