New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
Councilman Held
In Philadelphia
Polls Conspiracy
w. E. Finley Arrested a.
MAN Higher Up" in
Political Plot
"Frame.Up" Is Charged
State Senator Wares Says Ac-
cused Politician Is
Innocent
TSc,4,i Ca-rcspcrdeuccl

ISpse1N Correspondence
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 29,-Select
Councilman William F. Finley, eSecu-
tive secretary of the Republican City
Committee. is under arrest to-day rs
the man higher up in the alleged con-
sniracy which led to the murder of Po
Nceman Epplcy in the 9th Ward on
primary day.
He was held in $4,000 bail. He will
he arraigned before Judge Brown in
the municipal court Tuesday, when the.
Mayor. Isaac Deutsch, and Police Lieu
tenant Bennett, also accused OF con-
spiracy, face that tribunal.
Finley has been the right-hand man
Of the Wares in downtown politics for
wears. has been the Ware floor leader
IN the Select Council and, as executive
secretary of the Republican City Com
mittee. has been a potent force in hold
inC intact the Nsre-Smith influence IN
municipal politics against the assaults
of the Penrose- McNichol faction.
Senator Ware signed Finley's bail
bond.
Finley's arrest fell as bombshsl in
the Smith-Vare camp. He had visited
DISTRICT Attorney NOtdll lucy.
whether the prosecutor summoned him
could not be learned. His arrest was
viewed by political leaders as redemp-
ton of Mr. Rotan's pledge to gather
in every one. high or low. suspected IN
the 9Th Ward outrage.
Ware Charges Frame-Up
Immediately after signing Finley's
bail bond Senator Ware said:
L.. IS An NJ N
framc-up. Bringing in Mr.. Finley is
for the purpose of trying to discredit
the regular Republican organization at
Eleventh and Chestnut Streets"
The warrant states that Finley un-
lawfully. mahciously and wickedly
combined. confederated and agreed
with Isaac DeutSch and other evil dis
posel persons to cause to be com
mitted assault and battery and muir
der.
No Evidence Against Ware
A rumor that Senator Ware also had
been arrested was promptly denied by
District Attorney Rotan. He ssidi
81 have no evidence against Mr.. Ware
vet Finley is the man TO whom have
referred as the man higher up Thus
far he is the man highest IN
Asked If IL were true that he would
resrrest Police Lieutenant Bennett,
whom Mayor Smith had refused to re-
move from command of the Sd Police
District, Mr.. ROtan said: "No. Lieu
tenant Bennett is already arrested. If
he and Deutsch had not been arrested
ny ex-JudCe Gordon | would have ar
rested him as the result of the evidence
/ now have against them. Ia .
"Nr. Finley will be heard Tuesday,
along with the Mayor, Mr.. Deutsch and
Lieutenant Bennett, on the same
charges. There win be other arrests
before the hearing. but of these ! can
not say anything at present.
Judge Gordon will require all the
evidence in the case to be brought out
1T the hearing"
As Finley and Senator Ware left the
District Attorneys Office they first re-
fused 20 talk. Finley's face was flushed
and Senator Ware was nervous and
clustered. When they reached the
ground floor of the building Senator
Ware made the terse statement quoted
above what about yourself, Mr..
Ware? he was asked. as the report
true that you may be arrested on SIM
lar charges "
you can talk to Mr.. Rotsn about
such rubbish" he replied.
Refuses TO Gust Bennett
Mayor Smith to-day refused District
Attorney Rotan's second demand thai
lieutenant David Bennett, Nere-Smith
police commander at the Third and De
iancey Street station, be transferred
so as to allow clean investigation Of
the bloody Fifth Ward" political muir
der.
The Mayor in a letter virtually called
for a "show down" on Mr.. Rotan's
charges that Lieut. Bennett took part in
the Fifth Ward factional fight and had
knowledge of the presence Of the Frog
Hollow" gunner imported from New
York, as a result of which the Mayor,
Lieutenant Bennett and Isaac Deutsch,
Vare-Smith "boss" Of the Fifth Ward,
face charges of conspiracy to murder.