Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-24

Ward denounced from many pulpits
throughout the city yesterday.
Plans for the citizens protest rally
scheduled for next Thursday in the Acad-
emy % Music. virtually have been COM
pleted.
The fact that Senator McNichol Is TO be
called as witness at the hearing of the
Mayor and his codefendants became known
through a statement issued by former Judge
Gordon.
Asked II there was anything additional
which no could make public respecting the
crimes in the Fifth Ward, Judge Gordon
said
Il have obtained abundant testimony that
Special officer wirtschafter the night be-
fore the election del a company Of New York
gunmen in its attackup on the Fiulettcr Club.
WirtsChafter fired the shot through the
window and, followed by tho gunmen
rushed into tho club. breaking open the
door. one Of the gunmen whom he led was
the man who murdered Policeman Eppley
Wirtschafter and the other officers and the
gunmen struck right and left at the per-
sons In the club and blackjaCked at least
score. Lieutenant Bennett was outside
at the time not far from the clubhouse.
The Importance Of this fact Is that the
police are thus shown to have been in charge
Of the gunmen the day before the election
committing acts of brutality. Nevertheless,
Lieutenant Bennett and Wirtschafter and
the other guilty policemen are stiu retained
| in charge OF the district by the Director Of
Public Safety, who refuses to remove the
lieutenant on the reasonable request of the
District Attorney and in the interest Of a
| fpll and honest investigation
One OF the four gunner held in New
| York. liuggicro Falcone, known to gang
sters as Jimmie the Flash" was identified
as having been seen In Philadelphia on
primary election day In an automobile with
! Isaac Deutsch Ware district leader and
! Eddie J. Abraps, a constable.
Lieutenant Bennett who Is accused With
Deutsch and Mayor Smith. asserted, this
morning that he is innocent of any con-
| Spiracy to commit murder and that as soon
as he gathers more evidence he will bring
| suit against lsadore stern, who swore to
the athdavit against him, on charge Of
criminal Tibet
Il know nothing about these men who
have been arrested promised no one protec-
| ton and ! attempted to do my duty" said
| bennett today. 81 will bring suit against
lsadore Stern for criminal libel as soon
| as get more evidence, for | am not i'm
| plicated in this matter
Il firmly believe that some of Carey S
| old political enemies imported these men
| into the ward for the purpose of getting
| even with him for the things he did TO
! them years ago They were brought in
| here so late that neither I nor my men
/ GOT onto them in time to prevent trouble.
| 1t was a complete surprise to me.
They accuse me of having been on the
/ sidewalk when the Finletter Club Uhc Carey
\ ward political club was raided on the night
/ before election, | can prove that I was not
| there and that Judge Gordon lied about It,
| for | was at City Hall with Superintendent
I Robinson making arrangements for a detail
| of policemen for election day As soon as
| I heard Of the incident 7 hurried back TO
| the station house TO see what should be
! done.
THE best proof that | had no intention
that a thing Of this kind should happen was
| that there were seven policemen az each
! polling place. II / had intended that there
| should be trouble Of this kind ! certainly
| would not have asked for so many police
| men for the ward. Nor would have placed
| so many of them at the polling places"
Later, Bennett adopted the taCiturn policy
pursued by his codefendant. Mayor Smith
and his chief" Director Wilson When
questioned as to what he meant by saying
| that he obeyed orders from his superiors he
asked for paper and pencil. ON obtaining