New-York tribune., 1918-02-12
Goes on Leave of Absence
After Interview With
Commissioner Enright
Retirement Predicted
Costigan Loses Staff and the
Hotel Squad Is
Abolished
By George Clarke Cox


Chief Inspector James F. Dillon of
tho Police Department wound up yes-
terday the first day he has been at his
desk since December % by going on
a twenty days leave Of absence. Com.
missioner Enright made the announce
ment at s:15 o'clock last night. after a
conference. from which Chief Dillon
emerged making no effort to conceal
his anger.
A few minutes later Commissioner
Enrlght casually announced shake-up
In the Detective Bureau which practi-
cally wipes out the staff of lnspector
Honest Dan" Costigan, abolishes tho
MOTEL squad and reduces to second grade
seven first grade detectives. amonr
whom IS Isabelle Goodwin, who had the
distinction of being the only first grade
woman detective on the force
The extended leave of absence for
Cnlet DILLON forecasts, tho eve Bows"
Of the department feel certain. tho rc.
tlrement OF the chief, for it is usual
TO allow u leave Of twenty days when
ranking official of the department is
to quit.
Chief Dillon arrived at Headquarters
yesterday prepared for unpleasantness.
nc had been at City Hall to visit
Mayor Hylan, and, while neither he.
the Mayor nor Commissioner Enright
would say what transpired it is known
that he went to Headquarters with the
knowledge that no one in authority
would deny publicly the persistent
rumor that he was to lose the chief
lnspectorship.
Found His Office Occupied
He found his Office occupied by In
spcctor "Father John" Daily, who was
appointed acting Chief Inspector on
january 23 by order of Mayor Hylan.
AS the day wore on and the Commis-
soner failed to send Daily back to his
old command, Broadway, the chief left
the building in a rage.
After business hours he saw Mayor
Hylan .again. Later Commissioner En-
right also conferred with the Mayor.
At 7:45 o'clock Chief Dillon came out
OF the Commissioners office and saw
agely replied Nothing to say" when
asked for u statement. Commissioner
Enright, suave and smiling, said that
the chief had been granted leave of
absence, refused to say whether or not
Dillon had asked for it. and when asked
replied that he was not dealing in
futures"
Revived Old Report
The days happenings revived and
the report that, with Dill
lon out Of the way Acting Inspector
Dominick Henry, head of the Inspectors
and Captains Benevolent Association
and personal friend of the Commits
sioner. would be made chief inspector.
Inspector DAILY, who was sent to Head
quarters as acting chief to create a
vacancy in the Board of Inspectors
which allow the promotion of Henry
Ga captain until January 24) to the
rank of inspector, will be made bor-
ough inspector of Manhattan, accord
ing to the report, John O'Brien being
slated for reduction to captaincy.
The shake-up in the Detective Bureau
has been expected since the appoint
ment of Inspector John j. Cray as
head of the bureau, but the wiping out
of Inspector Costigan's staff, which for
more than five years has carried on the
confidential work of the department,
caused the liveliest speculation as to
whether or not Inspector Costigan was
to be relieved Of his assignment. He
is now working with District Attorney
Swami on the gambling situation.