New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Swami Threatens
To Air Squabble
With Enright
Prosecutor Says He Will
Take Case to "Court of
Public Opinion"

The controversy between District At
torney Swami and Police Commissioner
Enright regarding the transfer Of In
spector Honest" Dan Costigan from
the prosecutors Office to "clean up"
lower East Side stuss games reached
point yesterday where District Attor-
ney Swami, in talking with newspaper
men, made yelled threats to take his
side of the controversy to the "court
OF public opinion" Just what meaning
! he intended to convey in the cryptic
remark Mr.. Swami would not define.
Police Commissioner Enright COM
mpnicated by telephone yesterday with
the District Attorney and expressed re-
gret that so much publicity had been
given to his action in assigning In
spector "Honest" Dan Costigan to clean
up the First Inspection District, when
the District Attorney had been trying
to get Costigat. and all his vice squad
assigned to his office with a "roving"
commission to get evidence against
gamblers anywhere in Manhattan.
Calls Transfers Unfortunate
"If l find can't get results without
the undivided time of Inspector Costi-
gan I'll submit the facts to the public
I'll let the public be the jury and let
them decide what should be done"
said Mr.. Swami.
When asked to explain just what ne
meant by the remark, the prosecutor
said:
Il shan't say what I'll do at this
time"
Mr.. Swami went on to say that it
was "a most unfortunate coincidence"
that Commissioner Enright had seen
TIT to transfer several of Costigan's S
men who have done good work in get
ting evidence against gambling resorts
thus far. He cited the case of Floyd
horton, who took part in the raid on
.beansy" Rosenfelds place, at 1OS
East Seventeenth Street. A few days
later Horton was denoted and sent to
brooklyn. Robert Hickson, another Of
Costlgan's men who has also done good
work, Mr.. Swami said, had been de-
moted IN salary and given silver
shield instead OF a gold shield, and
made to report to the lieutenants in
the precincts where he now works.
No Reasons Given
most
fortunate that these men were trans
ferred at this time. Commissioner En-
right assured me to-day that if | only
knew his reasons for trans erring then,
would agree heartily with him." said
Mr. Swami.
"Did the Commissioner divulge his
reasons to you?" was asked.
He did not" Mr.. Swami replied.
another matter which do not like"
continued the prosecutor. "is this. A
systematic attempt has been made to
injure the regulations of Costiran and
my assistant, MIR. Smith False charges
against their honesty have been borne
direct by certain persons to Mayor Hy-
Ian himself. When l went to see the
Mayor last week concerning the COST
gan assignment, the Mayor told me
what he had heard.
after convincing the Mayor Of the
falsity of the stories, the Mayor asked
me to send Mr.. Smith down to him
with the record Of what has been done
thus far in the John Doe gambling
inquiry. Mr.. Smith went down to City
Hall and had two-hour conference
with the Mayor, and the latter became
90 interested in his knowledge of police
and gambling conditions that he had
written notes himself and asked Mr..
Smith to report regularly to him when
he returns from Florida"
Inquiry to Go On
Have any 1ammany district leaders
approached you regarding the move
against gamblers? 2" Mr.. Swami was
asked.
"Not one!" he replied with emphasis.
NO, sir, they don't dare to do it. even
if they might want to. tell you now
that no mattcr what hnppens-no mat
ter whether there is police cooperation,
hearty or otherwise-thc inquiry is 60
ing on, and any attempt to stop it is
doomed to failure. If I can't get at
what I want without the aid of Costi-
gan, and If the Commissioner won't
give him to me as would like to have
him--to report solely to me-then the
results will nave to be accomplished
in some other way"
Jack SulIiunr7 Is Held