The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-22
ENRIGHT LAYS CITY
CRIME TOEX- TROOPS
Rehabilitation Here Blamed
for Evidence Of Grim
inal Activity.
HE EULOGIZES POLICE
Religious Bolshevik, Who
Steals as Part Of Rite, Sent
to Bellevue. ..'
HE EULOGIZES POLICE

yesterday. Speaking at the luncheon at
the Hotel Pennsylvania, attended by $50
members Of the Broadway Association,
the Commissioner made only re-
strained mention Of the Police Depart
ment. except to refer to II as the best
police department In tho world and to
defend 1t from the imputation OF
''crime wave" and other criticism re-
Gently levelied against It.
Whatever evidences of criminal ten
dency have been observable the Commits
sioner ascribed to the influence OF SOL
diers and sailors who had been demobll-
lied in this city. far from their own
feather beds. He repeated his urgent
suggestion to the War Department that
these men be discharged from the SER
vice by their own local draft boards
and turned loose to feed in their own
home towns,
Though Francis NJ. Hugo. another
speaker at the luncheon. delivered a
glowing eulogy Of the work Of the Citi-
zens Union. Commissioner Fnright
seemed to feel that this subject had
been dealt with sufficiently by the other
orator. He made no mention OF this
organization, nor of their letter to
Mayor Hylan. And. so far as the Com
missioner's address is a criterion, the
affair of Honest Dan" Costigan's reduc-
ton to a captaincy simply doesn't exist
any more.
There has been no impairment" the
Commissioner said, "in tho work OF the
Police Department and no let UP In its
activities. I solicit your good will In the
support Of tho department Notwith-
standing the emotional ideas and criti-
cisms which have been expressed In
some circles, still think you will con-
cede that the New York Police DEPART
ment Is the best in the world.
Unrest Of Labor shown.
Then the Commissioner took up the
situation developing in this city as the
soldiers and sailors are demobilized In
the vicinity.
THE great unrest in labor circles"
Commissioner Enright said. coupled
with the return of soldiers who wish to
stay here. or at least to play here until
their money is gone. may bring about a
serious eituation. I have been in WASH
sngton, where asked the officials of the
War Department to have soldiers taken
back to their local boards for dernobili-
zstion instead of having them demoeil-
ICED at nearby camps The War De-
partment. however. has disagreed with
me. though the Provost Marshal agrees
with my plan.
"with the soldiers being demobilized
In nearby camps, when they are released
from the army and given money for
their car fare home they are also re-
leased from discipline. In many In
stances as many as go per cent. come
here to New York. In most cases they
leave their money here and II they de-
part eventually. they leave less able
spiritually and physically to meet the
situations that confront them.
'sNot only that ~ aOldiara re-
main here patriotic citizens give them
preference, in employment. so that q
soldier who Is a single man takes the
work needed by worker who has In
many instances a large family to sup
port. II the men are taken home and
demobillzed and there turned back into
the tide of economic conditions they will
help out where labor Is needed and no.
interfere with conditions here"
AS an instance bearing out his re-
marks the Commissioner alluded to the
series of robberies recently in Brooklyn
and "the arrest and confession Of three
sailors to twelve holdups"
Theft Called Religion.
The city was treated yesterday tc
something new in the form of religious
Bolshevism'' This was the creed prac.
ticed by John Coffee. as he freely ad-
United himself when he was arrested ir
Stern Bros. on West Forty-second
street by Eugene Orth. a store detec.
tive, on a charge of stealing two over.
coats. When Coffee was arraigned ir
Yorkvile court he sa;d with much con.
viction: ...
These thefts are the result of inspira.
lions. am in the world to teach re-
ligion, I believe in religious Bolshe
vism. but I do not believe In taking
things by force. l never take things By
force. I use the energy Of my hands
and I am guided by my inspirations
which are particularly my own. No. sir
do not belong to any cult"
Assistant District Attorney Samuel
Berger read a record in court showing
that Coffee had served several prison
terms in Providence. Philadelphia and
this city. He was sent to Bellevue fol-
observation.
PatrOlman Ii Indicted.
John Morris. 81 years old, OF 1925
Boston road, The Bronx, a patroman
attached to the Alexander avenue sta
ton, was indicted yesterday by the
Bronx Grand Jury on charges of rob-
berry. grand larceny and assault. Ac.
cording to the charges in the indict-
ment. on January II he entered the
grocery store of Andrew Davy at 707
Melrose avenue and held up Louis Ros.
seau. the clerk In charge of the store
Mrs. Jeanne Lorraine of ll6 Yves,
eeventy-second street failed yesterday "a
identify any detectives in a Lineup al
police headquarters as the three who
-R believes fSF"Nd her to--EiSS .Sls5
% them on November 90 ~s~-
While Abraham Solomon, n tailor OF
eb1 Fox street, The Bronx, was HAVING
Bernard Richardson, 10. Of 304 East
1Ssth street. The Bronx. arraiEned ir
Harlem court on a charge OF HAVING
fobbed him on Thursday night. Solo.
mon espied James Short, IS. OF les
East Tooth street, sitting In the rear oil
the court room as a spectator.
Solomon told detective that thi,
man was the other member of III,
boldup pair. and he was promptly ar.
raigned. Both were held In $4,000 bal
for the Grand Jury. In the West Side
court Archie Stewart. 10, of 4Ob West
F1fty-1fth street. was said to have con.
fessed to two holdups and was held
for the Grand Jury In $4,000 ball
During the rush hour last night CT
vallo Marco OF 1914 West Fifty-fftl
street. was standing on the northbount
elevated platform at Fourteenth street
Two men described as John Fiorante OF
1S9 Chrystie street and Dominick Fantc
OF S3 Forsyth street, sided UP TO him
Marco says Fiorante drew a revolver
and ordered him to throw UP his hand,
while Fanto attempted 20 go through hi,
pockets His shouts led 10 the captur,
Of the two.