New-York tribune., 1919-11-07
Jurors Said to Be Looking
Into Blue Book That
Will Take Lid OFF Vice
Graft of Recent Years
1'rusader'' 81 Smith
Is Asked to Help
Assistant District Attor.
ney Says He Will Go
Limit Making Expose

Tho extraordinary grand fury. which
jettisoned District Attorney Swami as
pilot and sought to sslve him as q
witness with the customary request
thst he waive immunity, got flying
start yesterday on q general inve stiga-
ton OF the HyIan administration, with
particular regard to police conditions.
James E. Smith. one Of the District
Attorneys assistants. who aroused
the jealousy of Inspector Dominick
Henry year ago by his long herald
ed raids along Broadway, apparently
has been selected TO steer the inquiry,
temporarily at least.
Mr.. Smith went into the grand fury
room early and stayed late. he was
accompanied by g train Of process
servers bearing documents, among
which was believed to be the "Blue
Book of hidden police scandals. Sew
cgal illnesses were examined By Mr..
was said that he would conduct the
examination Of others TODAY and had
nsen asked to take charge of the in
curry for the prosecution OF which the
grand jury rejected his chief.
The Dough- Bag" Man
With the advent of Mr.. Smith as
guide to the grand Jurors, such phrases
as the dough bag man wide open
own "a high city official" and "a
police official" began to fit about
ny seriously. Mr. Smiths only state
mont for publication was that ne would.
go the limit" in helping me grand
i4ry.
One Of the first matters 70 be taken
Up, it is thought, will be the investigs-
'ion of reports that city officials, 'r-
cludlng representative of the Police
Department. met at Atlantic City with
bosses Of neither New York, 10 plan
for an open town" and their individual
prosperity. According to the story. IN
old time gambler who cherlshes recol-
'ections of the good old days" aeclined
al invitation 20 attend the conference
on learning Of the scope of its plans,
declaring that they were SO liberal
as 70 hN unsafe.
it Vss the opening Up of the Broad
way district or a scale unheard of in
any American city that was the topic
discussed a. this meeting, It WAS said
Il VS. o,er TINS district that Mr. Smiths
rya "l .usader," Henry. presdes as
police .r rector.
III. h6eld May Re Called
Oae o. the men mentioned as prob
shl- es-ly witness In the inquiry is
David Hrshtied, Commissioned Of Ac.
counts and long time political ally CT
Mayor Nylan. As Commissioner of Ac-
counts cae of Mr. Hirshfelds duties
TO Investigate laxity in city depart
nenis, and he recently made d report
- District Attorney Swami on the
gambling situation in New York which
never has become public nor, it is said,
resulted in any increased police &C
tlglty
Various officials Of the Police De-
psrtment also were mentioned as likely
to be called before the grand jury 1t
was before q grand jury engaged in q
similar quest that Captain Daniel E.
Costigan, recently reduced from the
rank of inspector, gained his sobri-
quet Honest Dan"
Some Of the grand Jurors are said
70 believe that the inquiry they are
undertaking will have results as far
reaching as that which followed the
murder Of Herman Rosenthal, the gam
bier, by Bald Jack Roses gunmen at
the behest of Charles Becker. the po-
lice lieutenant.
That they believe the nature of the
inquiry to be one to inspire fear in
certain potent c.iQues of the under
world WAS evidenced by reports in cir
culation about the grand jury room
that private detectives were dogging
the steps of grand jurors.
Result of Interborough Inquiry
TIE present broad inquiry was un-
dertaken, it is said, as q result Of in
formation obtained from official docu-
ments subpenaed by the grand jury in
connection with its initial task of de-
term!ning whether marlborough off,
clalS had conspired with members of
the employees brotherhood to call the
subway strike. More than one city de-
partment will be under fire, 1t is said,
before the investigation is closed
Evidence that the Police Depa rtment
was 70 be the first was seen. however,
not only in the activity of Mr.. Smith,
but IN the calling yesterday Of Detec
tive Sergeant Paul Martin as a witness.
Martin is now working with the Mayors
Committee on Rent Proftecring, but
formerly was on the staff of Second
Deputy Police Commissioner William
j. Lahey, who has charge Of the Detec-
tive Bureau.
The Blue Book" which seems to
play prominent part at this stage
OF tho grand jury Investigation. was
complied by Mr.. Smith. 1t Is said to
CONAN 900 pages, every one Of which
deals with secret and often scandalous
snsloc history Of the Police Depart
eight years.
organized vice and gambling and the
relAtlon Of the police thereto are said
20 occupy large part Of the book
before entering the grand jury room
}esterday Mr.. Smith had long con-
txs1ence with Raymond F. Almirall,
foreman of Shs grand jury.