New-York tribune., 1919-11-08
Every Habitue of White
Light District To Be
Questioned Regarding
Link With Department
Full Information
Expected To-day
1nquisitors to Take Up
Calling Off of Gaming
and Vice Raids i'm 1913

ne" Iork'S white light district is
about to be subjected to a thorough
combing for evidence of direct link
that is believed to connect the under
world and the Police Department.
Process servers FOR the extraordi-
nary grand jury now investigating the
machinery OF the Hylan administration
are expected to set out early to day in
search OF witnesses who can answer
significant questions concerning a
gambling ring, vice clique and their
relations with the Police Department.
1t was said last night that many men
and women in the city known to have
made what Broadway calls "a smart
livipga during the last five years would
be called before the inquisitoral body
and asked to whom in the Police De-
partmcnt they reported. The questions
are expected to be supported with nu-
merous reminders that will jog poor
memories, most of which have been
taken from the departments "Blue
Book" as kept by James E. Smith, As
slstant District Attorney.
Full Evidence Expected To-day
Reports Of these renewed activities
OF the grand jury were heard in the
Criminal Courts Building yesterday
Immediately after long conference
between Mr. Smith and Raymond c.
Almirall, foreman. Neither principal
in the conference would disclose the
nature of the program outlined by
them, but the prosecutor admitted he
pNnnCtnH tn ", l. I, i
been attempting to learn for long
time" before to-day is over
In addition to members of the under
world who are to be called as wit
ncsses before the grand jury, it is said
at least three men who can be relied
upon to defy other influences and tell
the truth about the Police Department
doubtless will be questioned by the
jurors. Two of these, it was said are
Honest Dan" Costigan. formerly head
of the city's vice squad. who was re-
duced and transferred for the good
of the service and John W. Golf jr,
formerly Deputy Police Commissioners
who supported CoStgan in his veled
protests when he was declared to have
been hampered in his activities for re-
form by the Hylan administration The
name of the third witness was not
mentioned.
Calling OF Raids Question
One of the questions the jurors want
answered at once, is why Assistant
District Attorney Smith was called off
when he was conducting successful
raids on gambling houses and other re-
sorts of the underworld last year At
that time Mayor Hylan wrote letter
to District Attorney Swami in which
the raids We're unfavorably commented
upon.
Although Mr.. Smith would not dis
yesterday, he was said to have told
members of the jury that he made the
raids himself because the police were
not giving the assistance he had a
right to expect. Why he suddenly
ceased to make them he would not say.
District Attorney Swami said he was
ready to give the jurors any informal
tion that might be asked of him. H
refused to discuss the Hylan letter
which probably Will be called for on
Monday.
Blue Book" Fascihates Swami
Mr.. Swami admitted he had read the
BLUE Book" and That he had found it
the most Fascinating reading can
imagine" He said it was direct and
to the point, including names, dates
and places, wherever charges of any
sort were made
AS an illustration of the sort of in
formation to be acquired by reading
this book, this paragraph was quoted:
"On October % Inspector went
to Forty second Street and - Ave
nue., met man known as -,
talked to him a few minutes, held out
his hand and was given S.
The blanks were introduced only in
the recital of facts by the reader of
the Blue Book" There is none in
the book, however. 1t deals only in
information OF the most specific va
riety.
Silk Robberies Investigated
Investigation by the grand jury took
new turn during the day when AL
fred Wetmore, a private detective as
soclated with an organization that
watches the property OF large bust
ness houses, was called before the in
quisitors. The jurors were attempting
TO learn more about the 81 100000 silk
robberies of the last year, it was said,
and the reason why It was necessary
for business houses to seek outside aid
in protecting themselves against bur
glars.
A representative of the Mutual Dry
Goods Protective Association either
was called or will be called before the
jury Monday morning The question
ing of the witness also is expected to
deal with silk robberies.