The sun., 1919-08-24
PROSECUTOR TAKES
UP DICTAPHONE CASE
Cannot Learn Why Detectives
EayGsdropped at Home Of
Nathan Newman.

Supplementing police inquiry into
the mystery surrounding the instalment
OF three dictaphones in the apartment of
Nathan Newman at 143 East Twenty
seventh street. Ferdinand Pecora, As
sistant District Attorney, called before
him several witnesses yesterday after
noon to determine, II possible, the motive
for the alleged eavesdropping by private
detectives on the Newman family, the
discovery of which Thursday night by
Mr.. Newman resulted In three arrests
for disorderly conduct
Mr.. Newman's attorney, E. L. Per-
kins, has brought the matter to the at
tention Of the District Attorneys office.
and Mr.. Pecora will appear tomorrow
to prosecute the charges against An
thony Senes and Harry Van Pelt,, OF the
Senes Detective Agency. and Jack Jacob
son when the case of these three come
up for n hearing in Yorkville Court.
The apartment OF Newman, who Is
dealer in antiques, was wired by the
detectives several weeks ago. They
gained admittance to the place under the
guise OF electricians sent by q lighting
company to fix defective insulation.
Mr.. Newman and his wife were away
on a trip to the Pacific coast at the
time. In the meantime, while the
apartment was being occupied only by
their four grown up children, one son
and three daughters. the listening in
hy the detectives, who quartered them
selves in a basement storeroom, was
said to have been going on for upward
of two hours every night. The caves
dropping came to sudden grief Thurs
day night, when Mr.. Newman surprised
the detectives and caused their arrest.
Mr.. Newman is greatly mystified by
the overlapping. and no possible motive
has BEEN suggested thus far as a result
of thel inquiry conducted by the police
and Mr.. Newman's attorney. Mr..
Pecora's examination yesterday OF
Nathan NJ. Barbour. the janitor of the
apartment building, cast a CLINT OF light
on the matter. Barbour said the detec-
| tives had informed him they desired to
overhear conversations of the Misses
| Newman relating to the meeting place
of a certain gambling ring of which the
| girls were supposed to have knowledge
Barbour told Mr.. Pecora that subse-
quently he had heard the detectives
speaking of listening for evidence which
certain Mr.. II. was most anxious
to obtain. Barbour volunteered the
| information that the detectives mac
promised him $40 II he would keep track
| of the license numbers Of all the auto
| MOBILES llat urONe up 10 IHe apartment
| house.
| Others questioned by Mr. Pecora were
Mrs. Fanny Levy. owner of the fla
building. and Aaron Levy, her son, who
had vouched for the detectives to Bar
bour Mrs. Levy said she did not know
about the installation of the dictaphon'
I until after her return recently from
Saratoga. She had no idea of the ex
act use to which they were being put
she said.
Neither of the detectives has giveI
any explanation of the matter, Sene
Insisting that all the facts will com,
cut at the hearing tomorrow. Mr.. Pc
cora said It is not at all improbable tina
the detectives may have blundered II
the carrying out Of their eavesdroppinI
plans by laying their wires in the wronl
house.
Regarding the charge that she or an,
member of her family had knowledg
of a gambling ring of any sort. Mis-
Adele Newman, youngest daughter o
Mr.. Newman. said last night:
1.-THE allegations made by Mr.. Bar
bour to the assistant prosecutor have n,
foundation whatever, and, in behalf o
my sisters, I wish to enter a denial 4
his statements"