The sun., 1919-05-27
Newark Convicts Testify Po-
lice Captain Got 1856 for
Aiding Them.
DENIAL BY ACCUSED MAN
Jersey Detective Tells Grand
Jury of Efforts Made to
Mix Him in Case.

BILE dealing In the Police Department
came fast yesterday and caused the most
intense interest among members of the
force OF all ranks.
Three indictments were ordered by the |
Grand Jury against Capt William Frank
Peabody. commanding the 113th Pre-
cinct in Flushing, alleging conspiracy, !
petty larceny and the criminal receiving
OF stolen property. Police Commissioner
Enright Immediately suspended Capt.
Peabody from duty.
Capt. Peabody. although at first pro- f!
Tossing not to understand the reason for I
the charges against him, declared later
that jealousy on the part OF powerful
enemies within the department was the
reason. He was instructed to appear
before Judge Otto Rosalsky in General
Sessions this morning to plead to the
indictments.
Briefly. the charges against Peabody
are that he received $T55 from three
Newark pickpockets. then under indict-
ment in New Jersey. to interest himself
In their behalf and fix it, 30 they
would get light sentences. All this Is
alleged to have occurred in the fall of
| 1917, and subsequently the three were
found guilty and are now serving SEN
fences of three years in the penitentiary
at Caldwell, N. J.
knowledge that an investigation of
the activities of a police captain was I'M
{ der way has been common for some time
and in official and near official circles
| there was no secret about the identity
of the official involved. 1t was not.
however, until Capt Peabody at his own
request appeared before the Grand Jury
| yesterday, after signing a waiver of i'm.
| munity, and told his side of the case.
that the public became informed that he
was destined for third time to become
the storm centre Of police row.
Peabody to Fight Case.
When he came from the Grand Jury
room Capt Peabody admitted that he
had been or was about to be indicted on
the charges mentioned, and that he
| would be represented in subsequent pro-
ceedings either by John B. Stanchfield
or the legal firm Of House. Grossman &
Norhaus.
1t was not made exactly clear yester-
day under just what legal procedure the
! evidence against Peabody was obtained.
but the facts are that the three New
Jersey convicts, Charles Young. Joseph
Harris and Joseph Feldman were
brought in shackles from New Jersey to
tell their stories to District Attorney
Swami and the Grand Jury. This was
/ after letter had been received at the
, District Attorneys office stating that
facts regarding the conduct Of an official
of high standing in one of the city de-
partments could be given IL the District
Attorney would investigate. Albert r.
Unger, Assistant District Attorney, went
10 Caldwell and talked with the three
/ men. subsequently making arrangements
! with Prosecutor Harrison OF Essex
county. New Jersey. for their appearance
before Mr.. Swami.
! The story as given to the District At
tcrney. or as much OF it as officials of
| the Office would divulge yesterday, was
! that three Jerseymen after being ar
rested in Newark on June II. 1917,
charged with pocket picking, got in
| touch with a woman in Coney Island.
The woman. It is said, informed the
three men that she knew a New York
/ police captain who could fix things. The
trio in trouble instructed her to find out
how much 1t would cost and she is re-
things could be arranged for $1,000.
Quickly Released on Bail.
According to the story that the Jersey
men are said to have told the Dis
trict Attorney. their release on bail fol-
! lowed their interesting the Coney Island
woman in their behalf. Their story.
according to Assistant District Attorney
Unger. was to the effect that numerous
meetings between two of their number
and Peabody took place at Delmonicos
and other places. One instance of an
alleged meeting was when Young and
Harris overlook Peabody in a taxicab
in Manhattan and money was said to
have been passed.
Certain of these features of the story
Capt Peabody is said to have corrob-
GRATED in his talk with the District At
torney. He is said to have admitted
that the trio pestered him on several &C.
casIons in the belief that he was to
help them, and on representations made
TO them TO that effect by the woman.
Peabody was quoted as saying that there
was nothing unusual in his being seen
In the same place with either of the
men involved for the reason that they
were continually logging him In the
hope that he would have something
favorable to report regarding their case
Peabody, according to the story, Is
said to have given Young and Harris
the impression that he could help them
through the influence of a detective at
tached to the Newark police force, and
on the occasion OF one of the meetings
lie is alleged TO have called this man
on the telephone. This man, according
to the story told to the District Attor-
ney. was represented as being under OBJ
legations to Peabody because the latter
was said TO have advanced a substantial
sum OF money some years ago TO assist
In running down couple OF other Jer-
sey crooks who had shot the Jersey
detectives partner.
The Newark detective whose name
was brought into the case did. however.
appear before the Grand Jury after a
talk with. Mr.. Unger in which he is said
TO have admitted that Capt. Peabody IN
CURED Of him about the three men and
wanted TO know II anything could be
done for them. He was reported as hav-
ing said that Peabody intimated that
some good people" were interested In
them, but that he told the New York
officer that the men were guilty and
must go to Jail.
Advised to Plead Guilty.
The last meeting alleged to have taker
place between Peabody and the trio II
said to have been in Manhattan las
November. On this occasion. they arr
said to have told the District Attorney
Peabody advised that the best thing the,
could do was TO waive examination ant
plead guilty. This they did to each o.
the three charges against them, receiv'
ing sentences OF three years each.
The trio told the District Attorne,