The sun., 1919-02-12
Acting Mayor Moran Tells
Citizens Union He Supports
Enright's Action.
GOFF DENIES ACCURACY
Reporters Affidavit Says For
mer Deputy Approved Inter
view He Now Repudiates.

effect that John w. Con, Jr.. former
Third Deputy Police Commissioner, was
misquoted in his published interview on
the Police Department the Citizens
Union demanded an investigation of the
reduction OF Honest Dan" Costigan in
a letter TO Robert l.. Moran, acting as
Mayor while Hizzoner Us lodging train
! wrecks. breakers and other things in
the South.
The communication from the Citizens
Union asking for a public examination
by the President of the Board OF AL
| dermen OF the conduct OF Commissioners
Enright in breaking the head of the
vice squad was signed by Walter T.
| Arudt. secretary OF the organization
| which Mayor Hylan called the biggest
bunch of takers in town"
Mr.. Moran, In view of the Mayor
opposition. Immediately declined to In
terfere in the matter. The letter from
| the Citisens Union said:
The Citizens Union hereby respect
fully requests that as acting Mayor you
| order public investigation Of the facts
| and circumstances surrounding the de-
, motion Of former Inspector Costigan to
Public Entitled to Reasons.
The union Is aware, of course, that
under the law the Police Commissioner
has full power to denote an inspector to
the rank Of captain. When. however,
that power ID exercised to reduce an
officer whose long service and demon
| strated efficiency and integrity have
earned universal confidence the public Is
| entitled to clear and cogent reasons for
such action. Especially Ia this so In the
case of Capt. Costigan, because his de-
motion must certainly tend to the en-
boldening OF the lawless element In our
city.
The explanations so far advanced by
the Police Commissioner are wholly un-
satisfactory. Capt. Costigan's demotion
was originally announced without any
statement OF the reasons therefor except
that there were too many inspectors. In
response to widespread public inquiry
| the Commissioner next in a letter to
| the Mayor stated that Capt. Costigan
| had been inefficient. and gave statistics
| to support this claim Finally when the
| accuracy Of these statistics was ques-
| toned he admitted their incompleteness
and justified distrust OF their fairness.
I'm this situation IL the morale Of the
Police Department Is to be maintained
| and the powers OF disorder kept in leash
| 1t Is essential that the action of the
Police Commissioner be thoroughly and
publicly examined through unbiased in
| yestigation"
MI. Moran's Letter.
Acting Mayor Moran's letter refusing
TO investigate the matter said:
II have always believed that the Pc.
lice Department should be conducted
free from the dictates OF City Hall.
Commissioner Enright in demoting In
spector Costigan merely exercised the
power vested in him as Police Commits
sioRer OF this city. Ii Is for him TO know
who should be his competent executives.
Commissioned Enright has been
raised from the rank Of patrolman to
the executive head of the Police De-
his ability TO properly administer the
police work OF this city During the
period OF the war. when it became neces-
sary In other cities not quite so large
as ours for the Fededal authorities to
take over the management OF the police
work the police force OF the city Of
Now York was so managed that there
could be no just cause for criticism
Now the demotion OF Inspector Costigan
L
am ready to stand behind and defend
the &C, Of Commissioner Enright.
When Mayor Hylan left the city he
reposed in me the responsibility OF con-
Quoting his Office in a manner fitting to
the dignity of the Office OF Mayor. i
do not think II would be In good form,
nor in keeping with good faith, for me
TO change a condition which prevailed
at the Time he departed. therefore
which think Is intended to bring about
a state OF chaos In the Police Depart
ment OF this city rather than one Of
intended betterment during a trying pc
Rod OF unrest"
Enright TO Say No More.
The views OF the Commissioner on the
proposed inquiry could not be learned, as
II was announced through his secretary.
John C. Hackett, that the Commissioner
would deliver no more of his daily talks
on the Costlgan matter. since In his
opinion it was now ancient history.
This announcement was made when
Mr. Hackett came from the Commission
ers Office with typewriter statement
in which Mr. Con-, for whom the Com
missioner had been searching during the
last few days. was represented TO have
repudiated the interview with him
printed on Monday. The statement ran
as follows:
IAN article was published yesterday
In the New York Tribune containing n
number of statements attributed TO for
mer Third Deputy Police Commissioner
Con-, criticising the Police Department,
the Police Commissioner and conditions
In the Police Department.
Mr., Con states that he did give an
interview to a representative of the New
York Tribune. but that in the publication
of 1t he was misquoted and the state
ments he made were distorted He de-
MES that he criticised the Police Depart
ment. the Police Commissioner or con-
ditions in the Police Department. He
further states that any remarks he made
about Inspector Costigan had been com
mon rumor through the Police Depart
ment for year or more Common
rumor' In the Police Department has
been found to assay about per cent"
The statement was not signed by'Com.
missioner Enright's name or any other
signature.
Sees Reporters Amdavit.
That's all there is on the CostiRan M.
fa'r." Mr.. Hsckett said. This cuts 1t
on completely,
rs 1t true Costigan is TO he returned
as inspector to the First district"
Some people are saying that's what
is going to happen. after the publication
this morning OF figures showing Costi-
CAMS record Yes, ana I'm going to be
made Shah OF Persia"
Then he was shown an affidavit rna5a
bv the reporter for the Tribune u,ho