Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-19
WRTSCHAFTER
WON'T TELL YET
Dismissed Patrolman Not
Ready to ''Squeal'' in 5th
Ward Case
WILL START LIFE ANEW
Declares He's Through for
Good With Police and Pc.
litical Squabbles

. NO attempt at reprisal against those
ne asserts we're responsible for his dis
mfssal from the police force will be
made at this time by John wirtschafter,
FORMER patrolman, who threatened to
tell all he knew about the Fifth Ward
conspiracy case.
TIN through with the police force
and through with politics." he said to-
day. 'and I wouldn't get mixed up
with either again IL had the chance.
I don't even think I'll ever vote again.
I'm 30 determined to keep out of politi-
cal squabbles
Il want work now. ] have a wife
and five kids and they must be sup
ported. From now on I start my life
anew-and differently"
Harry M. Berkowitz, attorney for
WHITEWATER, is securing the city in an
effort to get the deposed patrolman a
job.
wirtschafter was dismissed from the
police force yesterday following extor-
tion charges against him.
He was one of the policemen convicted
at West Chester on the Fifth Ward con-
spiracy charges. He faces a sentence
OF one year in Jail and $500 fine for his
share in the Fifth Ward outrages with
the six other convicted men, he has ap-
pealed to the Superior Court.
Had Been Kept on Force
wirtschafter was not dismissed from
the police force by Director Wilson
, when convicted at West Chester. But
when Sydney Pugh. a negro, asserted
WHITEWATER and John Stevenson. an.
other patrolman. likewise dismissed, had
shaken him down" for $50, wirtschaf.
ter was ordered before the police trial
board.
Although Pugh failed to appear n,
two hearings, the board recommended
the dismissal of Wirtschafter and Ste.
venson for conducting unbecoming Of
ficers"
Now. primed with what he calls 'In.
side stun" on the Fifth Ward scandal
Wirtschafter demands that he and his
family be taken care of.
Bitter at senator saIus
"Salus got me into the Fifth Ward
mess" Wirtschafter charged He has
made all the trouble / had. Now, after
have gone through hell for him he
throws me over. But this is too much
He can't go this far. When IL comes 10
where I can't make a decent homes,
living for my family I'll buck them
IT haven't received my formal notice
Of dismissal yet. 1 don't know what
am going to do I will tell you this
however: II those responsible for get
ting me into this mess don't do some.
thing for me at once I will have some
thing to say.
Wirtschafter said when he was ND n,
city Hall for the police trial board
hearing he received more human feel.
ing, more man-to-man advice from ths
McNichol- Penrose people than from any
one connected with the Ware outfit"
"I am willing to work." Wirtschaft
continued. "put can't get job be.
cause they say I am criminal. Tc
see myself through the West Cheste,
trial I pawned everything but my watch
and chain.
'I've been told to wait and thinl
things over,'' he continued. Think 4
over! That's 1t. Think 1t over! That.
about all they have left me to do
Sam Salus got me into the Fifth Ware
mess, and he got me into this. They
promised me everything, and they gave
me nothing. They've jammed me, they've
brushed me. and they think they've go
me smashed, but It won't go. They cam
get away with that.
I'm not defending myself. I'm moi
asking any sympathy or sentiment fol
anything 1 did. I'll take the blame and
I'll stand the gaff for whatever In
guilty of; but they've got to make good
: on their promises
'If I 60 down, others will go witt
me. I'm in a corner and I'm ready &c
fight.