New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-11
Whalen and Hirshfeld
Also Sent For and Asked
to Waive Immunity in
Inquiry Into the B. r. T.
Correspondence
With Mayor Held
Put in Safe To Be Gone
Over To-day; Seek Plot
to Force City Ownership

SuDpena servers from the eEtraOr-
dinary grad jury yesterday cmptied the
letter fles--hoth personal and official
Of three of Mayor Hylan's department.
heads and hailed these officials before it.
The descent on the city Offices was
swift and unexpected Documents
sought for examination were immedi-
ately sealed and impounded. They fill
two strong boxes in the biggest safe
at the Criminal Courts Building.
This was the outstanding feature
of yesterdays investigation Of the
llylan Administration. To-day no wit
nesses will be heard. Both morning and
afternoon sessions will be consumed in
studying the papers.
Officially. no hint of the real purpose
OF the investigation Of the city admin
stration has been given, other than the
statement of Foreman .aymond AL
mlrall in letter to Governor Smith,
that evidence o. an 'overshadowing
crime" is aought. Unotlicially. however,
it was declared that evidence is being
/ sought TO prove the existence of a
conslracy TO force municipal ownership
upon the city regardless O. the will Of
the people.
The Officials Summoned
before the jury we're:
Grover Whalen, Commissioner OF
Plant and Structures, former sec.
retary to Mayor Hyan and posses
sor of intimate knowledge of the in
side workings of the administration.
David Hirshfield, Commissioner of
Accounts, official custodian Of vital
information concerning the financial
dealings of the administration.
Richard T.. Enright Police Commits
sioner.
William J. Lahey. Second Deputy
Police Commissioner, in command
of the Detective Bureau.
Grant Crabtree, CHIEF of the ou-
reau of records o. the Police De
partment.
George Barnitz. former member of
the bomb squad"
Roger K. Walsh, chief clerk Of the
Police Department..
Edward Hughes, former inspector
OF police, now head Of private de-
tectiye agency.
George Young, head OF private
detective agency that bears his name.
AL. Cohen, head Of u private de-
tective agency
The subp9ras Of city officials direct
ed that they produce all correspond
cnce between themselves and the Mayor
since date early in 1918 In some
cases certain contracts also were re-
Quired. Along with these were private
correspondence and papers that in the
course of routine would be seen onlv
by the Mayor and the official to whom
! addressed.
Heads OF Detective Agencies
In addition to these witnesses rep
resentatives of practically every pri-
vate detective agency in the city have
been called. One reason given for
calling these men was the supposed
desire of the jurors to learn whether
strike breakers during the INTERIOR
ough strike. But another and more
important reason assigned is the de-
sire OF the inquisitors to learn who
is paying the miniature army OF
shadows" that follow them to and
from home each day.
All the arrangements for examining
the city officials who were summoned
were such as to prevent them from
comparing notes before entering the
Grand Jury room and after coming
out. They were ushered into sepa-
rate rooms as they appeared at the
Criminal Courts Building, and were
politely but firmly invited to make an
immediate departure from the build
ing when their examination ended
Throughout the proceedings Fore.
man Almrall and his associates on the
jury kept their own counsel, the fore
man directing proceedings personally.
Theoretically, James E. Smith, an as
slstant District Attorney, is in charge
Of the proceedings. 1t was obvious,
however, that he was there as an as
slstant and not as a directing head
Mr.. Almirall Guards Sent
At the conclusion of the day Mr..
A 'mirall was as careful to guard the
purpose of the present investigation
OF the city administration as when the
hrst subpoenas were issued. 1t was in
dicated, both by his actions and the re-
marks Of those who are aiding him,
that it is feared q premature dis
closure of the purpose of the jury
evidence Importance.
When Commissioner Enright walked
through the corridors of the grand
jury suite he smiled broadly and swung
his brief case filled with papers before
those who addressed him. When he
came out of the room twenty minutes
later, however, his face was red and he
showed evidences Of anger.
The Commissioner did not wait to
be questioned about what had trans
pired. He approached the reporters
and addressed them first
II was brought down here on a sub
Hedley in the Interborough matter" he
said. ut had nothing to do with vice
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