The New York herald., 1920-01-03
District Attorney Gets Details
of Case from Police
Commissioner.
MERCHANT ACCUSED BY
GIRL REPORTED IN TEXAS
Mr.. Swami Gives Particular Attention
to Report of Interference
with Arrest.

Richard z. Enright, Police Commis-
sioner. yesterday admitted to Edward
Swami, District Attorney. that John c.
Hackett. until eight days ago secretary 70
the Police Commissioner, was asked TO re-.
sign as the result Of his activity In the
Failure OF, two policewomen to arrest a
wealthy silk merchant who is being
sought ON warrant accusing hin, Of at
tacking girl three weeks ago in his apart
ment in Riverside Drive.
Mr.. Enright's statement came during an
investigation Of the case which the District
Attorney started early yesterday, based on
an exclusive account Of the affair pub
lished in the HERALD on New Years Day.
Mr Swami interviewed Mr.. Enright in his
office at Police Headquarters.
The Police Commissioner informed me.
said Mr.. Swami. that nobody connected
with the executive or uniformed branches
lof the Police Department was concerned
IN any way with the complaint made by the
girl against the silk merchant, and on
which Chief Magistrate McAdoo issued a
warrant for his arrest
Did Mr.. Enright admit TO YOU that Mr.
Tiackett and Edward Hughes, formerly a
lPo!ice Inspector, were in the silk mer-
chants office when two policewomen, ac-
Icompanied by two policemen, called there
to arrest the merchant" Mr.. Swami was
asked.
Mr. Swami Investigates.
"Mr. Enright told me that both Mr..
Hackett and Mr.. Hughes were present IN
the mans office when the detectives
called to serve warrant on the silk
merchant" Mr.. Swami replied. He said
Mr. Hughes now is the head OF detective
agency. am investigating that part OF
the case particularly, because II is a
violation of the law for any person to
inform another Of the existence Of war
rant for him.
'The Police Commissioner informed
me-" continued Mr.. Swami. 'that Mr..
Hackett's presence In the office Of the
man the policewomen wanted TO arrest
was the occasion for Mr.. Enright's re-
questing Mr.. Hackett to resign He
added, however. that there were addi-
tional reasons for his demanding Mr..
Hackett's resignation.
Thus far 1 have not learned whether
either Mr.. Hackett or Mr.. Hughes knew
the officers had q warrant for the arrest
OF the man. I intend to learn whether
anybody at Police Headquarters made
known 10 outsiders that warrant had
been issued for the man."
The District Attorney was asked X the
OF any member OF the uniformed force
attached to the office of Mrs. Ellen A.
O'Grady Fifth Deputy Commissioner.
who ordered the two policewomen TO ar
rest the merchant on the girls charge. AS
being suspected OF having tipped Off
Mr.. Hackett and Mr.. Hughes that the
man was about to be arrested.
Nothing was said about that phase OF
the matter Mr.. Swami said.
Gave All Details.
The District Attorney said Mr. Enright
readily gave him all the details in the
case. lie said Mr.. Enright informed him
OF the name OF the merchant, who Is now
a fugitive from justice on the warrant
issued by Magistrate McAdoo. but the
District Attorney refused 10 reveal the
mans name.
who is the complainant against the man,
but 1 prefer not to reveal her name, as It
might interfere with my investigation"
Mr.. Swami was asked II lawyers on-
ployed by the silk merchant had COM
municated with him about the case. and
he replied nobody outside OF official cir
cles had said anything to him about the
matter.
"The case automatically would come 70
tho attention OF this office. but decided
to start all immediate investigation 10
learn whether the law had been violated
by anybody In revealing the existence OF
the warrant TO the accused man. I shall
continue that investigation, regardless OF
whether or not the man is arrested" said
Mr.. Swami.
Earlier in the day Magistrate McAdoo
IN response TO questions. admitted that q
warrant had been issued for n merchant
on a charge of assault made by a girl
He refused to make known the name OF
the man. He said. however. that n mem.
ber OF a we'll known firm OF lawyers had
communicated with him and had informed
him the firm was counsel for the accused
man.
Say Man In In Texas.
THE lawyer stated his client was In
Texas on n business engagement" said
the Magistrate, "and that he did not leavs
the city because of the girls charges. He
also stated his client expected to finish
his business In Texas. where he has large
interests. in few days. and the lawyer
expects TO produce his client in court about
q week from now"
Mrs. OGrady. to whom the mother OF
the girl appealed at Police Headquarters
the day after her daughter Is alleged to
have been attacked. when interviewed
about the matter at first showed an in
clination to tell the whole story, but after
she had conferred for half an hour with
Commissioners Enright. she announced she
would have nothing 20 say
II became known that Mrs. Isabella
Goodwin. detective sergeant accom-
panied Miss Adele Priess. a member OF
Mrs. O'Grady's women's vice squad. 10
the office of the merchant on the day he
Is alleged to have escaped from them
while Mr.. Hackctt and Mr.. Hughes were
talking TO the policewomen in the mer-
chants outer office. Mrs. Goodwin and
Miss Priess spent all OF yesterday running
down clues TO the whereabouts of the man
for whom they hold warrant
ReHnlta. follow quickly the use Of the New