New-York tribune., 1920-03-20
Third Deputy Commits.
siOner and Ex-Secrc-
tary to Chief Charged
With Neglect of Duty
Suspended at Once
Pending His Trial
Two Patrolmen Allege He
''Protected'' a Woman;
Bench Warrant Issued

Augustus Drum Porter, Third Dep
uty Police Commissioner, was indicted
yesterday by the grand jury for neg
lect of duty. He was suspended inn
mediately thereafter by Police Com
missioner Enright
1t is charged in the indictme nt
which was found after testimony by
three policemen, that Porter, a former
lieutenant colonel of the 18th Infantry,
National Guard, we'll known in society
and Guard affairs. former private sec
rotary to Commissioner Enright and
until yesterday censor over all news
coming from Police Headquarters, was
found with woman in West Ninety
sixth Street apartment on the night
of November ~.
The Indictment is the third handed
down by the grand jury in it's inves-
tigation of the alleged vice graft con-
spiracy involving members of the Po-
lice Department. Others are against
Detective John J. Gunson, of Inspector
Dominick Henry's staff, and Detective
Frederick F. Franklin, of the Fifth In
spection District, both accused of ex-
tortion from women of the streets. All
three indictments have been obtained
by Assistant District Attorney James
T.. Smith.
Rench Warrant Issued
The indictment against Porter was
filed with Judge Malone in General
Sessions, who issued bench warra.t
for the Deputy. Commissioner. The
latter Immediately was notified to SUR
render himself. About 4 o'clock yes
lawyer, Of 1870 Broadway, called IIr.
Smith on the telephone and promised
to produce Porter before Judge Ma
lone at 10 o'clock this morning.
Hendrick was the attorney who ap-
pearcd for Jennie Carcllo, alias Jennie
Burk, and Kittie Oaly, alias. Kittie
Smith the two women held in $4,000
bail each at tie Waverly House as ma
terial witnesses in the case OF Detec-
tive Gunson.
The business mems organization
that stood behind Hylan for Mayor had
Mr.. Porter as one of it's most active
officers 1t was in recognition of his
services in this direction that he wSs
appointed secretary to Commissioner
Enright.
The indicted man has been known
along Broadway for some time as a
"good sport" and a regular fellow y
Only recently, reporters who were in
the West Forty-seventh police station
jovial mood, followed by patrolman,
who had chauffeur in custody.
Sat at Chauffeur's Trial
The Third Deputy Commissioner
took the lieutenant's chair behind the
,,,l.:
tion, announced that he intended -to
"sit as a magistrate at this trial" He
then demanded of the dazed chauffeur
what he had to say for himself.
81 don't know what to say" the man
replied. "You asked me how much il
would cost to ride few blocks. | told
you fifty cents. On the way here you
had me stop and pick up cop. When
we got here you told him to arrest
me-"
After whispered conversation be.
tween Mr.. Porter and the lieutenant
the latter ordered the prisoner to &C
into the back room. Mr., Porter then
departed and the man was released.
Porter's indictment was obtained or
the testimony of Patrolmen Frederick
Sorger and Hilbert Wheclwright, now
Of the Beach Street Police Station anC
formerly detectives in the specia
service squad under Inspector Thomas
" Mcdonald. Their story was corro
borated by Detective Matthew J
Gushing.
Sorger and Wheelwright were de-
NOTED last Friday from the detective
force to duty as patrolmen. Thei1
demotion. they said, was sudden ane
despite the fact that they had done
two years of diligent work on In
spector McDonald's' staff, during which
they made many arrests. especially il
the district commanded by Inspecto
Henry. In the latter district, the!