New-York tribune., 1920-04-13
Two Detectives
In Porter Raid
Under Charges
Men Who Gave Evidence
on Which Commissioner
Was Indicted Accused
of SsConcealing Facts
Powerful Political Influ-
ences Invoked to Quash
Gag Planned for Smith
Vice Inquiry, Is RumM.

Detectives Hilbert Wheolwright and
Fred Sorger, members of Inspector
McDonald's vice squad, who raided the
fiat of Adele Goodell in West Ninety
sixth Street on November ~ and
found, they say, Colonel Augustus
Drum Porter, the' Third Deputy Po-
lice Commissioner, occupying room
there, are under charges and will face
trial tomorrow at Police Headquar-
ters, according to information that
reached the District Attorneys Office
last night
It was on the testimony Of Wheel
wright and Sorger that the grand jury
indicted Colonel Porter. lie subse-
quently was removed from Office by
Commissioner Enright.
The charges allego that the two de-
tcctives failed to report to the West
Tooth Street station the facts of what
occurred in the Goodell apartment at
the time the raid was made
Smith Makes no Comment
While Assistant District Attorney
James L. Smith would not comment on
the charges preferred against Wheel
wright and Sorger, who are expected
to be his principal witnesses against
Colonel Porter when the latter comes
up for trial next Monday on the in
dictment charging him with neglect of
duty, it is known that this latest turn
in the vice situation has caused some
anxiety in the District Attorneys Of
fee.
At the Criminal Courts Building
last night the impression prevailed
that if the detectives testify at the
police trial tomorrow they must
necessarily relate approximately the
same story they are expected to tell
at the trial Of Colonel Porter. This,
it is said, would be of much value to
those conducting Portcr's defense.
Mr.. Smith, it was learned, had ad-
vised the two men that if any attempt
is made to interfere with his witnesses
he will present the matter to the grand
jury, which is to meet again Thursday
afternoon.
With the trials of all police officials
now under indictment scheduled to
come up within the next two weeks,
there were many rumors in official cir
cles yesterday that powerful political
influences were being used to put the
"soft pedal" on the vice situation and
to prevail upon Mr.. Smith to clay off "
From reliable source it was learned
that high police official had boasted
that nothing would come of the indict-
ments obtained by Mr. Smith against
five members of the Police Department
The five indicted are Colonel Porter
Police Inspector Dominick Henry and
Detectives Gunson, Franklin and Ma
loney.
Tammany Leaders Meet
.Tammany leaders, who can see no ad.
vantage in q continuance of the up
heaval resulting from Mr. Smiths vice
crusading, are said to have held meet
ing Sunday night in a certain Demo
cratic Club where they engaged in a
long conference with view to finding
an effective remedy for the delicate
situation precipitated by Mr.. Smith
Mayor Hylan yesterday sent letter
to District Attorney Swami in which he
urged the immediate trials of all in
dicted officers. Mr. Swami refused te
comment on the Mayors communica
ton.
The letter follows:
GAS Mayor of tho city I am deeply
interested in the investigation of So
cial conditions in our city conducted
by the grand juries now in session.
"New York. with it's population of