New-York tribune., 1920-01-23
Martin tOPusIl
New Accusation
I'm Police Case
Bronx Prosecutor to Make
Every Effort to Prove
Bribery Charges Filed AZ
ter Acquiltal of Patrolman
Hot Words With Judge
Controversy With Court Over
the Release of Morris:
''John Doe" Quiz Halted

district Attorney Francis Martin, OF
Bronx County, last night declared he
was determined to push charges Of
bribery preferred against Patrolman
John Morris and not to rest quiet un-
der allegations by County Judge Louis
D Gibbs that the District Attorneys
Office had made efforts to c0rce wit
nesses in the Morris robbery case,
which resulted in acquittal followed by
Morris's arrest on the new charge.
Mr.. Martins statement followed a
heated debate in court yesterday morn
ing. when Judge Gibbs failed to con-
tinue "John Doe" investigation Of
the District Attorneys Office ordered
by him shortly after midnight.
The controversy grew out Of the ac~
ouittal at that hour of Patrolman Nor
ris, on charge Of robbery on East
142d Street last January. Morris was
arrested on January IT, 1919, following
an eight-block chase after man who
had held up Louis Rousseau, twenty
two years old, manager of a Davey
grocery.
Failure to Identify
Morris received a hearing in magls-
trate's court and Rousseau failed to
IDENTIFY him. Later, as the result of
evidence stumbled upon by the District
Attorneys office, Morris was indicted
on a charge of robbery in the first de-
gree and entered a plea of not guilty.
Early yesterday morning. after trial
lasting almost ten days, the jury after
four hours deliberation acquitted
Morris.
In the trial before Judge Gibbs it
was said that the robber in his hurry
to depart left the torn part of biz
sticking in the drawer of the cash
register and that part of bill match
lng the torn remnant was found upon
Morris.
Testimony tended to show that $3.50
had been paid to Rausseau. and that
representative OF the grocery had been
reimbursed for the money stolen and
had agreed not to prosecute. Several
witnesses who appeared in the magis-
tfate's court hearing changed their
testimony, it was said
Following Morris's acquittal things
happened rapidly in the courtroom
Assistant District Attorney Cohen
directed detective to rearrest Nor
ris on charge of bribery. When
Judge Gibbs said the arrest could not
be made An the courtroom it was made
outside. Morris was released on $4,000
bail. and Will have hearing Saturday.
Louis Fridiger. counsel for Morris,
asked Judge Gibbs to commit every
witness in the trial and in the previous
nagi trate's court hearing for perjury
Judge Gibbs then declared he intended
10 institute John Doe" proceedings
~ ho} &Ol
Cohen to have District Attorney Mar
tin on hand In court yesterday MORN
ing.
Charges Made by Judge
A heated verbal tilt between Judge
Gibbs and Mr.. Martin followed judge
Gibbs declared that it appeared that
three witnesses in the Morris case had
committed perjury "of the rankest and
most fragrant type" and that one wit
ness Compounded a felony, or at
tempted to compound felony" He
also declared that some of the wit
nesses had said that after being re-
quested to call at the District Attor-
rey's Office they had been kept there
eight, nine and ten hours and subjected
70 threats of Imprisonment unless they
told the truth.
District Attorney Martin then asked
that the charges against his office be
put IN the form Of an affidavit on in
formation.
"lf this is a John Doe proceedings"
he said, II want a complaint or affi
davit. | want it done in lawful man
ner. am going to bring this to the
attention OF the New York City Bar
Association and if necessary to the
Governor.
There has been influence used In
this case from almost the beginning
These statements against my Office come
out OF the mouth of Morris. Will
take the whole matter before the
grand jury"
al am not to be intimidated by
threats" returned Judge Gibbs more
over, Morris has been acquitted by a
jury of twelve men. You have been
threatening and intimidatinr great
many others in this county, but you
cannot succeed with me-"
After more debate, in which both
Judge Gibbs and Mr. Martin declared
themselves ready to stand on their
records, Mr.. Martin suggested that
the charges be drawn up in & regular
complaint and that the Judge be a
complainant in the case Judge Gibbs
replied that if he was to be a com
plalhant it would be in a higher court
The session closed with no signs O.
the John Doe" proceeding bein,
pushed. The District Attorneys Office
however, declared that activities j,
the case would be redoublcd