New-York tribune., 1920-03-26
Smith Says High Police
Official Gave Order
That Inspired Inspector
to Make Attack on Him
Asserts Inspector
Got Gunson Bail
Declares Greater Sensa.
ton Than City Has Seen
Is Forthcoming Soon

James E. Smith. Assistant District
Attorney, replying late last night to
charges made against him in afidavits
made public by Inspector Dominick Hen
ry, in command of the 4th Inspection
District, declared that the reason for the
"vicious and unfounded attacks" was
that, according to information which
he, Smith, had received last night, a
high police official now under investiga-
tion had sent the word to "high police
officers throughout the city that if they
did not come to his assistance at once
he was going to 'squeal' and tell every
thing he knew about the Police Depart
ment, from bottom to tor"
"In the words Vt the high police
official in question, Mr.. Smith said he
is going to blow up the works if his
friends of the Police Department didn t
come to his assistance post haste. That
is the reason for these attacks upon
me-"
"Henry upholds Gunson, the detec-
tive, whom / have indicted" he added.
"They are all working together, high
and low, and before we get through
with them we are going to show
Iii0Hi 1lldI LHc PcOplc VI IIllS ClCy
have right to know what rottenness
is going on in their Police Department.
Graft and Vice Flourish
Graft and vice have fourshed un-
der their noses for months. raided
gambling houses and other Joints in
the Tenderloin district over Henry's
head good many months ago, and he
never has got over it. When 1 got
of tc L
he'd attend to- me. Gunson, whom
Henry has told he will help through
all his trouble, is at the present time
indicted and will be convicted.
II wonder If the public knows, as in
formation of the best kind has told
me, that after the indictment Of Gun
son Inspector Henry arranged for bail
for the notorious John Gunson and also
for his lawyer?
"No power in Gods country can save
this higher police official or Gunson.
In short time expect to make public
the name of the high police official
who will be indicted"
Mr.. Smith declared that "never in
the history of New York has the Police
Department been more inefficient, more
desperate, more vicious or more cor
rupt than at the present time, and
they know we're going to get them.
These foul and vicious afidavits by
Henry will not hurt u.s."
Never Spoke to Henry
Ha said some of the affidavits were
two or three years old, and added: ~
never spoke to Henry in my life, on any
subject, at any time. His attack is in
line with the letter written by the
Mayor on March 12, 1919. 1t is a COM
bined effort to make me stop our cru
SADIE against grating in this city.
"Henry knows he is under investiga-
ton. Every statement he makes is alb
solutely false" Mr.. Smith continued
"But the police system compels him to
make them to hold his job He is like
rat in corner crying for help.
"Such vicious attacks as these will
cause the people of this city and county
to demand that every last CRATER is
going to break the system. Just tell
them that"
Inspector Henry, when told late last
night that Mr.. Smith had said he was
"madman and had become desperate ~
replied:
II wasn't desperate when I made
those affidavits, two years ago. The
eio daVits were made when Smith was
trying to open UP the Tenderloin dis
trict. That was about the time the
gambling house that Smith ran at 25e
West 1O5th Street, known as the Civitas
Club, was closed. That club was run by
him and his brother-in-law and was d
notorious gambling house."
inspector Henry lies!" shouted Mr..
Smith when this remark was repeated
to him.
"The Civitas Club" he said. "never
was a gambling club. 1t was political
club, pure and simple. | was simply a
member Of the Civitas Club until 1916
The club was known as the Civitas
Democratic Club and there never was
any gambling In it. There never was
'l.il.v' there The members may have
played little poker or pinochle, but
that was ALL"