New-York tribune., 1920-01-09
Jury: Renews
Gambling and
Vice Inquiry
Swami Heard, and Also His
Assistant, Who Directed
Broadway Raids in 1918;
Whitman Is Summoned
Graft Letter Causes Stir
Committee of Panel Will
Decide To-day Whether
to Close Investigation

The extraordinary grand jury, which,
according to unofficial report, will
conclude its deliberations shortly,
yesterday again began delving into
alleged vice. police and gambling
scandals, involving persons in and out
of public office.
Assistant District Attorney James E.
Smith, who during ten years Of official
activity has developed a reputation
as relentless enemy of the gambler
and the so-called vice ring, went be-
fore the jury yesterday as witness.
Rumor was that Mr.. Smith had been
called as result of anonymous let
ters received by the jury rejecting on
his attitude toward gamblers and vice
in general. The District Attorneys
Office unofficially took the view that
these letters were the work of gam
blers antagonized by Smith and eager
to discredit him.
Swami Also Is Heard
Assistant District Attorneys Talley
Swami himself, also appeared before
the jury. which on Monday will hear
former Governor Whitman, a former
city magistrate and a gambler known
as the nerviest high stakes player on
Broadway.
In connection with its revived in
tsrest in vice, it became known that
the jury was giving considerable at
tention to letter from one high city
official to another, impounded when the
Almirall panel, subpenaed official files
and cabinets.
1t was reported this letter stated
1t was rumored that $4,000 was split
among an assistant district attorney,
. New York newspaper man and a
former city magistrate to bring about
the dismissal of the indictment against
Arnold Rothstein, gambler, charged
with felonious assault on Detectives
Mclaughlin and Walsh, Of Inspector
Henry's staff. The Indictment, dis
missed in July last, charged that in a
raid on a place in West Fifty-seventh
Street in January, 1919, the detectives
were shot by Rothstein.
Letter Causes a Stir
This letter, written in March, 1919.
and the attention the grand iurv !,
giving it reacted quickly. An assista Mt
district attorney informed the jurv
ne was the man referred to and denied
the allegations. The newspaper man.
who was In Europe when the alleged
split took place, has demanded that
the grand jury hear him.
The persons referred to in the letter
are said to be anxious to establish
whether they have grounds for libel
charges against the city official who
wrote it.
The jury also was reported in
terested in establishing why Assistant
District Attorney Smiths much adver
used raids on cabarets and establish
ments along Broadway and other
thoroughfares adjacent to the White
way terminated suddenly in November
1913, after proceeding with clock-like
regularity FOR seven months.
Sought to Protect Soldiers
Assistant District Attorney Smith, it
was said, explained to the Jurors that
he began his week-en crusades at the
instance of the Federal government
which was eager to protect uniformed
men, and ended them when the armis-
tlce was signed. Former Governor
nitman will appear before the grand
Jury IN the nature Of witness for
Mr.. Smith and recount the assistant
district attorneys work under his
regime. Heads Of anti-v1ce oreaniza-
tlons may also testify in Smiths favor
Inc grand jury also WAS sad to be
Interested in Mayor Hylan's letter of
october 4, 1918, protesting against Mr.
?mlth's raids and asking that thew he
discontinued. WY o'
!, The appearance of Mr.. Talley before
the Jury had to do with reports that
ne aileyl at one time was counsel
LOT tne Police Lieutenants' Association
and Police Commissioner Enr;eht. Mr.
Iailey denied these reports.
An important meeting Of commit
zee OF grand jury members will be
nelo IN Foreman Almirall's Office to-
Gay, 1t was reported 1t was said that
.ne jury. would consider. among other
cnlngs, the advisability Of filing pre-
sen'ment with Justice Weeks, who pre-
SIDES over the Extraordinary Trial
Term OF the Supreme Court, Of which
the jury is q part
:, Inc jury would debate, it was said.
the wisdom Of concluding its delibera
tions' and requesting that it be dis
m'sseu ;n WIN this presentment. Another
pelnt on which the jurors will decide is
whether they are to continue their in
4u'ry into the District Attorneys Office.
the Hylan city administration and the
"overshadowing crime" without coun-
sci.
There Is possibility that the Jurors
will place their affairs in Justice
Weeks's hands and ask that he act az
their counsel. Among the matters un
for debate to-day is the jurys answer
to Governor Smiths request that the
panel give him specific information
against mr.. Swami II they 1.-THE jurors
wish him displaced as adviser.
The next full meeting Of the iurv will
be held Monday.