New-York tribune., 1920-03-21
Porter Ousted
AS Enrigl,t Aid
On Vice Charge
Third Deputy Commissioner
Removed as He Gives Bail
of ST., 900 to Answer to
Alleged Neglect of Duty
He Calls Case sFrame-Up'
Judge Wadhams's Criticism
of Detective, Who Now Ac-
cuses, to Figure in Trial

charges or neglect OF duty by the grand
jury in its inquiry into the alleged
vice graft conspiracy in the Police De-
partment, was removed from Office yes
terday as Third Deputy Police Com
missioner by Commissioner Enright
The announcement of the removal
was made at Police Headquarters fol-
lowing Porter's appearance in Judge
Malone's chambers, at the Criminal
Courts Building, on a warrant issued
last Friday by Judge Malone. Porter
appeared with his lawyer, Frank Hen
drick, of 100 Broadway, and was held
in $1,000 bail for trial. He will be
arraigned for pleading tomorrow.
Porter's indictment was the result
Of the testimony of three detectives,
formerly members of Inspector Nc
Donald's special vice squad, to the
effect that in raiding an apartment at
324 West Ninety sixth Street on the
night of November 10, 1919, after they
had tapped the telephone wire Of the
place, they found Porter in q room with
q woman.
Porter Calls Charges "Frame-Up
While waiting in the bail department
Of the District Attorneys office for the
arrival Of Judge Malone, Colonel
Porter issued statement in which he
denied the charges against him, calling
them a "frame-up." He expressed
confidence that he would clear himself
entirely of the accusations.
Colonel Porter's assertion provoked
Assistant District Attorney James E.
Smith, in charge of the vice investi-
cation and the official who obtained the
indictment against him. Mr.. Smith
issued counter statement in which
he asserted that he would not be Sin
undated in his prosecution of any
member Of the Police Department who
may violate the law.
Colonel Porter's statement DENYING
the charges against him follows:
There is absolutely nothing to them.
You cannot say this too strongly. This
is frame-up, pure and simple. l am
not worrying, as you see, and that is
half the battle. This is dirty, mean,
rotten attack on an official who is made
the goat of fight that is being waged
by an Assistant District Attorney to
remedies all injustices, and time will
prove that I am the victim of a plot
and not the criminal that certain peo-
pie would like to have the public be-
ileve' am. My friends know my cha,-
acter and | am sure they do not be-
lleve the nasty insinuation that the
charge contains. That is all l have to
say"
This brought the following reply
from Mr.. Smith:
I'm September, 1918, two women were
taken in raid and arrested about 80
a: m. outside the Claridge Hotel. They
claimed that they were teachers in the
Grand Central Dancing Academy and
that they were particular friends of
Colonel Porter, and that the officers
who brought them in would be dis
missed from the force. There after
certain persons, officers who were
working with me, were brought before
Inspector Henry and lined up with
Henry's men for identification by these
women. The detectives who were
picked out were not the men who made
the arrests. The arrests were made by
Inspector Henry's men at my request.
There was an attempt made at that
time to intimldate the men in the de-
partment, who were honestly, faithfully
and conscientiously working with me
IN cleaning up the city.
"The Grand Central Palace was at
Grundy, who, when obliged to vacate
the premises, made application for a
license in West Sixty-sixth Street, and
l and other people on the West Side
opposed the granting of the application
and appeared before Commissioner of
Licenses Gilchrist to oppose it. Com
missioner Porter, then secretary to Po-
o.co,, .,.<.l,A
a character witness for Grundy and |
cross-eXamined him. The record of
this cross-examination is on file in
Commi ssioner Gilchrist's office. Com
missioner Gilchrist over my protest
granted the license for this dance hall.
which is in Inspector Henrys district
81 am willing to go to trial in this
case in one weeks time-or in forty
eight hours if necessary. l am not 60
ing to be intimidated. l am going to
perform my duty as l see it,
Declares Men Will Testify
~ want to reiterate that this inquiry
is not aimed at the Police Department
as whole, but at the individuals who
have brought, and continue to bring,
disgrace and odium on as excellent a
body Of men as have ever worn a uni
form and done police duty. There was
time when it was impossible to get
one policeman to testify against a
brother officer, because it was not in
accord with the police idea Of esprit
de corps. But that day is passed, and
now the decent mon Of the department
have determined upon housecleaning
from within. These men will assist and
: will testify against all those in the de-
partment: who violate the law, no. mat
ter how high the rank or position NAV
be They feel that the people Of New
York Will understand that the depart
ment shall be our servants and not our
masters"
Porter arrived at the District At
torneyis office at 10 o'clock in the morn.
ing, as promised by his lawyer. He ap-
peared in light and even jovial mood.
and spent nearly an hour chatting with
reporters and posing for photographs.
~ ne sSss .Gok particular pains in obliging
drick to pose with him. -'
Porter declined to saw ANYTHING