New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-27
New Probe of
Swann's Office
Begun by Jury
Inspector Henry Is One of
the First Witnesses and
Leaves Chamber Smiling:
Dooling Also Questioned
Evidence To Be Secret
Jurors Fear That Publicity
Might Influence Trials
of Accused Policemen

The first meeting of the extraor
binary grand jury since the Investigate
ing powers of that body we're extended
by order Of Governor Smith took place
yesterday afternoon in the Criminal
Courts Building. While neither Ray
mond S. Almrall, foreman Of the jury,
nor Colonel William Rand. it's legal
adviser, would discuss the matters
taken up, it is understood the body has
launched an exhaustive investigation
into the machinery and methods of Dis
trict Attorney Swanns office
1t was reported that the jury had
met to make presentment ex-
oncrat James E. Smith, Assistant
District Attorney, of the charges
lodged against him by Police
Inspector Dominick Aenry. Later it
was denied that the jury would take
any such action for some time to come.
From reliable source it was learned
that the specific charges against Ed
win P. Kilroe and John T. Dooling. AS
sistant District Attorneys, with, with
1HOoc against Ollllu, were the only
matters the body could legally go into
before its powers were enlarged by
Governor Smith, would be taken up
later when the jury comes to them in
the course Of its investigation of the
entire workings of the District Attor-
ney's office.
Effect on Trials Considered
There was an evident desire on the
part of the jurors to have as little
publicity as possible attached to their
activities, as they want to avoid max
ing any move that would influence the
forthcoming trials of those members
of the Police Department who were in
dicted as the result of Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Smiths vice investiga-
ton.
At the Criminal Courts Building it
was said that representatives of the
jury had been at work for some time
inspecting the records of the Court
of General Sessions with a view to OBJ
tanning facts concerning a large num-
Der of indictments which had been dis
missed without bringing the defendants
to trial.
Other indictments to which the jury
will direct its attention, according to
report, are those in which certain com
promises have been made with defend
ants. The work Of gathering this in
formation has been going on for the
last two weeks, and when the extraor-
binary body went into session yester-
day it was said to be in possession of
a mass of material that members of
District Attorney Swann's staff would
be asked to explain.
One Of the first witnesses to be
called was Inspector Dominick Henry,
now under indictment, charged with
neglect of duty, and under suspension
from the Police Department. The in
spector was in the jury room for about
twenty minutes and appeared to be in
excellent spirits when he came out. He
shook hands with friends who greeted
him in the ante-room but refused to
discuss the nature of the testimony he
had given.
Dooling Principal Witness.
John T. Dooling, Assistant District
Attorney, was the principal witness of
the day, passing several hours in the
jury room. 1t is understood that he
was questioned as to the procedure of
the District Attorneys office in con-
nectlon with certain cases, but was
not questioned concerning the con-
spiracy charges that have been pre-
ferred against him in connection with
the Castor B. Means murder trial. Mr..
Dooling was before the investigators
until late in the afternoon and it is
said he will take the stand again to-
day.
Other witnesses called were Detec-
tive Sergeants Gallagher and Cunniff.
Samuel j. Siegel, Charles Kiefer and
William Murphy. The last named is
now lawyer but was formerly men,
Der Of the Police Department.
Another witness was James J. Hines.
Democratic leader of the Eleventh
Assembly District, who recently de-
feated the Tammany candidate in a
fight Tor that position. James E. Quinn
brothe r-in-law of Mr.. Smith, who was
mentioned as a go-between in the
at1idavits made by Inspector Henry,
also was called. 1t is understood that
all the witnesses were required to sign
waivers of immunity before taking the
stand.