New-York tribune., 1920-08-28
Hylan Suspends
POlicema in
Whisky Inquiry
Judge J. Harry Tiernan
Also Quits Magistrates
Bench in Eckert Case
at Request of Mayor
Dry Agents Exonerated
District Attorney Maloy
Says He Has No Interest
in Bootlegging Charge

mayor Hylan yesterday took cogni-
zance of allegations connecting police
officials with the liquor traffic on
Staten Island, which have been made
IN the course OF the investigation into
the murder OF Frederick R. Eckert; q
bootlegger, last Saturday.
BY order of the Mayor, John F.
Smith, a sergeant of police, assigned
to the Office of Joseph A. Maloy, Dis
trict Attorney of Richmond, was sus-
pended by Police Commissioner En-
right, and by request of the Mayor an
other magistrate was substituted for
]. Harry Tiernan. County Judge and
Surrogate, who has been acting City
Magistrate of the Stapleton Police
Court in the absence of Judge Null
len, who is on sick leave. One of the
three men accused of aiding in tho
murder Of Eckert, Max Katz. was
brought up for hearing yesterday in
this court.
Case Against Tiernan
The Mayor also Announced that Com
missioner Enright has assigned addi-
tional detectives to aid in clearing IN
the murder mystery.
The case against William P. Tier
nan, Judge Tiernan's brother. whose
stamp is said to have been found on
three barrels Of whisky in Hugot's no.
tel, IS complete, according to a state
ment given out by James S. Shevlin,
prohlbltlon enforcement agent
We will present the evidence before
the United States District Attorney in
Brooklyn tomorrow morning" said Mr.,
Shevin.
Mr.. Tiernan was not to be found at
his home, 8 st. Paul's Avenue, Tomp-
klnsvllle, S. l., and milk which had
been delivered at the house Yesterday
still stood on the steps He has a
incense to deal in liquors for medi icina /
use.
Dry Agents ExOnerated
further information regarding the
alleged bootlegging clique in Richmond
was obtained. District Attorney Maloy
examined Prohibition Agents William
Mcclure and James Weldon. Mr.. Maloy
SAID ne would forward a report on the
examination, which lasted six hours,
to Federal Attorney Leroy W. Ross, of
Brooklyn, and one to Prohibition Su-
pervisor James Shevlin.
August Hassenfug, counsel for Shev-
AA.'' "A'o 'ilo 0oSio IhHt, LOUIS EllQrln,
who were present, reported to their
chief that the examination of the
agents showed conclusively that they
were in no way connected with the
murder and had taken no graft from
the dead bootlegger.
Mr. Maloy said at the close of the
examination, which was secret, that he
had gained no new information re-
garding the death Of Eckert, hut had
learned some things which might be
OF interest to Mr.. Ross, who has an
nounced he will present any evidence
OF connlvance of bootleggers, Federal
agents and police before the Federal
grand jury
The investigation into the murde :.
OF Eckert was completely overshadowed
yesterday by interest in the illegal
nquor traffic that is alleged to have
led up to, his death. Eckert's widow
has said she believed he was Killed hv
prohibition agent with whom the
dead man was engaged in his whisky
business. This assertion has been dis
credited by District Attorney Maloy.
a chauffeur employed for some time
oy Ecxert, is sought by the District
Attorneys office.
The two fell out over money which
1ne chauffeur contended Eckert owed
nm, according to Assistant District
Attorney Norton.
The Mayors Statement
The Mayors statment read.
concerning the alleged connection
OF police officer with the liquor
tramc on Staten Island, l directed
CONTINUED on paoa Nve,