New-York tribune., 1920-04-14
Bench Warning
Causes Police
Defer Trials
Judge Malone Threatens
Grand Jury Action if
Two Detectives in Porter
Raid Are Interrogated
Postponement Follows
Mcdonald Appoints Chief
for Plain-ClOthes Men
of the Fourth District

The police trials of Detectives Hill
bert Wheelwright and Fred Sorger,
scheduled for to-day, were postponed
indefinitely yesterday, when Judge
James T. Malone, presiding over the
vice grand jury, issued warning from
the bench that witnesses against in
dicted police officials are not to be
interrogated or interfered with in any
way. Two detectives are the principal
witnesses against former Third Deputy
Police Commissioner Augustus Drum
Porter, who on Monday will face trial
on an indictment charging neglect of
duty.
The plan to arraign Whcelwright and
Sorger on charges and have them
was regarded as, an attempt to obtain
advance information as to the tcsti-
mony they will give against Porter.
This was effectually checked by Judge
Malone's threat to call the matteH to
the attention of the grand jury if the
police trials were carried out.
Wheelwright and Sorger are the de-
tectives who raided the apartment of
Adele Goodall in West Ninety-sixth
Street and found, they say. Colonel
Porter, then deputy commissioner,
charges are based on on the allegation Ill Hion
that they did not make a complete
report Of the raid to the West Tooth
Street station.
Malone Calls Smith
Assistant District Attorney James
E: Smith, conducting the vice inquiry.
which has resulted in the Indictment
OF five members Of the Police Depart
ment, was called yesterday before
Judge Malone, who said:
1T has been brought to my official
attention that an attempt will be made
to interrogate witnesses in case
pending before this court l direct
you to notify those persons that any
attempt to do this will be violation
OF the authority Of this court and if
they persist, after due warning has
been given them, I shall direct the
grand jury to investigate.
II will also have those who commit
this violation arraigned before the bar
OF this court for contempt if they d.
rectly or remotely attempt to infu-
ence the testimony of these witnesses.
You will communicate these instruc-
tions to the chief of the Police De-
partment and also instruct the wit
nesses that if they are called upon to
testify at Police Headquarters they
are to refuse to answer any ques
tions."
MI. Smith followed Judge Malote's
instructions and a short time later
First Deputy Police Commissioner
Leach announced that the trials of
Wheelwright and Sorger had been
postponed indefinitely.
The announcement was made yes
terday that Lieutenant Lewis J. Valen-
tine, of the special vice squad, had
been transferred to the 4th Inspection
District and 'assigned to duty in plain
clothes supervising plain clothes pa
trolmen." Considerable significance
was attached to this order in police
circles, where it was looked upon as
forecastng move on the part of In
spector Mcdonald to clean up the 4th
Inspection District.
Mcdonald took command of the dis
trict when Inspector Dominick Henry
was indicted for neglect of duty and
suspended from the Police Depart
ment.
Costigan's Chief Aid
When Honest Dan" Costigan was
in command of the vice squad. Lien
tenant Valentine was his chief aid
and figured prominently in most Of
the important raids made by \Costgan.
He is said to be one of the best in
formed men in the Police Department
as to conditions in the Tenderoin, and
his assignment to the unusual post Of
Supervising plain clothes men" is
taken to. mean that he will be given
the widest latitude in his operations
in the "Whitc light" district.