New-York tribune., 1920-02-19
Smith Names
Newton for
jury Inquiry
Continued from page 1

uary %, 1920, with statement of the
crime with which such members are
charged"
81 hope everybody is feeling as COM
Portable as l am" was District At
torney Swann's comhent last night
when newspapermen told him the news
from Albany. His chief assistant,
Alfred J. Talley, shook hands with
Smith. Kilroe and Dooling and smiled:
II am jealous of you for the high
honor that is being shown you"
Mr.. Swami dictated this statement:
"The regular grand jury already has
heard all evidence on the Kilroe
charges and they have been disposed
of. The jury will file its findings to-
morrow
"In the case of Smith, when those
charges first came up the panel called
on Mr.. Smith himself to investigate
them
The District Attorney declared that
evidence against gambling and dis
orderly houses specified by the jury
was "one and the same" as the early
charge that $4,000 had been split by
Smith, former city magistrate and a
newspaperman to bring about the re
lease of Arnold Rothstein, gambler,
charged with shooting two detectives.
"The jury admitted that Smith was
exonerated," Mr.. Swami went on. at
was ready to give him vote of con-
fdence, which was postponed by Fore
man Almirall, who said the time for
that was not ripe. At least eighteen
members of the jury have told me that
they had the highest regard for James
E. Smith. The vote of confidence was
held up for the insincere use of bolster
ing up the pretense that the jury
wanted the Attorney General
They do not want the Attorney Cen
eral to inquire into any of the Dis
trict Attorneys assistants. That is not
even a secondary object.
Their object is to get certain gen.
tleman appointed as special deputy
for this inquiry. His name is Alfred
L. Becker, who had been in conference
with Mr.. Almirall and who has made
tentative arrangements with Mr.. AL
mirall contingent ION his appointment.
THE jury has two other Objects:
First, if possible to find something
on the Mayor; some pretext or excuse
to suggest his removal, in order that
another may take his place, with the
fervent hope that this other person
will consent to an Scent fare for the
l. R. T.
Second, they hope that Mr.. Becker
will enable them to find something on
Mr. William Randolph Hearst, who has
been thorn in the flesh of the Inter
borough and the traction combine for
years, and whom they now consider
one of the chief opponents Of an Scent
fare.
"In the language Of one of the grand
jurors, they want to eliminate Hearst
from politics for all time
"More than three quarters of the
grand jury have assured me individually
and personally that they have no desire
to injure the District Attorney, but
that their quest is elsewhere.
~ have refused to allow the District
Attorneys office to be used for the
purpose Of furthering the ends of the
traction interests in this city. I re.
fuse to be party to the design to use
the machinery Of the criminal law fol-
the purpose of bludgeoning city officials
into obeying the commands of the trac-
tion interests.
"The spear Of traction knows nc
brother. and when traction gives it:
commands to it's employees they have te
be obeyed. The feelings and reputa
tion and character Of no man are to bt