New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
Graft Inquiry
Now Extends
Underworld
Whitman's Aids Believed to
Have Linked Police Cor
ruption With Persons
Known in Night Life

Charles S. Whitman, former Cover
nor, who, as Special Assistant District
Attorney, is directing the grand jury
investigation Of the iylan administra-
ton, took steps yesterday to plug up
the leak which developed last week.
The prosecutor and his ass stants
spent the entire day examining wit
nesses in the stolen automobile scan
Gal, far away from the Criminal Courts
Building.
A leak had occurred, it was made
plain Thursday, after the indictment of
Detective Sergeants Martin S. Owens
and Thomas J. Horan, when thew ap-
peared at the Criminal Courts Building
to surrender before warrants for their
arrest had been issued.
Governor Whitman and his assist.
ants last night refused to discuss the
developments of the day It was learned
unofficially, however, that number
of leads had been procured, as well as
corroboration of testimony already
given, which proved a surprise even to
Mr.. Whitman.
Mr.. Whitman will go be ore the
grand jury at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning according to present plans. 1t
IS SAID that he will produce evidence
Wnlch he believes will warrant the in
dictment OF at least three detective
sergeants, all coworkers of Owens and
Horan on the auto squad, charged with
responsibility not only for recovering
stolen automobiles, but for captur.n~
the thieves
One Of the men under suspicion is
SAID to be close to Police Commissioners
Enright.
humors of sensa sational confessions
on the part of two members of the
automoblle squad persisted Yesterday.
IL Is reported that both men have al
ready made voluntary affidavits and
nave expressed willingness 20 90 he
fore the grand jury and tell ali thew
Know. 1t is known that the confess
sion of one Of the men was brought
about because of his belief that his
companions had decided to make him
the goat"
Uneasiness at Police Headquarters
was increased yesterday when it be-
came known that Assistant District
Attorney James E Sm h had sn,nt
most of Friday night investigating sips
On Broadway and interviewing men
and women identified with New York's
light life .
Smith refused yesterday to discuss
tins phase Of the investigation, but he
spent more than an hour debating u
series of mem orandums to stenogra-
lners. He appeared highly pleased
with the result of his nights trip.
1T is known that he mas issued
subpenas fo1 number of police rec
olds which may tend to show connec-
lions between the underworld. as
broadway knows il. and the police.
There will be a meeting next week
or the insurance underwriters who
nave been Issuing policies on automo-
olles. These men have been in con-
ference with Mr.. Whitman on several
occasions 1t is reported that thew
will take up and probably adept plan
OF refusing to pay reward for the re-
turA 81 stolen car unless the police
OBTAIN the conviction of the thief The
plan was suggested by Mr. Whitman
This recommendation is based on the
plan which has been followed for wears
by burglary insurance underwriters not
handling automobiles. These insurance
men are protected by law in de-
H'aHuinS from paWnbrOker stolen
property which has been pledged. The
pawnbroker must return the property
without compensation if the crook is
convicted, or if proof is produced that
the property was stolen. Otherwise he
must stand a criminal trial on a charge
of being a receiver of stolen goods.
While none Of the officials conduct
ing the inquiry would talk about fu-
ture indictments it was admitted that
the investigation into the automobile
scandal had progressed to stage
where it was safe to say that at least
one of the higher ups" in the depart
ment would be made the object of a
drive before the grand jury for an in
dctment within a week.
1t also developed that Mr.. Whitman
is prepared to ask for several addi-
tlonal indictments against Sergeant
Marty" Owens, the war hero, and his
partner, Thomas j. Horan, both now
out on $2,500 bail on charges of having
illegally accepted reward for recov-
ering an automobile which had been
stolen. In the case specified in the
Indictment no arrest had been made.
William Chilvers, Arthur M. King,
former Magistrate Frederick J. Groehl
and Mr. Smith, Mr.. Whitman's assis-
tants, also are devoting themselves to
evidence which they hope will within a
week result in the presentation of cvi-
dence before the grand jury against
at least two police captains, police
inspector and several officials connected
with other city departments.