New-York tribune., 1921-02-16
Swami Aid Is
Named I'm Probe
OF Boys Killing
Assistant District Attorney
Reported Involved i'm
Dismissal of Police Who
Shot Y oung Gushing
Case Before Grand Jury
Inquiry Into Retirement
of Firemen Before Time
Specified Is Widened

| AHuicdtiohS Shat tne grano jury IN
vestigation of the Hylan administra-
tion would lead to member of Dis
trict Attorney Edward Swann's staff
developed yesterday.
The entire session of the grand
jury, whose work is being directed by
former Governor Charles S. Whitman.
was taken up in going over additional
evidence in connection with the killing
Of siXteen-year- James Cushing, in
1918, for which two policemen are now
awaiting trial on charges of murder in
the first degree.
While Mr.. Whitman was in the usual
conference with newspaper men last
night Tribune reporter asked him:
"is it true that member of District
Attorney Swann's staff is involved in
the murder of Cushing?"
81 cannot answer that Guestion-at
this time" was the Governors reply.
"You must remember that two men are
being held for murder in the first de-
gree. You must also remember that
the question you have asked touches on
testimony before the grand jury"
Press Fire Department Probe
/ DR.. Joseph A. Smith, veteran chief
medical officer of the Fire Department.
( and one of his assistants, whose name
/ did not become known, had long con-
ference with MIR. Whitman yesterday
regarding the expose of the manner in
which certain Fire Department Off
cials authorized the retirement of fire.
men long before the time specified by
law.
Governor Whitman and had
very interesting chat" Dr. Smith, the
gray-haired and white bearded chief
surgeon of the Fire Department, said
after the conference. "You know
lost my way in this building to-day
and some one said to me: why, doctor,
after all the years you have been in
the department, don't you know your
way around this building" And /
made it very clear to that gentleman
that the less know about the ,Crimi-
nal Courts Building the better l will
sleep at night-and you know man
| of my years needs rest
"But ! will be back here Thursday.
| Governor Whitman has asked me TO
drop in on the grand jury at half past
two to impart some information which
may or may not be of interest"
The aged doctor continued rapid.
! fire humorous barrage while getting
into his overcoat making Assistant
! District Attorney James E. Smith and
several reporters, one of them a
woman, whom he knew, the butt of his
jokes.
High Officers Reported Involved
MIR. Whitman said he expects to pre-
sent all the Fire Department evidence
worked up by former Magistrate
Frederick j. Groehl, his assistant, to
the grand jury tomorrow. He re-
fused to say whether he expected in
dictments, but; from an unofficial source rec
it was learned that three men Of high
rank in the department are involved.
Another witness examined yesterday
by Judge Groehl in connection with
the arrest of Thomas O'Brien, alleged
automobile thief, has, it was said, cor
roborated many of the statements
made by O'Brien tending to prove col
lusion between auto thieves and the
police. 1t was said that the man who
who did busines with O'Brien and
through him with certain policemen
Arthur NJ, King, another Of the Whit
man aids, is said to have located the
missing link" in the city contract
scandal, supposed to connect high
city official The man is reported to
have recently returned from New Or.
leans and is now covered by several
detectives and process servers from
Mr. Whitman's office. His arrest is ex'
pected momentarlly.
Assistant District Attorney Smith is
said to have uncovered several new
leads in the police scandal, but he re
fused to discuss the situation last
night. He referred all inquiries to Mr.
Whitman, who said the time was no
ripe to disclose the information a
hand.
Murder Inquiry Continues
Assistant District Attorney Brothers
! in charge of the investigation into the
murder of Alberto Alterio, las. Thurs
day in the shadow of Police Headquar
ters. after Alterio, reputed to be the
king of the Italian bootleggers in New
York, had left Police Headquarters
following quarrel with s. detective
said he had nothing to give out to tn,
press yesterday.
1t was learned, however, that in.
stead of having been shot while dining
in Mulberry Street restaurant, as
originally reported, Alterio was shot
on the street. 1t became known alst
that he was well known in the Crimi-
nal Courts Building. having been OF
come interest IN the Mike Glamar
murder, the procuring of which caused
the arrest of ex-Deputy Street Clean.
ing Commissioner Michael Rofrano
Rofrano was acquitted. Alterio also ii
said TO have been arrested in another
murder case, but discharged through
lack of evidence.
In the murder Of young Gushing, fol
which Patrolmen Cornelius Flood and
Robert O'Brien will go on tr al Feb
ruary 23, another woman who wit
messed the shooting, but who has here.
tofore not figured in the case, was dis
covered yesterday by The Tribune. She
will appear to-day before Mr.. Whit,
man, in answer to a subpoena.
When MIR. Whitman went before the