New-York tribune., 1921-06-13
Attack on Reynolds, Ex-
Tammany Leader and
Gambler, in Floridas
Reveals Him as Witness
Evidence Said to
Hit Police Officers
Legislative Committee to
Keep Costigan Under
Subpoena if Necessary

Members Of the joint legislative
Investigating committee conducting
an inquiry into the city administra-
tion are lseenly anxious over the
condition of Lorillard Reynolds, for
mer Tamnany leader, who was shot
in the left lung and badly beaten by
masked gang at his home in Sea
Breeze, Daytona, Fla, last Thurs
day.
Reynolds, who is well known in
gambling circles in this city, accord
ing to one Of the committees inves.
tigators, possesses valuable informa-
ton, and was expected to leave Flor
ida for New York at about the time
he was shot. On his arrival here it
was planned to call him before the
legislative committee.
Reynolds, who was known as
Thomas L. Reynolds when he was
power in Harlem's Tammany poll
tics in the last few years here, took
more interest in gambling than in
politics. His career as a gambler in
this city was ended in April, 1918,
when "Honest Dan" Costigan, be-
fore his demotion by Police Commits
sioner Enright, raided his gambling
house in West Sixty-eighth Street,
where Costigan's men reported find
ing crooked roulette wheel.
Requested to Leave Britain
Reynolds, who is picturesque
figure, having once claimed to be the
Ambassador to the United States from
the Republic Of Counani, an indepen-
dent state of Brazil, had his visiting
cards engraved: "His Excellency,
Thomas l.. Reynolds"
Efforts to locate the Republic Of
Counani were unavailing. the nearest
thing to such place being small
town in Brazilian Guiana. At one time
Reynolds tried to enter British royal
circles. Scotland Yard frowned upon
his efforts, and at the request of the
British detective force he left the
country.
About eighteen months ago political
and gambling friends of Reynolds
learned that he had moved TO Florida
and established himself in business
there. Evidently he wanted to disas-
cna 90 ~ col<
that he had left behind him in New
York and elsewhere and obtained rer-
mission from the Daytona Circuit
Court to change his name to Lorillard
Reynolds.
Expected to Testify Here
There is no doubt that Reynolds, if
he felt SO inclined, could be of great
assistance to the legislative investigat-
ing committee. That he was expected
TO come here to assist the committee
was not learned until yesterday, when
one of the directors of the investiga-
tion Informed newspaper men that the
former gambler and Tammany leader
was prepared to tell what he knows OF
the relations between the police and
gamblers and confidence men to the
committee.
The Investigators have been work.
ing for several days on the material
used by former Governor Whitman in
MS investigation of graft in the Police
Department which was furnished him
largely by The Tribune The investi-
CATION conducted by the former Gov
eernor was handicapped by the fact that
ne could not work outside OF Manhat-
tan because the power of a grand jury
IS limited by the boundary lines of the
n " srh l.
carried in all five boroughs.
Graft said TO have been collected by
small circle of men higher up in the
department, through the systematic
stealing Of automobiles, in which both
the owners and the companies which
insured the cars were victimized. is !.
now receiving the earnest attention
of the committee.
May Use Costigan on Subpoena
The committee expects to hear from
Police Commissioner Enright in reply
TO its request for the services Of "Hon-
est Dan" Costigan to-day, as Enright is
expected to return from his vacation
before night. If the request is re-
fused. as was indicated by Corporation
Counsel O'Brien, the committee will
serve subpoena on Costigan and keen
him under subpoena until they are
finished with him.
Costigan, who is regarded as the bess
vice and graft hunter in the Police
Department, was never popular with
Enright and when the latter was made
Commissioner by Mayor Hylan one Of
his first acts was to denote Honest
Dan" from inspector to captain and
transfer him from the head.of the Vics
Squad TO a remote section of Brooklyn.
The committee also expects to hear
from Governor Miller to-day in reply
70 the request made by Elon R. Brown,
chief counsel Of the committee, and BY
Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer, chairman,
for special term of the Appellate Di
vision to hear the committees auueal
from the decision of Supreme Court
Justice Whitaker in the Leach contempt
proceedings.