New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
Detective Sergeant, After
a Nights imprisonment,
Bares Details of Stolen
Auto Craft to Jury
Enright g Suspends
Four Indicted Men
Head of Motor Patrol
and Aids Reduced to
Uniform and Pay Cut

One night in the Tombs, after an
unsuccessful effort to gain freedom
through habeas corpus writ, caused
Detective Sergeant John S. Armstrong
to go before the grand jury Investigate
ing the Hylan administration yesterday
and tell all he knew of the alleged
police graft in the recovery of stolen
automobiles.
Police Commissioner Enright yester-
day announced that he had practically
abolished the automobile squad when
he sent out an official order reducing
the head of the squad and the five de
tective sergeants-four of whom are
now under indictment--to the rank of
patrolmen and assigning them to uni
form. Enright also announced the
suspension Of the men under indict-
ment.
Detective Sergeant William T. Hem
merich, indicted Monday on a charge
of illegally accepting a gratuity for re-
covering a stolen motor car, surren-
dered yesterday and was released by
Judge Craln IN SZJ5UU Dall.
Stolen Autos Used by Police
Former Governor Charles S. Whit
man, special counsel to the grand jury,
admitted yesterday that he had learned
that mem bers of the Police Department
automobile squad were in the habit of
using stolen machines throughout the
summer and that in some cases the
cars were driven to summer resorts and
used during the vacations IF the police
by their families and friends.
It also developed yesterday that the
payment of rewards" in the graft
room" at Police Headquarters was not
confined TO money paid by automobile
insurance underwriters. Arthur M.
King, Assistant District Attorney James
e. Smith and ex-Magist,'ate Frederick
J. Groehl, three of the Whitman aids,
began the examination Of burglary in
surance underwriters said to have paid
the police to recover stolen property
which was insured
Arms strongs turn about yesterday
was almost as sensational as his refusal
Monday to answer grand jury ques-
tions after voluntarily making state
ment to Mr.. Whitman. His attitude
Monday resulted in his commitment to
the Tombs for thirty days and the as
sessment of a $3.50 fine by Judge Grain,
who adjudged him guilty of contempt
of court.
Armstrong Grilled Two Hours
Thomas l. Sheridan, counsel for
Armstrong, appeared early at tn ottce
of the District Attorney and wen INTO
conference with MIR. Swami and Mr..
Whitman. A short time later the three
went to the chambers of Judge Grain,
where Mr.. Sheridan said that he had
been unsuccessful in obtaining a
habeas corpus writ, and that Arm
strong had decided to answer the ques-
tions put to him ty the grand jury.
After two-hour session with the
grand jury, Armstrong appeared IN
General Sessions, accompanied by ms
counsel, Mr.. Whitman and members o.
the grand jury. The walk down the
two flights of stairs to Judge Grains
courtroom created as great furry "a
it did Monday, when Armstrong was
placed under arrest.
AS on Monday, Armstrong was &C
companied by Detective Sergeant Al
Thomas, who had him in custody. A
striking feature of the affair is that
when Mr.. Whitman was District Attor-
ney Armstrong and Thomas were part
ners in the detective bureau and were
ASSIGNED to Mr.. Whitman's Office.
"Your honor, this witness was ad-
Judged in contempt of court yester-
day for refusing to answer questions
asked him by the grand jury" Mr..
Whitman told Judge Grain. "To-day
ho has answered some of the ques-
tions in satisfactory manner. Others
will be asked him tomorrow and he
has promised to appear. | recommend,
therefore, that he be purged of con-
fcon4Jrusd an next naael