New-York tribune., 1921-11-27
- Ew WORKERS know their Dan Cos
NJ tisan. OF course! He's the "Hon-
- est Dan" who was unpopular with


DAM who for something or other quit the
Police Department recently.
and that's about all New York knows Of
Inspector Daniel e. Costigan, former head
Of the police vice squad, reduced in rank and
finally forced into retirement last week by
Commissioner Enright.
New York's purveyors OF vice, its gam
blers and others who turn night into day, also
know Dan Costigan-more intimately than
the average New Yorker. They are still cell
ebrating Costigan's going. There Is no at
tempt at camouhage. Broadway and all It's
branches in other parts Of the city are glad
that the possibility Of Costigan's coming
back is now eliminated.
The proportionately few policemen who
have brought or have sought to bring dis
credit on the worlds greatest police force
also know Dan Costigan.
Rrosf Guesses on Cosfigun
Are Wrong Guesses
To all these Costigan was the vice cru
sader. His name means to the ordinary lay
man, the underworld and the crooked cop a
long-faced, sour individual whose sole object
was to surpass the efforts of the most rabid
Blue Sunday advocate In taking the Joy out
OF life.
They are all wrong.
Dan Costigan Is very human person.
Dan Costigan is fellow who can laugh
and enjoy it.
Dan Costigan Is family man with four
grown children, and he loves to take the
"missus" out for good time.
Dan Costigan enjoys night out with 'sthe
boys" and he is usually the last to suggest
that the party break up.
The massive ex-vice crusader abhors the
Isobriquet Honest Dan," conferred on him
quarters reporter. He believes that the title
carries with it an unwarranted Indictment Of
The integrity of the 10000 men who make
up the department.
The manner in which Billy Dixon came to
nickname Costigan is as follows:
Seventeen years ago Costigan, then
sergeant, was brought to Headquarters to
head the vice squad. His first day brought
to his Office high in political life,
merchant who had made fortune by sup
plying furniture to houses of prostitution.
The visitor made it plain that the money ar
rangement which had been made with others
would be continued with Costigan. The visi-
ter assumed patronizing air. Costigan was
young mana greenhorn in the work Of vice
detection-or so at least the "fxer" believed.
Dan apparently fell for the bait. To make
sure that he would not interfere with the
houses under protection, he asked for the
names and addresses. The 'fxer" readily fur
nished the information.
That night Costigan-then only "green-
horn" sergeant-raided every house on the
list and got enough evidence to convict the pro-
prietors. The next day the "ixer" burst into
Costigan's Office. He called Costigan every
vile name ever originated, and then passed ON
into the Commissioners Office with a threat
that Dan Costigan had made his first and
last raid.
The "fxer" was thrown out Of Police Head
quarters, then at 800 Mulberry Street, and
Dan Costigan was not ''broke." Instead, Cos
&igan was granted greater powers, and the
Commissioner gave the story to the newspaper
men assigned to cover Police Headquarters. In
writing his story Billy Dixon referred to
Costigan as Honest Dan." The name stuck
and still sticks.
"Why should be called Honest Dam any
more than the thousands Of Toms, Dicks and
Harrys of the Police Department.? he has re-
peatedly told the writer In protesting against
the use Of the title originated by Dixon.
"There have been many crooks unmasked in
this department" he went on, 'but that is no
reason why one man should be selected as an
honest man. The average cop-regardless of
rank-is honest Then why pick me out for
such distinction It's wrong
Costigan Faced Temptation
Early in His Cophood
On one occasion pointed out that very