New-York tribune., 1921-01-25
Federal Agents
IOAid Whitman
In Graft Inquiry
U. 5. Officials Promise Co.
operation in Exposure of
Alleged Collusion Between
Police and Auto Thieves
Fund of $4,000 Voted
Indictment of Several Detec.
tives Promised Soon: 9th.
er Departments Involved

Federal authorities have agreed to
cooperate with the January extraorai-
nary grand jury in the nvestigation
of alleged collusion between the po-
lice and automobile thieves.
For two weeks Assistant District At
torney James E. Smith and William
Chllvers, assistants to former Governor
Charles S. Whitman, who is directing
the grand jury inquiry into the Hylan
administration, have been devoting
themselves to the supposed police graft
in the recovery of stolen automobiles.
Examination of police records and
of employees Of insurance companies
victimized by the alleged police graft
indicates, according to the investi-
gators, that the system of tribute by
police detectives has been extraordi-
nary. They have established a list Of
prices to be paid for the recovery Of
automobiles, the tribute being based
on the value of the gar, it is said.
When Mr.. Whitman's assistants had
whipped their case into shape they pre-
sented it to him and he Immediately
got in touch with the Federal authori-
ties 1t is said that The Federal Off
cials took up their end of the case
and immediately assigned several
agents to aid MIR. Whitman's assist
ants.
Indictment of Detectives Near
AS result OF the combined work,
MIR. Whitman is confident that before
the end Of the week several detectives
will be indicted.
These men, however, will not be the
only policemen against whom evidence
will be presented during the week to
the grand jury. Mr.. Whitman and his
assistants are completing cases against
at least one Inspector and two captains
in another case of "illegally accepting
gratuities" and another Inspector on
an entirely different charge.
The investigation conducted yester-
Arthur NJ. King, former Magistrate
Frederick J. Groehl, Mr. Chilvers and
Mr.. Smith, indicated that other cases
also would be ready for presentation
before the grand jury before the end
Of the week.
Meier Steinbrink again called on MIR.
Whitman yesterday and went into con-
ference with him and Mr.. King. He
remained in secret session for more
than an hour and when he emerged he
said to reporters:
Other Departments Involved
~ have brought up a mass of con-
crete facts which, n my opinion, war
rant investigation. 1t may upturn
crime in some city department.
want the facts carefully gone over by
Mr.. Whitman and his trained investl-
gators with a view of finding whether
or not crime has been committed. The
facts may spell out a crime"
1t is known that the facts turned
over by Mr.. Steinbrink indicate that
at least thgee departments. other than
the Police Department, are involved in
what appear to the investigators to
be irregularities and possibly worse
How far this phase of the investigation
will go no one at the Criminal Courts
Building would say yesterday.
The Committee on Finance and Bud
get Of the Board of Estimate yester-
day voted to report favorably to the
full board at its meeting Friday the
application of District Attorney
Edward Swami for $4,000 for counsel
in the investigation of the city admin
CONTINUED papo three)