New-York tribune., 1921-09-23
Police Official, Who Had
Named Guard Agency
for Pier, Got Second
$500 While i'm Tombs
Food Cost Raised
By Patrol System
English Ship Concern, 1t
Is Alleged, Forced to Em-
ploy Favored Watchn1en

Police Inspector Dominick Henry
received gratuities amounting to
$1,000 from the Italian Line last
year in connection with the policing
of the company's piers on the North
River, according to testimony offered
before the Meyer legislative investi-
eating committee yesterday.
The money, witnesses declared,
was given to Henry in two payments
of $500 each by Francis Gilbert, at
torney for the shipping firm, in Nay
and June of 1920. They were re-
corded on the company's books as
"gfatuities" placed against the 'spier
account"
Pier Depredations Halted
Anthony F. Vachris, head Of
detective agency, had testified that
ne had been unable to stop depreda-
tlons on the piers because Of the
lack of cooperation by the police
authorities, but that this co-opera-
ton was Immediately forthcoming
after the company had employed
former Police Inspector Adam Cross
on suggestion of Inspector Henry to
supervise the guarding of the firms
piers.
A lew months after the employment
OF Cross, in February of 1920. it was
testified, Inspector Henry went to Sc,
Mr.. Gilbert "and told him that he was
broke and needed money for his de-
tense in connection with some charges"
GllRert advised the payment of $500.
II was also recorded that later In
spector Henry had called Mr.. Gilbert
u up "and told him that he did not think
SoUo was enough for all he had done"
and that Gilbert then had suggested
that the company "ought to give him
$500 more and be done with it."
Both sums were given to the In
spector in cash, the first $500 having
been given to him by Mr.. Gilbert. ac-
cordlng to the evidence, while Henry
was under suspension ON charges Of
neglect of duty. The second payment
was made to him in the Tombs. where
he was awaiting trial on charges of
perjury.
Bartenders Get Jobs as Guards
Additional evidence was introduced
indicating that while Cross was am
posed to be responsible for the hiring
Of the watchmen on the lines piers.
guards were actually employed for the
work by Inspector Henry himself and
were sent by him to Police Headouar-
ters TO be sworn in as special policemen
Tor duty under Cross, a privilege which
vachrls had been unable to obtain. In
the lace of assurances that these watch
men would be former policemen or ex
perlenced guards, ii was shown that
several OF the men selected for the work
under Cross were bartenders and nor
ters.
The Italian Line was not the only
concern that suffered from the suueez-
ing operation, according to Henry II.
Graef, chief accountant of the Furness-
Witty Company, an English shipning
concern. Mr.. Graef testified that his
hrm, which has piers adjoining the
Italian Line, also was forced to employ
Cross to take charge of its pier guards.
and that 1T cost the company $6S 900 1or
the Cross system of watching their
docks in 1920, as against $4,000 under
tnelr private guarding arrangements in
ioiVy WiCA lucTe was more business
than in the former year
The weeks work of the committees
was summed up just before adjourn
ment yesterday by Elon R. Brown.
chief counsel to the committee. Mr.. M
Brown said the evidence showed con-
ciusively that all appointments in the
exempt class of the Police Department
were made exclusively on the recon-
mendations of the Mayor and that this
did not tend to strengthen the eficien-
cy of the police administration Of the
city. He insisted that transfers within
the department should be made on
merit and not solely on request, as the
testimony indicated
Increase in Cost of Living
The evidence in connection with thes
dock situation showed he said. that
the Italian Line couldn't get co-opera-
tion of the Police Department in the
protection of its property until it had
made an arrangement that was salts
factory to the Police Department and
which gave a benefit to that depart
ment. He said that companies were
paying 100000 year to protect their
goods from being stolen from docks for.
which they were paying a yearly rem
tai of 100000. The proposition, he
insisted, was ridiculous and added to
the cost of living.
jules v. behar. assistant general
manager Of the Italian Line, said that.
the company had considerable trouble
with the guarding of it's piers under
vachris, particularly because OF the
to obtain the proper cooper.
alton of the Police Department. He
said the trouble disappeared upon the.
employment of Cross at the suggestion
Of Inspector Henry, and that while
Vachris was unable to have his men
sworn in as special policemen the
men were Immediately given this au-
thority and supplied with badges and.
guns when Cross took charge.
Mr.. Gilbert appeared decidedly un-
willing witness. He said he felt sorry
for the inspector when he came to him
with his troubles growing out Of the
charges of neglect Of duty and per
Jury. He said he believed him an
honest man and found him an excel
lent policeman, who had rendered valu-
able services to his company.
His friendship with the inspector. he
said dated frnm a ft,neheon M hoa ~v3s