New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
Whitman Said to Possess
Evidence That Shows
Ring of 13 Operated
With Police Protection
More Indictments
Expected Monday
Gangs Said to Have Spe-
c;alized i'm Standard Cars
From Flivvers to Sedans

The indictment on Thursday Of De-
betiye Sergeants Martin Owens and
THOMAS ]. Horan on the charge of raw
,ne accepted unlawful fees for the re-
turr of stolen automobiles opened up
yesterday = number of new leads which
.re expected to result in fresh revela-
ions in connection with motor thefts.
Information that reached former Gov
amor Charles S. Whitman, who, with
three assistants, is conducting an in
duiry into the Hylan administration
IN general and the Police Department
ID particular, is said to indicate that
cnly twelve men and possibly one wom-
an we're involved in the stealing of she
45o0 automobiles in the last twelve
months which were recovered by mem
hers of the automobile squad, of which
Owens and Horan were two Of the most
active members.
The rewards paid to members of the
squad for the recovery of these cars
is alleged to approximate 100000. and
Il was on two alleged specific payments,
said to amount to $1OO each, that Mr..
Whitman obtained the indictment by
the additional January grand jury of
Owens and Horan.
More Indictments Expected
Further information on which Mr..
Whitman and his assistants were work
ing yesterday will result on Monday
In the Indictment of other members of
The squad and TIE returning of super
seding indictments against Owens and
Koran, according to statements made
at the District Attorneys Office last
night.
person who has been investigating
the automobile theft situation said last
night that the thousands of cars stolen
In New York in the last year have been
taken. used and disposed Of by a ring
Of crooks numbering not more than
thirteen persons. This ring was char
aeterized as ''close corporation"
directed by two men who have made G.
study of automobile stealing.
1t can be shown, it was said yester-
day, that it was not unusual for one
Took TO steal seven cars in a single
Day and that in some instances one
ihief got away with as many as
dozen.
st Informal ton said to be in the posses
sion of Mr.. Whitman indicates that
the identity Of every member OF the
band Of motor thieves has been known
to the police for more than six months
and that the men on the autom obile
squad have an intimate knowledge of
sheIr method OF operation.
Although Mr.. Whitman would neither
deny nor confirm the report, it was said
yesterday at the Criminal Courts build
ing that one member of the auto squad
mad confessed and that evidence to be
41hnnifror to Tho
day would result in additional indict-
ments.
When the full story of the automo-
bile thefts is told it is expected TO
show that no more intelligent band of
inleves ever worked in New York.
Under the direction of one man the
ROBBERS operated on a carefully planned
system.
Thieves Worked in Gangs
one detachment was assigned to the
Hea.ing u fvvers, it is said; another
% midd,e-priced cars and a third was
Known as the "six-cylinder bunch" The
liH numbering four men. devoted
themselves, it is charged. only to cars
nsiued at more than $4,000, and spe-
si!.ed IN limousines. All members
~ sne gang are said to be former
SaauHeurs and expert mechanics. Thew
' we're discriminating in the type of cars
SSeiecsed for stealing and are said to
wave conhned themselves to standard
axes IN order to make Identification
more difficult.
according to statistics which reached
-, ~. whitman yesterday, the branch Of
sae gang which did by far the most
son'apie business were the bandits
sas stole iivvers, disposing of them
noor later IN many cases The dis
tcentna.d on pass thrse)