New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-15

zen TO dash out OF his office with
the letter in his hand and head for
the rooms occupied by Mr.. Whitman.
he latter had not yet arrived, and
ne District Attorney made ut least q
ealf dozen trips TO his office before
re succeeded in placing the communi-
alton bAsore him.
When Mr.. Whitman, whose title is
low that of Special Deputy Assistant
district Attorney, finally emerged from
is office to place the letter before the
aewspapermen he was obviously in a
nelligetent mood. His protruding jaw
vas set and his eyes snapped.
One of the first questions fred at
him was whether he contemplated ask
ng Governor Miller to remove from
',ffice either Mayor Hylan or Commits
Toner Enright. To this the Special
Deputy made no reply. He merely
wir,ed his eyeglasses about his index
niger and smiled at his questioner.
II want it understood" said Mr..
Whitman, that the letter sent by Dis
riot Attorney Swami TO Commissioner
snright asking for the appointment
( Detective Thomas to my staff did
iot ask for policemen to investigate
ne Police Department.
"There is nothing before the Police
Department or the Mayor to indicate
hat the services of the Police Depart
nent in assisting the District Attorney
necessarily involved such police Of
lcers in Investigating the Department
If Police"
Whitman of Becker Days"
what do you intend to do" the
sormer Governor was asked.
Mr.. Whitman made no direct reply
o this query, but his attitude indicat-
ID plainly that he intended to do some
hing All the smooth demeanor that
sas characterized his former confer
noes with members of the press was
one. He was the Whitman of the days
Becker.
care you still determined to get the
assistance of those policemen you
yapt ?" was the next question asked.
Mr.. Whitman replied:
My duty is to obtain the assistance
# the police in Investigating crime In
his county and intend to do it,"
The man who brought about the ex-
{ eution' OF Police Lieutenant Becker
( nd the four gulmen could hardly have
! aid more emphasis on this statement.
+. one one in the background murmured,
y erv truthfully: "The Governor is
! Citing mad"
The special deputy was then asked
: neither there was any law which re-
{ uired the police to aid the District
-. -ttorney.
1T is the duty OF the Police Depart
: tent &c render al the assistance in
is power in investigating. detecting,
! reventing and Furnishing crime,
neither it be committed by policemen
q any other persons" was the reply.
1t IS their duty to render the assist
nee required by judges. the courts or
lie District Attorneys Office"
\ reporter, recalling a paragraph in
commissioners Enright's letter to Dis
rict Attorney Swami, asked:
Il the police actually have more work
aan they can attend to. would not the
! olice Commissioner have the right to
tecide upon which was the more i'm
! ortant ?"
Whitman Uses Sarcasm
The former Governors retort VA.
atner sarcastic He said:
Apparently they have not hesitated
. render all the services asked for bv
ne business fouses uptown" Then
e added crisply: "After they had
eean paid for it,
Go and look at the city charter. and
think you will find the answer to
cur question" said sir. Whitman. at
: oesE't matter, however, whether it Is
4 The charter or not. One of the
-Aings for which the Police Depart
lenC was created was to lend assist
nee TO the District Attorneys office,
no | do not think it necessary that it
mould be specifically set forth
At this point Mr.. Whitman was
sked whether it was not a fact that
) &c Police Commissioner was answers
! lie to the Mayor.
Mr. Whitman failed to make direct
eply. a telephone rang in his Office
I'd he started away. His last words
ere:
Ny drty is plain"
Inc section of the city charter re-
. erred to b. Mr. Whitman is 270. and
eads as follows:
The head CT the Police Department
hall be called The Police Commissioner,
Tho snail be appointed by the Mayor
nj shall, unless sooner removed, hold
flee for the term of five years, and
ntll his srecessor shall be appointed
-; I'd has qualified. The said Commits
loner may, whenever, in the judgment
the Mayor of said CITY or the Gov
{ rror, the pubic interests shall 80 re-
Z .ulre, be removed from Office by either
nd shall be ineligible for reappoint-
laent thereto.
"Ghe successors in Office of the said
commissioner shall also be appointed
y the Mayor of the city within ten
: TER any vacancy shall occur, and
aail be removed by either the Mayor
/ u-NerA~r whenever the public inter
SITS SO require"
Letter Comes as Bombshcll
Tho receipt of Commissioner En-
igf is .ettes came as something of q
,omDshell in the D strict Attorneys
flee. Il obviously had the effect OF
hanging the immediate aspect Of the
investigation and caused Mr.. Whitman
cancel a number of pr vate engage
nents ne had arranged for to-day. In
tead OF devoting to-day TO private af-
airs, as he had intended before the
.nrlgnt communication was received
e announced that he would be ut his
'ffice early and probably remain there
until late in me evening.
When Mr.. Swami entered the ex-
Governors Office with the Enright
ultimatuna" the two officials renamed
4 conference for nearly two hours.
wen Mr.. Swann's usually placid coun-
enance WAS flushed with anger when
&c came out, and from that moment the
nt!re tn I'd floor Of the Criminal
,ourts Building scented fight. When
Or. Swami left for his rooms in the
Manhattan Club there was every in
Hcat-on that he intended to back Mr..
Whitman 20 the limit.
Mr Whitman spent the late hours of
ne afternoon with his staff of assist
snts studying the c ty charter, and it