New-York tribune., 1921-01-27
Auto Graft
Case Goes to
Jury To-day
Whitman's Evidence Elk.
pected to Lead to Indict-
ment of Three Detec-
tives andMasn Higher Up
Important Witness
Is Reported Missingg g g
Political Pressure Brought
to Bear ON Ex-Governor
to Drop the Inquiry

Evidence which it is believed will re-
suit in the indictment of three detec-
tive sergeants connected with the Po-
lice Department automobile squad will
be presented this morning to the Jam
uary additional grand jury by ex-Gov-
ernor Charles S. Whitman, its special
counsel
This is said to be q forerunner of
other, evidence, which, in the opinion
of Mr.. Whitman and Assistant Dis
trict Attorney James E. Smith and
William Chilvers, two of Mr.. Whit
mans assistants, will lead directly into
Police Headquarters and will result
in the indictment within a week of one
of the powers in the present police
administration.
Arthur M. King, another of the Whit
man assistants, devoting his time to
the evidence presented by Meier Stein
brink, special counsel to the Board of
Estimates probe of city contracts, ad-
mitted yesterday that at least one of
the most important witnesses in his
investigation had evaded the jursdic-
ton of the grand jury and now was
in New Orleans.
Mr.. Whitman and ex-Magi gistrate
Frederick j. Groehl, attached to his
staff, spent more than half hour
yesterday with a woman who is SAID
to have furnished a mass of valuable
information in connection with police
graft.
Other Departments Involved
There were indications that the
Whitman investigation would spread
beyond the Police Department. The
other departments involved are. the
Dock Department and the Street Clean
ing Department.
The courthouse contract which has
engaged the attention Of Samuel Unter.
myer, counsel to the Lockwood leris-
latlve committee, also will be investi.
gated.
District Attorney Edward Swami and
Mr. Whitman had forty-minute con-
terence yesterday morning Neither
would discuss the subject engaging
their attention.
WAS
being brought to bear on Mr.. Whitman
to drop the investigation developed
during the day, but the former Govern
or said he intended to go as far as he
could with the inquiry, regardless of
where it led
There has been found by Mr.. Whit
man and his assistants an indication
of willingness on the part of manv
persons convinced of the sincerity
of the investigation to give val
liable information. In fact, the
eads are so numerous, one of Mr.
Whitman's assistants said Yesterday
that the staff of Investigators would
have to be materially increased to
handle the tips, and if these develop
another grand jury will be necessary
to handle the evidence.
The. outstanding feature of the day
was the completion by Assistant Dis
trict Attorneys Smith and Chilvers of
the evidence in the supposed collusion
between the police and automobile
thieves. When Ex-Governor Whitman
had gone over the evidence he i'm
mediately instructed his assistants to
be ready to go before the grand jury
this morning.
To Get Official Higher Up
There are at least seven members
of the automobile squad involved, it
was learned upon an indisputab,e au-
thority last night. The cases against
the three which will be presented to-
day are merely the beginning. it is
said, of series which will cul-
inmate in the presentation of a case
against an official known to be in
fuential in the administrative branch
of the Police Department.
Tho iDync RI ro ion of Ebo 11on,oI i, =,
tomobile graft has been going on for
two weeks. Royal II. Weller, former
Assistant District Attorney under
Whitman, appeared again yesterday
he has been at Mr.. Whtman's Office for
two days-with representative of the
insurance companies said to have paid
CONTINUED on pauo nlne)