New-York tribune., 1921-02-22
Rail of z Police
Craft W illness
Put at $4,000
Magistrate Mancuso Refuses
TO Dismiss O'Brien, Com
fessed Auto Thief; Raises
Bond, Sends Him TO Tombs
sworn Story Is Offered
said to Have Told How He
Split Proceeds of Car
1hefts With a Detective

Former Cfty Magistrate Frederick J.
eroehl. assistant to Charles S. Whit
,.D in the grand jury Investigation of
"a Police Department, won a victory
,.r his chief yesterday when he sue
.ssaed in not only having Thomas
o,Rrier alleged auto thief held for the
,sni Jury, but also in having his bail
,,eregsed from $4,000 to $4,000.
nRmeu. whose real name. The
tribune learned last night, is Frank
Moran. was represented by Alexander
xsrlin Magistrate Mancuso. before
whom the hearing was held in the
Washington Heights court, denied Kar-
;n's motion for the dismissal of the
.omp,aint. held O'Brien, or Moran. for
he seton of the grand jury and dou-
bled mis- bail
o'Brien, who is believed by Mr., Whit
man and his assistants to be one of the
principal figures in we'll organized
ring Of automobile thieves who have
been operating here. in Jersey and
slOne the bor]er line of Westchester
County and Connecticut, was taken to
the Harlem Jail after the hearing amt
will be lodged in The Tombs to-day.
Got Tip From Sing Sing
The 2rsaner is alleged to have given
Nessrs. Whitman and Groehl a sworn
statement in which he told of stealing
many cars in colIusion with certain
policemen. One Of these is said to be
q detective with whom O'Brien was
placed in touch by companion who
was sent to SIM Sing four months ago
for stealing cars. The tip advising him
to set in touch with this detective is
said TO have reached O'Brien directly
from s.ns Sing Prison.
Yesterdays argument before Magis-
rae Msncuso, which at times reached
the poinr where it seemed as though
tie opposing lawyers would come to
blows, reyolycd about the sworn state
ment alleged TO have been made to Mr..
whitman by the defendant.
Mr, karljn made the assertion that
tae statement was obtained from
0Beien while the latter was under the
influence # liquor.
"That statement was secured from
ny ellen, after he had been we'll piled
with liquor by Gov ernor Whitman's
aids" the lawyer declared heatedly. "a
ask that I be given permission to call
Is witness Detective Reith in order
that I may prove this"
0Brien was arrested the night OF
February II b. Mr.. Groehl and Detee-
tive William c. Reith and the latter
was I'm court Yesterday when the
prisoner was arraigned.
Hearst Linfed With. Case
Karlia's statement brought the fol-
lowing reionder from Groehl:
"l ar Honor, we knew early this
morning tat 9 surprise was to be
sprung upon us here this afternoon by
he defendant and his learned counsel
Tor tne benefit Of certain reporter
for Hearst newspaper, who now
probably is in this courtroom. This
evidently Is tie surprise.'
This appeared TO anger Mr.. karlin
who declared igorouslE that he die
Hgt know Mr H#arst and that the lat
Ter had nothing to do with the case
before the court.
AT the asst hearing of this case
lIr Groehi said, "Mr. Karlin charged
mat we were holding his client in lai
tor the purpose Of extracting certain
statements ir N him. | submit to tie
court statement he made voluntarily
and which was sworn to before {
aetarg. it indicates that he has stoler
Y. lessc ten cars i'm collusion with Ger
ain policemen, and therefore asl
aat instead Of reducing his bail, az
squested by Mr. harlin, you increase
TO $4,000"
Dismissal Promptly Denied
GroehI then drew the statement from
Ais pocket and handed it to Magistrat,
aancuso 1t was sworn to Februar!
u, after 0'Brien had been in Jail fo
nearly two days. The dates interested
me court deeply.
When you say that this statemen
was made after the prisoner had beer
Piled with liquor" said Magistrat