New-York tribune., 1921-01-13
Whitman May Present
Charges To-day, Follow
ing Spectacular Raids
ON Fur Mems Office
Tribute Reported
Paid in Strike
Hylan and Enright Ignore
Requests That Detective
Thomas Be Assigned to
Assist in Investigation

Charles S. Whitman, in charge Of
the District Attorneys investigation
of the Hylan administration, will
present evidence to-day before the
grand jury which, it is expected, will
result in the Indictment of COM
manding officer in the Police Depart
ment go,
The evidence is based on inforrsa-
ton gathered by Mr.. Whitman aid
his assistants following series OF
raids on the Offices of fur manu-
facturers and their association on
Tuesday.
Meanwhile. evidence continued to
accumulate yesterday that Mayor
Hylan and Police Commissioner En-
right were set on blocking the in
vestigation as far as possible.
In spite of the Mayors offer of
"any six detectives" a request which
Mr.. Whitman made on Monday for
tie services of All Thomas, detec-
tive who was on his staff when he
was District Attorney, has been
ignored by Police Commissioner
Enright.
So far as Mr. Whitman has been
able to learn, Rule 1s4, which com
pels any detective assisting him to
make a full. report to the Police
Commissioner, is still in force.
though Mr.. Whitman promised in
teresting developments if an attempt
were made tn enforce it.
Policemen CIinch Charges a
Statements made yesterday by sew
eral policemen under oath to Mr.. Whit
man clinched the charge against the
police officer whose case comes up to-
day, Mr. Whitman believes, and justi-
fies him in going before the grand jury
to-day with a request for an ;ndict-
ment
Governor Whitman had been told OF
an organized system of police graft
which extended even to the patrolmen
during the recent furriers' strike.
which lasted for more than year.
During the strike, which several
times resulted in counter charges OF
assault by employers and workers be
ing made to Mr.. Swann's office. a num-
Der OF employees were badly beaten BY
patrolmen and one man was shot and
killed by patrolman during a row.
The scheme as outlined to Whitman
was that those who paid protection
money to the police were permitted to
operate without interference by pickets.
Policemen, off duty, or assigned to
reserve duty, were on the fur manu-
facturers' pay roll, Mr.. Whitman was
told. 1t was the duty of these men to
meet the strikebreakers at the various
subway, 81" and surface. car stops
nearest their place of business and to
escort them to their shops.
For this, it was charged, the patrol
men received a certain amount each
day, which was paid through the ser
geant in charge of the squad to which
they were ass gned Each sergeant re-
celved a daily salary.
The patrolmen wee assigned TO their
special duties by order of the COM
manding officer under suspicion. 1t
was charged that the officer received
his "bit" from each of the manufac-
turers protected by the police.
To get at the foundation of the
charges Mr.. Whitman mapped out q
series Of raids on the Offices of the
manufacturers who were sa to have
%1o ,,,fo <1a -
the manufacturers oc.ation. at 393
Fifth Avenue.
Whitman Engineers Raids
The raids We're made by three squads
from Whitman's office Tuesday morn
ing. One squad was commanded by
Assistant District Attorney Jim Smith;
the second by William Chilvers, who
served as counsel 70 Mr. Whitman
when Whitman was Governor, and who
is now associated with him in the in
vestigation, and the third by Frederick
j. Groehl, former magistrate and As
sistant District Attorney. who is also
an assistant to Whitman.
Seven persons were served. with sub
pnnas and taken with all records to
Mr.. Whitman's office. After an all
day grilling MIR. Whitman obtained
enough information to subpoena nine
Teen PollceWef, nVe OF them SerEeaEtS,
as was announced exclusively by The
Tribune yesterday morning.
Yesterday Mr.. Whitman, Mr.. Smith,
Mr.. Chilvers, Judge Groehl and Arthur
NJ. King, another assistant, devoted
themselves to an examination of tho
policemen. The corridor leading to the
District Attorneys room, where Mr..
Whitman has his office, was jammed
with uniformed policemen and recalled
the days of the Lieutenant Becker
Herman Rosenthal police scandal.
In his conference with newspaper
men late yesterday afternoon Mr..
Whitman refused to disclose the object
of his quest. In answer to series of
questions Mr. Whitman said:
Il am going to present some evi,
dence 10 the grand jury tomorrow
The evidence 80 far eXamined relat 4
to one field of the Investigation. ID
=, ,f,.u1 ~a.;ff h. p.l