New-York tribune., 1921-02-09
Three Fire
Officials To
Be Indicted
Continues from sage sne)

and her husband grew pale. Then they
passed on into the grand jury room.
When the man, who is known to be q
former fireman, came out, he grasped
the hand of his aged father and, with
a suspicion of moisture about his eyes,
said in Italian:
ITS all right, dad I told the truth.
They. Whitman, ain't going to send me
to Jail"
His wife .gripped his arm. She was
smiling through her tears. yes, he's
all right, dad. Let's go home to the
kids" she said, also in Italian. The old
man muttered something, kissed both
and they disappeared into the elevator.
a few minutes later Mr.. Whitman
and Assistant District Attorney James
E. Smith emerged from the grand jury
room. Both were smiling broadly.
Character of Charge Secret
Neither would say what had occurred,
nor would Judge Groehl. 1t was
learned, however, that when the grand
jury reconvenes tomorrow morning
it will vote and present indictments
against at least three members Of the
Fire Department., who are rated as ex-
ecutives.
The character of the alleged crime
committed by these officials will be
kept secret until tomorrow, for the
reason that the object of the inquiry
might be defeated by premature pub
hcity. 1t is said that the we'll dressed
woman-she who it was said had been
scorned by the former tireman-gave
the information upon which he was
called before the grand jury.
He proved to be stubborn witness,
it is said, until after his wife talked
eh HnI - in,
of his three children. She argued that
nothing could happen to him, because
he had been granted immunity. He
went back before the grand jury.
What be said remains mystery, but
evidently he gave satisfactory evil
Gence. This can be based on his state
ment to his father and the smiles of
satisfaction on the faces of his wife,
Nj. Whitman and Mr.. Smith.
The detective sergeant said to have
been indicted in connection with the
automobile graft scandal is said to be
a war hero. 1t is question whether
he will be able to appear this morn
ing. He may, however, appear through
counsel
The move TO free Marty" Owens and
hi partner, Thomas j. Horan. former
detective sergeants, indicted on
charges Of accepting Illegal fees, came
/ y U M
General Sessions.
Louis Fridiger based his request for
! an inspection Of the grand jury min
| utes on the fact that he did not be-
llove that the grand jury had been pre-
sented with the corroboratIve evidence
necessary to warrant an Indictment.
He dwelt on Owens's war record and
said that if his application for an in
spection Of the minutes was denied he
would request al immediate trial.
Robert d. Petty, an assistant dis
trict attorney, opposed the motion
citing several cases in which such a
motion had been denied. Arthur NJ
| King, one of Mr.. Whitman's assistants
was in court, but he acted only in ar
! advisory capacity.
! Frldlger filed long brief Mr.. Petty
said ne was not prepared to file brief
Judge Mulqueen made it plain in 8
| statement from the bench, in granting
! Mr. Petty until Friday to file brief
1 that unless the District Attorney was
prepared to show that the gives of the
| gratuity was corroborated he woulC
grant the motion to inspect the min.
utes, and would in all probability dis
miss the indictment against Owens ane
| Koran.
Seek to Embarrass Republicans
Rumors were current in the Crimina
Courts Building that State Senate,
Marty" McCue, ex-prize fighter, ex
Third Avenue saloonkeeper, and unit
last year Assemb1yman, would intro,
duce resolution in the Senate callins
for a most rigid inquiry into city
affairs.
The Tribune reporters after an in
vestigation learned that the hill wa,