New-York tribune., 1921-02-25
Police Inspector Suspend
ed by Enright After True
Bill by Grand Jury;
Held Under So, 500 Bail
Charge CroundIess.
Malicious, He Says
Alleged Thief and Deal
er in Cars Also Are
Named i'm Accusations

William j. Lahey, Chief Inspector
of the Police Department, and said
to WELD more power than any of
fcial ever connected with the organ
ization, was indicted yesterday by
the January additional grand jury
on the charge of having been party
TO the acceptance of an unlawful
gratuity for the return of stolen
automobile
The true bill returned against
Chief Inspector Lahey was the most
important of a long series of indict-
ments found against members OF the
Police Department on evidence gath
cred by former Governor Charles s.
Whitman and his assistants in tile
municipal investigation they have
been conducting.
The Whitman investigation of the
Police Department was the direct re-
suit Of The Tribune's recent exposure
of conditions existing under the
regime of Commissioner Richard T.
Enright,
Indicted Jointly with Lahey and on
the same charge was Detective Ser
seant George ]. Andrews, a member OF
the automobile squad of the Police De
partment. Andrews was also indicted
/ individually on the charge Of having
accepted unlawful fees for the return
o. stolen automobiles.
Smiths Partner Gives Bail
After being arraigned befere Judge
Thomas c. T. GEain,~ in sae latters
chambers in the GeinlpaL Courts
Building late yesterday afternoon
both Lehey and Andrews were re
leased in $500 bail each, the bonds
being furnished by James ]. Riordan.
president of the United States Truck
ing Corporation and partner OF
fermer Governor Al. Smith
The Lahey and Andrews indictments
were two Of seven true bills voted yes
terday afternoon by the additional
grand jury. Other members OF the. Po-
lice Department indicted were Detec-
tlves William B. O'Connor and George
Scott, both OF the automobile squad
ead both charged with receiving un-
lawful gratuities for the recovery Or
stolen cars
Indictments also were returned
against Thomas 0'Brien, alleged auto
mobile thief, who now is in the Tombs
VI der S20,0 900 bail. and Oscar Sperling.
ar uptown automobile dealer. Both
are charged with grand larceny
At Z O'Clock last night Commissioners
Enright announced that Inspector
l.Ghey had been suspended from the
Police Department and that Borough
Inspector Thomas Murphy, in charge
Of Brooklyn and Queens, had been ap-
pointed Acting Chief Inspector.
Lahey's Statement
simultaneously with the announce
ment OF his suspension, Inspector
Lahey sent Detective Sergeant George
Mcdonald ont to newspaper men who
were waiting IN the main corridor o.
( Police Headquarters, and he distrib-
uted among them the following state
ment, which Lahey had signed:
Il am Informed that the indictmeut
| returned against me was predicated
upon necessary routine duties per
! formed by me while ! was Second Dep
uty Police Commissioner in command
Of the detective division
MS indictment seems 10 relate 70
the signing, as tier OF cour.esg. al
ser form acknowledging receipt OF
small check given 80 a member CT the
detective division as q gfatuity fpf
meritorious service. Such ackno47i.
edgments are matter Of routine
business Of the office and in accordance
with the procedure Of many years
standing.
"As head Of the police force, in the
interest Of good order and discipline
OF that force, as we'll as for the p,,b
lie interest, I shall demand an in1ne
dsate trial and judicial excneration o.
This malicious, vengeful and ahofly
gronndiess charge"
The specific charge on which Tnzcae
Sor Lahcy was indicted alleges thai
on June Il, 1920, ne received q CHECK
tor $40 from the Automobile Under
J. NF-ters detective bureau, made out
70 George 2. Andrews.
Cashed Check in Saloon
After writing and signing ar az
Anowiedgment OF the cheek ne turne6
y over TO Andrews, who cashed il IL
me saloon OF Matthew c. Keleher orr
poslte Police Headquarters. This Is
said TO be Ia direct violation OF Sec
ton 1882 OF the City Charter, which
provides that certain percentage OF
ail moneys received IN this. way must
I oe cFeolted 20 the pension and othsr
police funds.
Following Lahey's indictment. mfr
! whitman told newspaper rnent that she
eheek received and eashed on June u
vas only one OF many that had beesa
/ handisd by the police in the same ,yay
DE declared that the total sxs,mrt
would run into many thousands OF Ges
! ars anc that thare were so many In
dlvidral cases taat it would take weekx
10 get them all before the grand jury.
For this reason oa1E sr7a-,fsc go, -.
selected on which to ASA for an tn,iet-
meRs
Mr.. Whitman said that in going owe
The checks received by the Police ne
partment from insurance eompanies
turn of stolen cars he had found .hsf
eome cneeks Rad been handled az pre-
seribed by Lave and chat rert,.5r
amounts had been deducted from the,a
ana credited 70 tae proper police funds
! In every case these ebeeks 49,
stamped on the back. apol;rs r. y