The New York herald., 1921-02-22

had made 20 him concerning stolen cars
Groehl then scored a point that counted
heavily with the Magistrate by proving
that the affidavit was not made until tao
days after the arrest. or on February 2,
in Mr. Whitman's office. Meanwhile
'Brien had spent two nights ana a dag
in Jail The affidavit was not pat into
the record, but was shown 10 Magistratc
Mancusco. In order 10 silence Karin
Groehl said that in the paper Brion
admitted that he had stolen ten Ford
cars since January 1, collaborating Win
policemen who told him the hours al
which one of the Hudson River ferries
would not he guarded. The affidavit -
signed FRANK Moran. mis- being
OBrien's real name, Groehl said. me
last sentence reads "Al told ! gave the
police officers S275.'
it is understood O. Brien told Mr.
Whitman that he and three other auto
mobile thieves. two OF whom are now
in Sing Sing. worked together and were
protected by two or three members OF
the police automobile squad. The cars
We're brought 70 New York. slowed away
in friendly garages and in due time the
policemen found" them and received
rewards from insurance companies.
Right after the theft, according 70 the
alleged confession Of o. Brien, he re-
ceived 800 from a quarter not yet pub
iicly identified, and OF this he paid from
S25 TO S75 to the policeman who was
steering him.
Tne car tina, figures in the charge
against O Brien belongs to the Sub
marine Boat Corporation. 1t was stolen
ON February II from in front of the
Elks club in Newark At IL o'clock
that night according to the complaint
O'Brien drove it to the Manhattanville
Garage, 130th street and Old Broadway
Mr. Groehl's witnesses We're Nat Good
man. general manager of the garage
Thomas LomaX. night manager. and
Charles Lawrence CT the submarine
Boat Corporation.
Attorney Karlin urged that $4,000
bail was too much. as when the car
was new il cost only $3.50. After read
ing the affidavit the Magistrate held the
prisoner in $4,000 bail for the Grand
Jury which meets again on Thursday
and may indct two policemen on the
strength of O O'Brien's story and cor
roboration obtained by Groehl and
Reith.
Edward Hatch. Jr., who about the
time the Whitman inquiry started hand
ed Mr.. Whitman a certified check for
$4,000 to finance the investigation, in
case the Board of Estimate refused to
act. said yesterday that he had taken
out $z5, 900 insurance policy. the
money to be used. in case of his assas-
siuation. ito run down graft and graft
ers."
Mr.. Hatch said he had received sew
eral letters threatening his life because
he had tried 10 help Mr.. Whitman He
did not think he was actually in danger,
but felt that the situation demanded
tn, establishment of a trust fund to be
used to carry on the exposure of ras-
cality if the anonymous letter writer's
should make good their threats. The
$50, 900 check given to Mr.. Whitman by
Mr. Hatch was put away in a safe. de-
posit box Mr.. Whitman intends to re-
turn il when the investigation is ended,
but Mr. Hatch said yesterday he would
decline to receive it, He will recommend,
instead that 1t be given ito some worthy
CHARITY"
Mr. Hatch is chairman of the Mer-
chants Associations Committee on
Water Pollution. His father was a part
ner in the firm of Lord & Taylor