The New York herald., 1921-02-08
4 MOTOR THIEVES
ALIGN AGAINST OLD
FRIENDS ON FORCE
Whitman's Crusade Also
Cuts Thefts From 400
a Month to Zero.
ONLY 21 IN JANUARY
Indicted Cop Is Found to Be
a Partner in Lucrative
Private Business.
GRAND JURY MEETS AGAIN
Three More Men Are Added to
Motor Squad to Replace
Those Disciplined.
ONLY 21 IN JANUARY
GRAND JURY MEETS AGAIN

Stealing of automobiles in New York
city has become a lost art since
Charles s. Whitman began exposing
what he believes to have been a con-
spiracy between thieves and members
OF the Police Department to loot the
ric-ways and hold the stolen cars for
rewards 1t actually has been reduced
70 zero.
Insurance companies have estimated
that 5000 cars were stolen last year.
They know absolutely about insured
cars. OF these, according to report
which has been given to Mr.. Whitman,
40S disappeared in December, one OF
the banner months for thieves in 1920
Mr. Whitman took active charge of
the District Attorneys graft investi-
cation on Janaury 10. Insured cars
stolen in January reached total OF
twenty one. Up to last Saturday none
nj all had been stolen in February.
Ii had been said in Mr. Whitman's
office that one result of his inquiry
ought TO be a marked slump in the
automobile stealing business. but he re-
fused to comment yesterday on the fore
going figures.
In addition to the man in the Tombs
who is awaiting sentence as an automo-
bile thief, and who had long talk last
week with Frederick J. Groehl OF Mr.
Whitman's staff. three otner men were
said yesterday to have made confessions
within the last two days Persons in
the Criminal Courts heard yesterday
that Mr.. Groehl now had complete
story, checked and cross checked, Of the
dealings between thieves and the COM
Daratively few policemen who are ac-
cused in connection with the traffic in
purloined cars.
Mr. Whitman will get into action
again to-day before the Grand Jury.
which meets at > 80 2. NJ. He said last
night that lie hardly expected indict-
ments in this session, however. as he did
not see how he could have time TO pre-
sent all OF the evidence that was in
readiness.
Besides the automobile cases he is
about ready to tell the jury Of result
Of another investigation. the nature OF
which has hardly been hinted at thus
far and of which he is unwilling to speak
until the Jury acts. II Il does act. Mean
while an assistant. Arthur NJ. King. Is
continuing his examination OF city con-
tracts and evidently has not fully made
NJ his mind as 60 the criminality OF
certain acts TO wnicn ne is giving study.
His leads were given by Meier Stein
brink, counsel for the Board Of Estimate
4, its investigation % city contracts.
g'he material in his hands was gathered
Independently o, Comptroller Craig
from whom District Attorney Wallace OF
Oucens has demanded any evidence that
Mr.. Craig may have Of suspicious trans
...ltona in that borough.
s minor disclosure yestei day was the
fact that one OF the indicted members
or the police automobile squad has beer
a partner in 2 profitable business while
on the payroll of the city. His name
was not made public
The automobile squad. depleted by th'
transfer last week OF six members e
precinct duty following the indictment
Of four of them. was reinforced yester
day by the assignment to squad du.y o.
Bernard Dowd OF headquarters. Brook
Ism: James Branigan of the West i00tl
street station. and William McCaffertl
or the East Sixty-seventh street station
McCafferty is son Of the late Inspector
James AfcCafferty head OF the detectiv'
bureau under Commissioner Bingham.