The New York herald., 1921-02-03
Revelations by Armstrong
May Bring Indictments
in Graft Deals.
IN CHAIR AGAIN TODAY
Probe Centres on Police
Traffic in Booze and
Stolen Automobiles.
TOOK CARS FOR OWN USE
Fireman Whose Trial Was
Suppressed Is Expected to
Furnish Valuable Facts.

The Whitman investigation OF
charges of graft in the Police Depart
ment centred yesterday on stolen au-
tomobiles and outlaw whiskey.
The Grand Jury had another session
with Mr.. Whitmans reluctant but
plain spoken witness, Detective Ser
geant John Armstrong, late Of the
automobile squad. 1t finds his testi-
the stand again to-day. Although
Armstrong has refused to speak of
matters not within his personal knowl-
edge. il can be said that other and
higher members of the police force are
in much greater danger of indictment
than they were two days ago.
In his canvass for proof that certain
policemen have handled and dealt in
liquor in defiance of the Nolstead act
Mr.. whitman found il necessary yes
terday TO seek the cooperation of the
Federal Government. One of his as
sistants had a talk with Daniel e.
Chaplin. prohibition enforcement su-
pervisor. In this meeting secrecy OF
procedure was agreed upon.
Speaking of the stories that have
come to him of police activities in the
transportation and disposition OF booze
Mr.. Whitman said: Its pretty big
subject. Some of the statements made
to me seem Incredible but don't say
they're not true"
Police Deny Trade tn Liquor.
Two days employment OF the subpoena
power has not furnished corrororatior
of the stories, however. More police
men from the West Thirtieth and for.
mer west Thirty-seventh street stations
We're examined by William Chilyers OF
Mr.. Whitman's staff. who also had the
records from both station houses in
his office. The police admit that liquor
seized in raids. has at times been kept
overnight in both these places, but say
that It always has been turned over to
the Federal authorities In the morning.
as is required. They say that both the
police and Federal records prove this.
Mr.. Whitman. when he heard last night
what the police had said, made this
observation:
true. do not find any record that the
liquor was turned over 10 the Federal
people do not 81, ,ere is not such
record. but do sa il has not been
shown TO me thus far"
That policemen have bought and sold
stolen cars making considerable money
thereby. in addition TO collecting re-
wards for the return OF cars while ig-
noring the thieves. are charges the facts
of which seem clearer 10 the investi-
gators as John Armstrong continues his
testimony before the Grand Jury. Mr..
Whitman also believes that members of
the department have converted TO their
private use automobiles known tn have
been stolen and disguised. He believes
that at least fifteen or sixteen men Will
be shown to have done this But he dis
claims specific knowledge concerning re-
ports against one of the superios officers
at headquarters.
II have only heard the rumors you
have heard" was his answer TO ques-
tion about an officer who was reported
to have enjoyed himself last summer in
a car which is one Of the headliners OF
American manufacture.
isn't Il true" he was asked. that
when policemen got rewards for re-
covering cars and kept the money with
out dividing with the police relief fund
they were deliberately cheating the
families Of men who died in the per-
Torrance OF their duties"
"That is true he replied. 1T is not
the law. but il mas been the custom to
apportion 40 per cent OF all rewards re-
ceivcd by the police to the departmental
relief fund for women and children. |
think you will find that some Of the men
who received rewards for automobiles
had them paid in cash for exactly the
reason you indicate"