New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
Motor Til
Drop From 100
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morning before Judge Mulqueen in
General Sessions.
In his conference with newspaper
men last night MIR. Whitman said that
he planned to go before the grand jury
this afternoon at $3.50 o'clock, and,
while he thought the time would be too
short TO consider all the evidence he
had to present, it was very likely that
several indictments might be returned.
Other Departments Involved
Contrary to the generally accepted
idea that the indictments would en-
brace the automobile scandal or some
OF its ramifications, it was reported
yesterday that the men involved are
| connected with other city. departments.
Nothing was Forthcoming TO indicate
the identity of the men or their city
connections.
Mr.. Whitman had before him yester-
day number of people in close touch
with the payments of "rewarSs" to
policemen for the recovery of automo-
biles. All admitted that the situation
mad been serious until the beginning
OF the Whitman inquiry, but that mat
ters had improved since.
Two of the witnesses who have made
damaging confessions against the po-
lice IN the alleged automobile craft
to Mr.sGroehl are now in prison. The
third man was brought to the Criminal
Courts Building late yesterday after
noon by detective sergeant and is
said to have implicated a man who
heretofore has not been mentioned in
the graft--a member of the automobile
squad who was thought to have been
absolutely clear of the scandal. IN
volved also, it is said, is a court attachs
and an automobile squad man now
under suspicion.
The newspaper story regarding the
mysterious MRS. White, of Bridge
port" said to have been arrested by
the Federal authorities in Connecti-
cut and to have implicated New York
policemen, was exploded yesterday.
Report Involves Old Case
On Saturday The Tribune received
tip that such woman had been ar
rested somewhere in Connecticut"
Acting with William Chilvers, one of
the Whitman assistants, The Tribune
reporters established the fact that the
tip had no solid foundation.
The facts are these:
Some time IN December the Federal
authorities made roundup of alleged
automobile thieves for stealing cars
from Detroit and transporting them
to New York and Boston for shipment
abroad.
Among those arrested was woman,
said to be Belle Warner, of Bridgeport,
who is now serving a two-year term in
Federal prison in Kansas. A Con-
neeticut man named White is on bail
of $4,000 and Brooklyn man is also
under bail in the same case.
None of the principals have made
admissions duplicating the New York
police, it was learned by The Tribune
yesterday, but, Mr.. Whitman's assist
ants will talk to all of them.
1t also became known yesterday that
Mr.. Whitman had instituted an inquiry
into alleged collusion between the
police and certain bond thefts in Wall
Street. 1t is known that Mr.. Whitman
has no intention of interfering in any
way with the prosecution of "Nicky"
Arnstein and his companions, but the
fact that yesterdays inquiry had been
started indicated that Mr.. Whitman
felt that the time was ripe for picking
off the alleged grating policemen who
are said to have made possible the
gigantic losses suffered in Wall Street
last year. While MIR. Whitman and
his assistants professed ignorance of
the new turn the investigation had
taken it is known that his investiga-
tors had called upon the National
Surety Company, the hardest hit of any
of the bonding companies, for specified
records.
Arthur NJ. King, investigating the
Steinbrink charges, which, it is said,
may lead to a member of the Hylan
official family, smiled graciously and
said: Gentlemen, l beg to report
progress" when asked about the IN
quiry yesterday. And that was all.
However, it was learned that the
controversy going on between District
Attorney Wallace, of Queens, and Con
troller Craig has no bearing on the
Whitman-K King investigation. The in
formation they have, it is said, might
be strengthened materially by the facts
in possession of Mr.. Craig, but the in
vestigation will continue regardless of
whether Mr.. Craig decides to give Mr.
Whitman those facts.
Assistant District Attorney James E.
Smith, credited with Mr.. Groehl with
having worked up most of the evidence
in the automobile graft scandal, re-
ceived information yesterday which he
says makes him morally certain that
one of the detectives involved in the
case has been for years conducting a
trucking business in New York in con-
nection with his police duties.
The Tribune made an effort to get
this man at his Office yesterday. His
name appears over the door and on the
trucks. He however, was not acces-
sible.
Louis Fridiger. counsel for Marty"
Owens and Thomas j. Koran, two of
the indicted automobile squad men, ap-
peared before Judge Mulqueen yester-
day with an application for an exami-
nation of the grand jury minutes. Judge
Mulqueen put the case over until this
morning, stating that he thought
Judge Grain, to whom the indictments
were returned, should hear the case.
1t was learned unofficially last night
that Judge Grain had "passed the buck"
TO Judge Mulqueen, and the case will
go on this morning.
Fridiger will be opposed by Arthur
M. King, Mr.. Whitman's assistant, 1t
will be argued by Fridiger that the two
policemen are under suspension, have
been reduced in rank, and having been
in other ways humiliated, are entitled
to either dismissal of the Indictment
or an early trial. King will argue that
an examination of the grand jury min
utes at this time will disclose the
names of those who have given and
are giving valuable information to the
District Attorney.
War Cost Fixed at 348 Billions
BALTIMORE Feb. Total costs of
the World War were declared to be
more than s34S,000, ,000, 600 by DR.. Rich
ard p. Strong. of the Harvard Mad;cai