The New York herald., 1921-01-08
MAYOR PROFFERS AID
Hylan Places Services Of
Any Six Detectives at Dis
posal of Investigators.
COSTIGAN MAY BE CHOSEN
Ex-Governor Says His Work
Will Not Conflict With That
of Legislature.

The prevailing question, What is
1t all about?' was hardly answered
yesterday when the city graft investi-
CATION In which Charles S. Whitman
figures as special county prosecutor
was begun by the additional Grand
Jury Senator Robinson and Assem-
blyman Steinberg, called upon to state
the basis Of their charge that the
Hylan administration, especially the
Police Department, is corrupt, handed
to the jury a batch Of newspaper clip
pings and later joined in saying that
the calling of ourselves to testify was
a smoke screen to cover up what the
District Attorneys Office had failed to
accomplish in the past years"
Mr.. Whitman did not appear in the
Grand Jury room or go to the Criminal
Courts Building at all until after 4
o'clock, when he was sworn in as a
special assistant by District Attorney
Swami in the room where the former
Governor once sat as chief. Messrs.
Robinson and Steinberg we're examined
by Mr.. Swami, with the latter's new
chief assistant, Joab Banton, looking
on. This Interrogation proving fruit
less, Mr.. Swami and Mr.. Banton left
the room for while.
Alone with the Grand Jury the wit
ns.sses. in the classic phrase OF the
;,alls of crime, told ALL This con-
sisted of repetition of the generalized
statements of official misconduct made
last week In Albany when the Senator
and Assemblyman demanded an In
yestigation of the city by a joint COM
mittee of the Legislature. They also
left with the Grand Jury a bundle of
papers which they thought worth look
ing into for leads. The Grand Jury
then heard third witness, Arthur d.
IIowden Smith. a special writer for the
New York Evening Post, and adjourned
TO Monday.
Dan Costigan May Aid.
At this stage the inquiry seemed to
be running on two flat tires toward no
specified destination. But the moment
Mr. Whitman reached Mr.. Swanns Of
flee real action began to be scented.
After he took the oath these facts be-
vame known:
Mr. Whitman is not hitting out
blndly. but has specific prima facic
evidence of crminallty which. in the
opinion of this experienced investigator.
warrants him In going ahead with all
the resources he can command.
Authorized by Mayor Hylan to do
so, District Attorney Swami has of
fered to the Grand Jury the exclusive
services of any six members of the
Detective Bureau the jury or its fore
man may select The Mayor also prom
ised to do everything within reason
that is within his power to aid in the
investigation.
Mr.. Whitman will insist upon having
the help not only of any aid in the
District Attorneys office. which Mr..
Swami offered. but of assistants and
District Attorneys office and outside
tho detective bureau. to which Mayor
Itylan limited his tender.
II IL believed that this will be granted
Mr.. Swami has already granted II SO far
as he is concerned. 1t Is then entirely
probable that Mr.. Whitman will ask
for the services, as one OF his principal
Investigators. of Capt Dan Costigan.
Costigan. transferred from vice squad
duty by Commissioner Enright and re-
duced in rank from an inspectorship, Is
now assigned 10 bTOWnbNlue.
II Mr.. Whitman has his way-and II
looks as II he will have his way II he
continues TO manage the inqulry-the
city will behold Honest Dan Costigan.
long smartlng under the sting Of what
he believes 10 be injustice. investigat-
ing the administration of his own de-
partment under the direction of the man
who prosecuted Becker.
Legislative Inquiry Separate.
Seated with MIR. Swami when the re-
porters entered the District Attorney S
office, Mr.. Whitman Joined him in an
earnest disclaimer of any Intent TO in
terfere or possibility of interfering with
the proposed investigation by the Leg
islature.
There will be no interference with
any other investigation" Mr.. Whitman
said There Is no possible chance OF
such interference. II Is the sworn duty
of the, District Attorney to investigate
any evidence OF crime. present the facts
TO the Grand Jury and prosecute the Of
fender. 1t is particularly enJoined upon
him to investigate charges Of corruption
in public office"
So far as could be learned Mr.. Whit
man took little interest In the appear
ance before the Grand Jury OF Senator
Theodore Douglas Robinson, Assembly
man Joseph Stcinberg and Mr.. Smith.
the newspaper man. Nor Is he party
to the subp9nning for Monday of Hood
MacFarland. c!ry editor. and A. J. Nc
Kenna and John Lawrence. reporters.
for the New York Tribune. Mr.. Swami
caused these men to be called In order
to ask them the basis of articles at
tacking the police administration. Mr..
whitman has In mind more productive
lines of inquiry than this.
Two former policemen also have been
summoned to 90 before the Grand Jury
on Monday. They are Henry G. Jessup
and Edward II. Dalton. Jessup was one
of Costigan's men several years ago.
Later he and Detective Clinton Woods.
assigned to she District Attorneys Of
flee. investigated labor cases on the
East side. Jessup was a witness against
District Attorney Swami in the hearing
i'm 1917 of charges made by the city
Club which resulted IN the exoneration
OF Mr.. Swami of any charge OF miscon-
duct. since leaving the department he
has written several articles for n news
paper dealing with police affairs.
HARDING SEES AID IN PRAYER,