The New York herald., 1921-02-07
LOOT SENT TO EUROPE
Automobiles Disguised by
International Thieves
and Shipped Abroad.
CLUES IN OTHER CITIES
Police Lost Property Clerks
Books Found Deficient in
Entries About Motors.

With Charles S. Whitman's investi-
cation of graft gaining impetus as
fresh information pours into his office
from various channels. persons IN
touch with the inquiry were OF the De-
lief yesterday that the indictment OF
q police official is inevitable and that 1t
may be handed up before the end OF
this week.
This belief is based upon stories
from various sources which tend TO
indicate, in the belief Of investigators
that the official in question was coeni-
zant of irregular practices OF some
members of the uniformed and plain
clothes forces in connection with the
recovery OF stolen automobiles TOT
which rewards had been offered
One story which is being checked up
is known TO be 10 the effect that TINS
official for a long time used a stolen
automobile for his personal pleasures.
Ii is felt that such an indictment
would cause the Police Department
,fr,,e sorrow. as the official is noto-
riously unpopular among the men Oh
the force.
Another turn Yesterday was the state
n,e.. by Federal agents that members OF
hard q. twelve aleged international
s,,fon,o;,le thieves aecentiy rounded up
had made statements involving memo sfs
a. ene police automobile squad OF tn's
CITY, and tllu; taeir statements VIII he
turned over 20 AIR. Whitman.
stoien Car. sent 10 Europe.
The members of the band 10 whrn
tfess Federal agents .efer were ar
raigncd In Detroit early in DecefioeT
AID charged with having conductc1 a
scheme for stealing automobiles IA va
rious cities. Disgusting their appearance
aud shipping them out OF the port OK
New York 20 Europe, where they we"e
sold. one OF the persons arrested>was Il
Brooklyn automobile dealer and anothe:
was John White. Erigcport chauHedr.
Particular Significance is attachei To
th.s report because OF the statement SAT-
u-lay that woman in bridgeport was
said 10 have volunteered 70 furnish 10
,l-. Whitman. or one of his assistants
t.npcrtaut information relating 10 al-
,.rcd dealings between automobile
thieves and merrb bers Of the police force
os this city.
However these. leads may result =
now seems 70 be the opinion Of the m
1.st,gato-s that thorough Legislative
INJURY. either by a joint committee or
bv a commissioner appointed by Gov.
Miller under The AIoreland act would
proxlde the best way OF cleaning up the
situat ton. In event of such move, MIR.
Whitman would be the logical selection
as Counsel 20 the investigating force.
sn1 he would be able 10 place at rs
disposal vast accumulation of material
which he has gathered IN the capacity Q;
special assistant to District AttOiLa.
Edward Swami. Much Of this material
/, - said. would be far more useful 70 a
legislative Investigation than il can Id
TO The Grand Jury. which must confins
ITSELF solely 20 specific criminal viola
tons
At the present time his inquiry is
branching OF into several other States
and persons are being sought far ano
wide TO verify stories which have driftel
into the Criminal Courts Building.
Another thing In which the inves.
tigators are known 10 be taking a grea'
Interest. although unrelated. 70 the
police situation. Is the report about
Queens County sewer contracts which
reached them a few days ago, and In
some quarters tho belief II expressed
that there will be some action In this
direction within the next dav or two
AN' 1AdAu JtlNH AANMfhFNf AAatF 30 ItihllN
matters to take VI. including alleged
payments 20 policemen for protection
IN strikes. taking % rewards for re-
coNery Of articles stolen by burglars
end allegations involving police officers
with the rum ring. taat u is swampcd
Lost PROPERTY Lists Faulty.
An attempt by Assistant District At.
torney James y. Smith TO gather en-.
lrt4 4rn~sf
mobiles from tho record books Of IN.
lost property clerk ~ Police Head.
quarters proved satlsfa ctory TO him
Mr.. Smith. who Is assisting Mr.. Whit.
man, found the records told litfie ol
nothing and mostly nothing on,
book was not much more than 2
list Of stolen cars with the vouche,
property clerk. aid. IN n few Instances
the license and motor number. Til,
other book. which was supposed 10 fur
nish further Information REGARDING al
OF these cars. did not do so.
Referring 10 Section 38i Of tho city
charter. which fixes the duties Of the
police property clerk. alr. smith declared
II was obviously the place of that officer
20 keep a record relating 10 lost OF
stolen property turned over 20 him.
which should include the name OF the
owner II available. the place where the
article was found. circumstances sur.
rounding the case. the name Of the Of
ficcr who found Il or who made tho ar
rest II there was one. name or names o.
the claimants. n any. and the final dis
posal ot the property.
Mr.. Smith Is also interesting hlrisel.
ID the manner In which unclaimed cars
have been disposed OF. The charter re-
pulres that they be sold al public auc.
flon after six months. after being advcr.
tised for siy days in the CifU Record
The money derived from the sale IS sup.
uosed TO so into the Police Pension
Fund
Information has reached Mr. smith
that SIS automobiles sold at public auc-
ton IN this manner last November net.
ted total Of only si.5O0. although they
were not cheap cars and he expects 20
inquire Into tho circumstances surround
ing this particular sale. He complained
that recovered automobiles arc srp,
fcsttcrod q. various points Throughout
Che cts instead ~ az ono cent.l ID de-
pot
What arr 3cur fastsF. 4 i.n,.,l. -.i,V
Cadillac Rolls l.ore. or a s.ui.'atri.
Cars ~ harga'l prices nty a4Nrf.if.H fl fn.
Auto bSehAnse colrnni fy-da, s.. u...