New-York tribune., 1921-01-05
Ex-Governor Agrees to
Task and Will Be Sworn
In as Special Prosecutor
and Given Full Authority
ALI Departments
To Be Overhauled
None VIII Be Spared,
Says District Attorney,
Moved by Legislators
Charges of Corruption

has been chosen by District Attor-
ney Swami to conduct an investiga~
ton into the charges made by Sena-
tor Theodore Douglas Robinson and
Assemblyman Joseph Steinberg
against the Hylan administration.
Mr.. Whitman has accepted the as
signment, and to-day viii be ap-
pointed special counsel" to the Dis
trict Attorney with the full powers
of the Office. Judge Swami said Mr..
Whitman would be given free hand
and would not be interfered with
in any way.
Mr.. Whitman's appointment as
special counsel" to the District At
torney had been anticipated 1t was
known that the Almirall grand jury
was about to take up several matters
relative to the Police Department. A
request was made Oh Mr.. Swami sew
eral days ago that he ask Mr Whit
man to appear as special counsel for
the Almirall jury.
Swami Issues Statement
Finally Mr.. Swami. confronted by
the charges made by Senator Robinson
and Assemblyman Steinberg, violated
all precedents, visiting a former DIS
trict Attorney and asking for assist
ancc. Judge Swami went to the ex-
Governors Office in the Equitable lid
ing late yesterday afternoon and after
long conference telephoned TO the
newspapers that he bad an important
statement to give out at the Manhat-
tan Club
In the morning Mr.. Swami had an
nounced tha; he and Mr.. Banton. his
new chief assistant, would conduct the
questioning of Senator Robinson and
Assemblyman steinberg before the
grand jury
Al the Manhattan Club, after his
conference with Mr. Whitman, Mr..
Swami said:
Il thought that as Governor Whit
man had been judge Of General Ses
sions and Il District Attorney for SIX
years there was ~ one VINO knows the
crllninai court procedure better than h.
y went down to his Office and asked
him if he would not accept a special
retainer to prosecute any public Off
cial or officials against whom anybody
has any charges, without respect to
their politics or social or financial
standing.
81 told the grand jury to-day that it
was the duty OF the jury, and that,
under Section 260 Of the Code OF Grim
inal Procedure, The grand jury must
inquire into the wilful and corrupt mis-
conduct in Office Of public officials OF
every description in the county.
The January additional grand jury
will hold itself ready to hear charges
against any public official in the county,
and I've asked Governor Whitman
to act as specil counsel to conduct
any inquiry or inquiries before the
grand Jury and pro- ecute any indict-
ment that may be brought against any
public official.
Whitman Has Free Hand
And, while he is acting as special
counsel, I've asked him to be good
enough TO respon4 to any request from
any other grand jury TO aid It in any
inquiry into any willful and corrupt
misconduct against any official or de-
partment That includes the Almirall
grand jury.
q feel Governor Whitman has en-
tered into this thing with a splendid
spirit of cooperation, and if there IS
any thing wrong and any evidence OBJ
tainable, he viii produce results. He
VIII have free rand - the matter to
go the limit.
"He VIII take the matter Of the ac-
ccp,ance Of my offer under advscment
and win let ne know without delay. |
ana extremely anxi iQus that he accept
| don't know anybody in whom the pub
lie generally would have more faith
or any one better able TO handle the
matter.
This was all brought about av the
direct and formal statement N writing
given out by Senator Robinson an6 AS
semblyman Steinborg to the prcss.
Senator Robinson has made direct
charge OF corruption in pubic olfice
ard this is what | want to follow ~"
"W ould Mr.. Whitman's probe include
the Police Department p" he was asked
Il am not going 10 PREJUDICE any man
or any department Mir. Swami replied,
but we are going to follow up every
clew he Senator Hobinsonl csn
! give US"
Determined on Inquiry
Mr. Swami then emphasized, II
answer to question that Senator Rob-
/ lnson and Assemblyman Steinberg " II
not be asked to gA 4 waiver of i'm
munity when appearing before tho
grand jury on Friday. and This would
not come up, since neither IS accused
Of anything.
He said that even il the two le., .sla-
tors should Introduce joint resolution
+ for an iNuujr. Mt civ affairs II NO,s lI
not interfere with the grand jury in
quiry.
There will be no interference with
! that legislative function" added Mr..
Swami. 81 purposely set the matter
for Friday, SO that II would not inter
fere with Senator Robinson he;ng here
to testif lie has all the tive neces-