The New York herald., 1921-03-19
ANOTHER MEMBER !
OF POLICE IS HELD
FOR MOTOR THEFT
Confessed Thief Squeals on
Patrolman Briggs as His
Partner in Crime.
REVEALS VICE TRIBUTE
Young Woman Tells Whit
mans Aid She Paid Hun
dreds for Protection.
INVESTIGATION STARTED
Policeman Got $50 and 800
at Time, She Says; Arrested
When She Stopped.
INVESTIGATION STARTED

The indictment of another policeman
by the Grand Jury with which Charles
S. Whitman is working became public
yesterday when Patrolman John Briggs
Of the East 104th street station was
arraigned before Judge Grain in Gen.
larceny and receipt Of stolen prop
erty. He pleaded not guilty and was
held in $1,000 bail.
He is accused of buying from Harry
Greatbatch, confessed automobile
thief now in the Tombs awaiting sen,
tence, car which he knew to have
been stolen from Mrs. Laura Lowen-
stein of 169 West 1S0th street. Mrs.
Lowenstein left it in front Of the Elks'
Club in West Forty-third street on
November Is and Greatbatch drove
away in It. 1t Is alleged that Patrol
man Briggs gave the thief $500 for the
car, although its value was $1,000. and
on the same day, by giving the Secre-
tary of States Office a false motor
number got license In his own name.
on November 81. II is charged. Briggs,
using the same false motor number,
transferred the machine back to Great
batch. The latter then tried to sell 1t to
florist for $500. but the florist. sus
picious of the price, called Police Head
quarters and Greatbatc,- was arrested by
a member Of the automobile squad.
Greatbatch and his wife were witnesses
before the Grand Jury on Tuesday when
Briggs was indicted. Briggs is 35 years
old He lives at 81 Justice street Co
roma, L. ].
James L. Smith. an Assistant District
Attorney helping Mr.. Whitman. Is in
vestigating a story told him by woman
who says that while soliciting men on
the streets she had to pay tribute to a
member Of the special service division a.
Police Headquarters in the form both OF
money and silk shirts. She says she Is
twenty-three years old, came to New
York from Connecticut seven years ago
and paid the police for protection" for
four years, or until her marriage last
year. Il used TO pay between 5000 and
1900 as a guarantee" is one of the SEN
tences of her tatement.
Fourteen months ago, she says, she
became friendly with the special service
policeman after being arrested and dis
charged. she used TO go taxlcaDing with
him to a Brooklyn restaurant. and on
these trips she gave him 50 ''for ex-
penses." She says she often gave him
money, as "he was losing heavy on the
horses and II / didn't put money for
him on the horses he would have lost
everything" She speaks of giving him
$50 and 800 at a time, and of buying
him "a few silk shirts. silk socks and
two ties" the shirts costing $3.50 each.
For about a month she paid him $40
night.
She was married on June last. she
says, although the policeman told her
she was foolish to do 1t. She then
ceased her relations with the police
man. but she met him just before Christ
mas and promised him a few shirts
as a present. But she didn't buy the
shirts. and when the policeman asked
her, a few days later. II she had done
50. she told him she had no money
to buy shirts and walked away. There
after she was arrested by another po-
liceman and sent to Rlackwell's Island.
Special service division" is the mod
ern equivalent of "vice squad