The New York herald., 1921-01-12
MAYOR SNUBS SWAMI
Enright Also Invisible to
Prosecutor, Who Wants
a Rule Suspended.
GRAND JURY ACTION SOON
Ex-Governor Observes Secrecy
After Talking With Busi-
ness Men.

1t was indicated last night that
Charles S. Whitman has struck what
he regards as hot trail in his search
for graft in the Police Department,
and has come into the possession of
evidence of serious note, which he ex-
poets to lay before the Grand Jury be-
fore the end of this week.
His manner last night. when he fin
ished hearing the stories of group of
business men who visited him in the
Criminal Courts Building at his re-
quest, was quite different from that OF
Monday evening. On Monday he said
he had found no indication of wrong
doing, had nothing as yet to offer to
the Grand Jury and hoped he would
have nothing.
Last night he admitted that he was
working on several cases relating to the
Police Department. that the witnesses
he had seen were important" and that
q basis for Grand Jury action seemed
to exist.
He said he did not intend to so be-
fore the jury to-day. and further said
little except that he hoped the identity
OF the witnesses, in case anybody outside
OF his staff learned it. would not be
published, as that might interfere with
his investigation.
Last night process servers under Mr..
Whitman's direction went through three
police precincts. including the upper and
lower Tenderloins, serving Grand Jury
subpnnas on business men requiring
them to appear for examination at the
District Attorneys office at 80 O'Clock
this morning.
Must Produce Business Books.
Each man must produce his records
showing financial transactions for the
last three months, including check books,
cancelled checks. bank books and ac-
counts Of cash transactions carried on by
the individual or corporation. In the
corner of each subpoena were the initials
&C. s. W.
II was reported that proprietors of
RESTRAINTS and hotels were subp9naed.
Mr.. Whitman said this was not true. so
far as he knew, but that the men whose
presence was demanded at the Criminal
Courts Building were business men in
commercial lines
THE sending out of the process
servers" he added, resulted from in
formation we obtained to-day. That Ia
all there is to say at this time"
1t was apparent that the former Gov
ernor's determination to cover every
inch of ground in the inquiry had been
increased by the curious demeanor of
Mayor Hylan and Police Commissioner
Enright. Both have snubbed District
Attorney Swami. who was the means of
getting Mr.. Whitman Ito take charge of
the investigation as special counsel and
adviser of the Grand Jury. Yesterday.
when Mr.. Swami went to City Hall to
ask the Mayor to have the rule sus-
pended which requires members of the
Police Department to reveal to their
Commissioner all that takes place when
they are called to the District Attorneys
office, the Mayor refused to see him.
Instead. he had his secretary inform
Mr.. Swami by letter that a conference
OF the Mayor and the District Attorney
would be improper" for the reason that
a newspaper had referred to the affair
as 'Hylan-Swann investigation"
Enright Always "Out" TO Swami.
Later. after expressing surprise at
the Mayors sensitiveness. Mr.. Swami
to reach Commissioner Enright on the
telephone. Each time. beginning on Mon
day. he was told at Police HEADQUARTERS
that the Commissioner was mot in"
Each time the District Attorney left
word for the Commissioner TO telephone
him when he returned. Up to last night
Mr.. Enright was still reported "out."
In view of the fact that on Friday
last the Mayor wrote a letter to Mr..
Swami promising the Grand Jury the
assistance of any six detectives II might
choose and had also offered to give TO
the investigation any reasonable help
within his power, Mr.. Swami was natu-
rally shocked at being left incommunl-
cado by both His Honor and the Police
Commissioner His predicament is all
the more peculiar because he and the
Mayor and the Police Commissioner In
politics are brethren of the happy fam
lily OF Tammany, or Tammany's blood
cousins in Brooklyn.
but this much Is sure" said Mr.
Swami. as he felt firm ground under his
feet once more. "the investigation will
20 right on and nothing can stop il or
interfere with IT,"
Several had fur coats that were the
real thing. Buttoned shoes and silk
stockings are also favored in the circles
! In which they move. Other persons with
information will call to-day. Mr.. Whit
mans four assistants. Assistant District
Attorney James E. Smith. William Chill
vers. Fred Grochl and Arthur King. are
busy with their chief. weighing the
value OF documents questioning men and
women and keeping mum.
Mr.. Whitman has picked as one OF his
Investigators First Grade Detective Al
Thomas of the East Eighty-eighth street
station Thomas was stationed at City
Hall when Mr.. Whitman was Mayor
Lows legal adviser was one OF his men
when Mr.. Whitman was District At
torney and was Gov. Whitmans per-
sonal attendant. Detectives Edward
Rayens and Joseph Russo. who are
helping Mr.. Whitman now. were also as
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