New-York tribune., 1921-01-15
Police Head Informs
Swami He Will Fur
nish No Aid in Probe
of City Administration
Fight To Be Taken
At Once ta .sIbany
Commissioners HemOyaf
and Custer of Mayor
Likely To Be Demanded

Mayor Hylan and Police Commits
sioner Enright openly declared their
opposition yesterday to the grand
jury investigation of the Hylan ad-
ministration.
In letter to District Attorney
Swami, Mr.. Enright wrote that the
grand jury could have no police aid
in disclosing evidence against the
city government, and that the jury
would have to depend for it's infor-
nation on those who have attacked
Mayor Hylan and his administra-
tion.
The challenge was snapped up by
Ex-Governor Charles S. Whitman,
designated by District Attorney
Swami to conduct the investigation
before the grand jury.
Fight May Go to Albany
1t was made plain that unless the
Mayor and Enright have a complete
change of heart by Monday the fight
will be carried to Albany.
From an unquestionably reliable
source The Tribune has been assured
that this fight will have for it's object
the removal of the Police Commissioner
by Governor Miller, and, if collusion
between Mr.. Enright and the Mayor is
shown, the deposing of the Mayor.
This demand will be based on the
ground that both officials, or either, de-
liberately interfered with the work Of
the grand jury and its counsel.
Mr.. Enright's letter to Swami was in
response to one written by the District
Attorney at the request of Mr.. Whit
man asking that Detective Sergeant AL
Thomas, former confidential man to
whitman when he was District Attor~
ney, be assigned to his staff now.
Enright's Reply to Swami
Police Commissioner Enright's reply
"City of New York.
Police Department.
noa Jan. 13. 1921.
Oluce OF the commissioner
Hon. Edward Swami,
'District Attorney,
Criminal Courts Building.
New York.
Dear Sir:
"keplying to your setter of the
Izth instant, requesting that Actinr
Detective Sergeant Alfred Thomas be
assigned to your Office, I have the
nonor to direct your attention to the
iolio"lng communication addressed
to you by His Honor the Mayor on
the 9Th instant:
You asked me yesterday if the
Grand Jury could have six men from
the Detective Bureau if they re-
quested them The statements made
by the Senator and Assemblyman had
some bearing on the Police Depart-
ment, and if these legislators or ths
persons they secured their nforma-
tlon from nave any evidence of wrong
dong on the part of any member
OF the Police Department or any
member of this administration let
them present their evidence to the
Grand Jury, and let the Grand Jury
take the proper action.
The Police are doing police
work and their entire time should
be continued doing police work. It
would be entirely improper for the
police officers from the Police Depart
ment to be assigned to INVESTIGATES
themselves.
Again may I repeat that if these
people who have been making charges
have any evidence or know of any
one violating the law, let them coma
forward with the facts and present
them to the Grand jury
Very truly yours,
"R. E. ENRIGHT,
T. Police Commissioner"
Swann's Letter Unexplained
There has been no explanation made
of why District Attorney Swami last
Friday, when Mr.. Whitman was sworn
in, gave out the lowing letter ad-
dressed to the foreman OF the grand
jury:
The Mayor has authorized me to
tender to the additional grand iurv
any six detectives of the Detective
Bureau that may be selected by the
grand jury or its foreman. He is very
I desirous that the grand jury. or it's
foreman, make its OWE selection of dc
tectives for the purpose OF running
down any clew or clews that It NAV
discover, which, in its Judgment, may
lead to evidence OF any corruption in
i pubic office in the county of New
I Y York. Whatever six detectives may be
eSiSSecu ny tuc SIAHu jury Will De as
signed for its exclusive work and under
its exclusive direction"
1t Is understood that Mr.. Swami re-
ceived permission to make the offsr, or
thought he did, after telephone con-
versation with the Mayor. Whether or
not be made formal written request
for six detectives he did not make
clear last Friday and he overlooked
giving out the Mayors answer incor-
porated in Enright's letter made public
yesterday.
mir. hnright quotes the Mayors let
te.., which he said Mayor Hylan had
scnt to Swami on January 8, to justify
his refusal of police aid to the grand
jury. Last night Mr.. Whitman ad-
mitted that he had never heard of the
Mayors letter OF January until he
read il quoted by Commissioner En-
right in the letter turned over TO hin.
yesterday by Mr.. Swami.
Swami Shows Uncasiness
The Commissioners letter was n
4 esivsd early in the day by Mr.. Swami