New-York tribune., 1921-01-16
Charges of Commissioner
Against Dan Costigan
Refuted by Records of
the District Attorney
Whitman Defends
Vice Investigator
Smith Tells of l8 Houses
Closed Through Own and
Accused Mans Efforts

Police Commissioner Enright's at
tack on Friday night on the record
Of Captain Honest Dan" Costigan as
head of the vice squad was proved
yesterday by the records of the local
District Attorneys office to be with
out foundation.
Ex-Governor Charles S. Whitman, In
charge of the grand jury investigation
into the Hylan administration, who was
for years associated with Costigan,
characterized the man who was sent
into exile by Enright as zone of the
best policemen New York had ever
had"
Commissioner Enright made his at
tack on Costigan during speech be-
fore the Kings County Grand Jurors
tigan was disloyal to Mayor Hylan and,
besides failing to close up number
Of gambling houses and stop street
soliciting, Costigan, while head of the
vice squad, had failed to close eigh-
teen disorderly houses which Enright
had put out Of business by using other
officers.
Assistant District Attorney Smith
had his attention called to Mr.. En-
rights statement. He swung about in
his chair, pulled from his personal
file a large batch Of papers and re-
markell
"There's the answer to Enright's 5
charge"
Records Refute Charges
An examination of the papers proved
that between June l, 1919, and up until
the time of Costigan's removal as head
of the vice squad, he had closed
eighteen disorderly houses and con-
victed their owners, as we'll as some of
the inmates.
"Dan Costigan was assigned to this
office for this specific work." Mr..
Smith said. "The closing of the houses
referred to by the Police Commissioners
was the direct result of the work ac-
complished by Costigan and me. We
worked together on the cases, and de-
spite the obstacles thrown in our way
by Police Headquarters we succeeded
in closing the places and sending their
owners and some of their inmates to
Jail.
keep in mind that this was accom-
plished by Costigan, despite the fact
that he had but thirty men for the work
and repeated requests by him and by
me, as representative of the District
Attorney of this county, for additional
men, were ignored by Headquarters.
"Costigan is the best vice investigator
this town has produced, and he is in
bad merely because he doesn't under
q De-
lice Headquarters, Mr.. Smith con-
cluded.
Mr. Whitman issued a formal state
ment regarding Commissioner Enright's
attack on Costigan as soon as he
reached his office in the Criminal
Courts Building yesterday:
II was a magistrate, judge Of Gen
eral Sessions and District Attorney for
a period covering many years in New
York." the statement read. "During
this time | was brought into close con-
tact with Dan Costigan, of the Police
Department., and had every opportu-
nifty Of observing his work. He is
transparent!y honest and, in my opin-
York has ever had"
Costigan Not Allowed Defense
Way over in Brownsville Honest
Dam just smiled. But the smile did
not wholly hide the desire to defend
himself. Dan stands over six feet and
is in perfect physical condition. Dur
ing the three years he has been used
as the football Of the Enright admin
stration he has aged little. His hair
is grayng on the temples and his face
shows the strain of being continually
on the watch for what his friends call
double-crOss from Headquarters.
He would not talk yesterday-he
couldn't. Under Rule 1877 of the new
Enright police regulations he is gagged.
That is the reason his friends feel
that Costigan was made the victim of
cowardly attack. The Commissioner
knew that the ex-vice crusader could
not resent the attack without the per-
mission of the missioner-the man
who made it.
Rule 1877 of the Polite Department
says:
"a member of the department.
will not talk for publication, nor be
interviewed nor make public speeches