The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-02
DETECTIVE TESTIFIES
AFTER NIGHT IN JAIL


new chief is Sergt. James Bresnan, who
wasAa captain in the army during the
warn
Another phase OF the Investigation
has to do with rewards which, Mr..
Whitman is, informed. have been paid to
the police by burglary insurance COM
panies He is told that they inspire the
detectives to recover stolen property but
not to catch the thieves. just as in the
case of the rewards given for the return
of automobiles Witnesses in this field
of inquiry are being examined by James
f. Smith, Frederick ]. Groehl and Ar
thur NJ King. all of Mr.. Whitman's
ptaff.
Armstrong Purged of Contempt.
Detective Armstrong spent profitable
for Mr.. Whitman--night in q prison
cell. Yesterday morning his counsel.
Thomas l. Sheridan, talked with Mr..
Whitman, District Attorney Swami and
Judge Grain, who on Monday had I'M
posed the sentence of thirty days in Jail
and $3.50 fine for contempt of court.
to answer the three questions put to him
the day before. These were whether he
had received rewards of 500, $50 and $40
on stated days in April, May and July last
year. When he was taken before the
Grand Jucy yesterday he was questioned
by Mr.. Whitman and the foreman, Will
lam S. Coffin. When he emerged. aftei'
an hour and forty-five minutes, he and
Mr.. Whitman were smiling.
WAS everything satisfactory" asked
Sheridan, Armstrong; attorney.
Very much So" Mr. Whitman said.
Going before Judge Grain in General
Sessions, Mr.. Whitman said:
This witness yesterday refused to an
swer certain questions asked him by the
Grand Jury and was abridged in con-
tempt of cour.. To-day he has answered
some of the questions in satisfactory
manner Others will be asked him to-
morrow and he has promised TO appear.
/ recommend therefore that he be purged
of contempt and the fine of $3.50 be re-
mitted" The Judge so decided. Arm
strong went home free man.
It is surmised, because or words
spoken on Monday by Mr.. Whitman,
that he was specially anxious to find
out lust why insurance men were told
to go to headquarters and to pay Arm
strong the rewards in cash. and why
it was essential that no third person
should be hanging around.
Old Automobile Squad Disbanded.
what did Armstrong say to you
before he testihed?" Mr.. Whitman was
asked.
'If | told you what he would have
liked to say to me it wouldn't be fit
to print"
"Did he keep all the money or share
it with others?"
IT cannot answer that question"
Mr.. Whitman then expressed his own
belief that the payments were made in
the manner indicated so that there could
be no corroborative evidence.
The Police Headquarters order virtu-
ally disbanding the old automobile squad
took effect at +. NJ. It's commander
for six years, First Grade Detective
John Fitzpatrick. becomes an ordinary
patrolman, assigned to the West 135th
street station and his salary drops from
! $4,000 to S22s0 a year. Marty owens
and John Armstrong are reduced from
! first grade detectives at $4,000 to uni
formed sergeants at S2.700. Owens goes
! to Mercer street and Armstrong to
! Simpson street The Bronx. Both are
under suspension. but it is supposed that
| Armstrong will be restored to duty in
view of the wiping out of the charge
of contempt Of court.
First Grade Detective Thomas Koran
is transferred to patrol duty at the Nor
| rsania station, The Bronx. and Seconu
| Grade Detective William T. Hemmerick
to patrol at the Charles street station.
Both are cut to S2,2s0 a year., a patrol
mans pay. Detective Hussey goes to the
| Liberty avenue station, Brooklyn, as a
patrolman.
HemmericlS. who was indicted on
Monday on charge of Illegally ac-
| cepting a gratuity in the form of an
automobile reward was held yesterday
| by Judge Grain in $4,000 bail for trial.
| He pleaded not guilty. His counsel Is
Denis O'Leary. ex-District Attorney of
! Queens.