New-York tribune., 1921-02-24
e Indictments
I'm Graft Probe
Planned To-day
Whitman Will Ask True
Bills Against Five Mem
bers of Police Depart
ment and Auto Suspect
Detective Is Questioned
Many Witnesses Summoned
in the Dock Department
Scandal; Hits Tammany


man. in charge of the grand jury in
yest,eation of the Hylan administra-
tion, and his assistants, after the II ost
active day Of the inquiry, are pre-
nared to go before the grand jury this
afternoon with at least six cases upon
when indictments will be asked.
All tie evidence, The Tribune was
informed last night, will revolve about
tbe police scandal, with the exception
If one case. That will be the case
against Thomas O'Brien, also known
as Frank Moran, alleged confessed auto
,bief, now held in the Tombs in de-
fault of $4,000 bail.
Mr.. Whitman and his aids, who be-
gan work at 8 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, believe that the grand jury ses-
sion to-day will be too short to COM
plete the cases. and it was said in that
~eyentuality Mr.. Whitman will request
the grand jury to sit Friday morning.
The indictments will be aimed, ac-
cording to gossip in the Criminal
Court Building, against leading mem
ber in the administrative branch of the
Police Department.; two members of
the department now under indictment;
two others, one Of them close to the
powers that be at headquarters, and
O'Brien.
Detective Hurries for Lawyer
Detective Sergeant "Joe" Toner, who
rad been summoned to the Criminal
Courts Building by Acting District At
torney Joab H. Banton, left the build
ing when he discovered that he was to
be questioned by Mr.. Whitman in con-
nection with the Hylan administration
inquiry. Toner and his partner, De-
tective Sergeant McCaddin, both mem
bers of the automobile squad, were
sent to the District Attorneys Office
on a telephoned request to Police Com
missioner Enright from Mr.. Banton,
who is acting as District Attorney in
the absence of Judge Swami.
When Mr.. Banton emerged from Mr..
Whitman's office he sent McCaddin in
to talk with the former Governor, and
as soon as Detective Toner saw Nc
Caddn enter the door he left the
building Some time later he reap
peared at the District Attorneys Office,
accompanied by Louis Fridiger, law
yer II : e i is me re-
ception room leading to Mr.. Whitman's
office, shouted loudly:
81 have been retained to defend Mr..
Toner! l understand Mr.. Banton wants
to talk with him"
Incident Amuses Whitman
It was explained to the attorney that
Mr.. Whitman desired to question
Toner.
"Well," retorted Fridiger, "my client
was summoned here by Mr.. Banton. If
M Banton doesn't want to talk to him,
we will leave. If Mr.. Whitman wants
70 talk to Toner let him make re-
quest in due form to the commissioner
OF police or else serve a subpoena"
With that Fridiger and his client
again made for the elevator. Mr.. Whit
man smi ed when told of the demon
stration by FriGiger and remarked that
his conversation with McCaddin had
proved eminently satisfactory.
William Chilvers, one of the Whit
man aids, has succeeded in getting a
lead on the alleged dock department
scandal, in which it is said that $4,000
changed hands before certain steam
ship company was able to obtain a
pier controlled by Tammany politicians,
who admittedly owned no ships
and held the pier lease merely to
shake down those legitimate shippers
who were forced to pay three times
the lease price in order to continue
business.
May Involve Tammany Leaders
While Mr.. Chilvers refused to dis
cuss the matter last night and Mr..
Whitman said the developments did
not warrant g public statement, it be-
came known that number of wit
nesses and the books of several con-
Germs have been subpenaed for exam
nation to-day.
1t is known that if Mr.. Whitman and
Mr. Chilvers are successful in getting
me evidence which they are seeking
several prominent Tammany Hall and
city officials will be involved.
Arthur NJ. King, who is devoting all
ms time to the alleged graft in the
letting of city contracts, spent great
part Of the day in conference with Mr..
whitman. Late yesterday afternoon
police detective sergeant-his name is
withheld at Mr. Whitman's request
started ont to do what Mr.. Swann's
process servers had found impossible,
10 bring in the missing witness" who
Is rapidly catching up with the record
o1 'Nicky" Arnstein in avoiding the
authorities.
Look for Witness Tomorrow
The detective assigned to the case is
noted for his staying abilities and it
wa. was freely predicted yesterday that the
witness would be in the Criminal
courts Building by Friday.
one OF the witnesses in the O'Brien
case who talked TO Frederick S. Groehl
yesterday was Arthur "A. Davis, q for
CHARGE PATRONS MAY ia
SALES, HAVING BILLS
aa@R AAss&s&s E& AA a.