The New York herald., 1921-06-06
COSTICAN RIGGED UP
SALOON RAN IT FOR
CITY,N GRAFT HUNT.
Hirshfield Reveals Opera
tion of Queens Place in
Attack on Vice Hunter.
WAS SEEKING CROOKS
Hylan Now Refuses to As
sign Honest Dam to Aid
in Albany Inquiry.
FIRST TEST OF AUTHORITY
Legislative Committee Claims
Full Power to Obtain Ser
vices Of City Employees.
FIRST TEST OF AUTHORITY


Mayor Hylan will refuse to give the
Joint legislative committee the benefit
CT Police Capt. ("Honest Dan") Costi-
gan's services in the States search for
graft in the Police Department. It
was learned yesterday that the city
administration had decided not to COM
Fly with the request made by Senator
Schuyler NJ. Meyer. chairman Of the
committee, that the city lend Costigan
20 the investigators.
David Hirshfield, Commissioner of
Accounts, made public litter attack
On Capt. Costigan, who formerly was
an inspector in charge Of the vice
squad and who was reduced to the
rank of captain by Commissioner En-
right. Hirshf1eld made 1t known that
Costigan had fitted up a saloon in
Queens and ran it in connecting with
a gambling establishment in violation
Of the law in an effort to "get" a GER
tain police captain. Costigan was act
irg by authority of the city Hirshfield
said, but denounced this method Of
trying to frame up" police official.
City officials and the States COM
mittee were preparing yesterday for a
showdown fight on the question Of au-
thority as involved in the Costigan
c.co xubilo n cc0ro ~ vv,ora ~ fro{nad
Investigators were working all day
combing the records of several depart
ments on the trail Of modern graft
concealed in amazing transactions.
The committee also made public its
first analysis of the city's finances show
ing how expenditures have jumped under
the Hylan administration in a remark
able manner until they have piled an
unnecessary burden on every rent payer
and property owner.
Test for Committees Power.
The committees request for Capt.
Costigan's services is to be made the
cause of the first open break between
the city and committee. While pro-
testing that the city administration Is
doing all in its power to aid the States
investigation, IT developed that the ques-
ton of the right of the committee to
insist upon detaching city employees
from their jobs is to be taken to the
courts.
Senator Meyer in his letter to Police
Commissioner Enright asking for the
loan of Costigan cited the provisions Of
the resolution passed by the Legisla-
ture creating the committee. This gives
the committe full power to ask for the
assistance OF as many city employees as
are needed. as we'll as giving authority
to go into all departments and records.
The city will contend that the commit
tee has authority to ask employees to
help dig out records in their depart
ments and otherwise assist the investi-
gators in similar manner, but not to
detach employees from their jobs.
Police officials do not relish the
thought of having Honest Dan" Costi-
gan work with State Investigators. be-
ing fearful evidently that the police cap
tain's ability to frame up" and get"
police officials might be turned against
the department.
II Costigan were to be employed by
the committee to get his fellow MEM
bers of the police force II would not be
his first activity in that direction" Com
missioner Hirshfield said. When Arthur
Woods was Commissioner much OF Co.'S
tigan's time was employed in that man
ner Hirshheld then related an incident,
which he called typical, of how Costigan
had 81 N s0ot pt m whose
name is carefully kept out OF the state
ment Here Is Hirshfleld's statement:
The "Plan antedv saloon.
Capt. Costigan In January. 1915. In
his official capacity fitted UP, opened
and conducted as q plant a beer
and liquor saloon in a tumbledown two
story wooden structure at TAO Vernon
avenue, In the Astoria section In Long
Island City, and In so doing hired
store. paid the rent with the city's
money, procured an excise license in the
name of John J. Hare. stocked the sa-
loon with beer and liquors and installed
Hare as manager.
"Patrolman Beine. who Mt the time as
acting detective sergeant was attached
to Lieut.. Costigan's Squad No. 2. super
vised the beer saloon after II was
opened. and Patrolman Kiernan was de-
tailed and acted as bartender therein
during the entire period of It's existence.
Vernon avenue is the first street
from the East River and runs parallel
herewith 740 Vernon avenue, where
this liquor business was located, is sit
uated near nowhere. and with the ex-
ception OF a cheap looking liquor store OF
former days at the corner. grim looking
glass works opposite and few dilap-
idated small wooden dwellings. II Is sur
rounded by mosquito breeding swamps.
From personal observation II would
seem that this particular location would
be the last place for any one to look TO
catch anything but malaria"
Hirshfield then assails John J. Hare
for carrying out his part of official or
ders in the saloon episode. The state
ment continues:
The saloon or plant was continued
In operation for a period of approx
mately seven months. and was closed IN
the early part of January, 1917, during