New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-03
Ours Is Safest,
Cleanest CITY.
Banton Asserts
''Pinch-Hitting'' in Central
Christian Pulpit, District
Attorney Says Visitors Are
Assured Of Full Protection
Boosts His Own Work
1000 Cases Disposed OF in
Six Months, He Reports;
Cites Buckctshop Drive

New York is the cieanest city in the
United States and | have the figures
to prove it, said Joab II. Benton. after
being introduced as New York's fight
ing District Attorney to the congrcga-
ton of the Central Christian Church
yesterday.
The District Attorney explained that
he was taking the place of the regular
pastor, the Rev. Finis Idleman, to
( "'pinch-hit' for him while he was on
his vacation.
New York is clean because it is
w-abiding, and that is the foundation
of real patriotic citizenship as we'll as
Christian citizenship" said Mr.. Ban
ton. "My daily experience and obser-
walton show me that he law is enforced
in New York and it is the safest city
! IN the country for strangers as we'll
as citizens. I emphasize the fact Of
its safety for the benefit OF the various
visitors here to-day from all parts OF
the United States. NO city in the
polltan character, is any safer.
Criticizes Mrs. Asquith
Speaking of the Fourth of July, Mr..
Banton said that some "highbrow
British subjects" like Mrs. Margot As
quith, liked to poke fun at the United
States, but that Americans had shown
in the Revolution and the late war
what they could do to put a finishing
touch to anything they engaged in
earnestly
experimenting Mr.. Banton's remarks
on the safety Of New York was re-
port issued yesterday from his Office,
dealing with his record for the first
six months of his term as District
Attorney. More than 1000 cases have
been disposed of in that period, the
report states. Included in their num-
Der are the prosecutions of brokers for
bucketing and other irregularities in
connection with the sale and purchase
gan drive against this group on April
II and since then has disposed of 1895
cases of all classes.
In January, 1922, the calendar
showed 2S1 prisoners in the Tombs,
1911 awaiting trial, 80 awaiting grand
jury action and 2087 with indictments
pending. The calendar to-day shows
1877 prisoners in the Tombs, las await
ing trial, az awaiting grand jury &C
ton and 1,152 with indictments pend
ing. These figures show that Mr.. Ban
ton has reduced the standing calendar
by 900 indictments. This is IN addi-
ton to the disposition of the current
cases disposed of in the last six
months. Current indictments alone
amounted to more than 5000.
Thousands Are Mulcted
Never in the history of the District
Attorneys office has there been such
an avalanche of complaints as preceded
and kept pace with the unprecedented
number of failures in the Wall Street
complaints came from every state in
the union and represented in part
thousands Of persons who had been
mulcted by dishonest brokers and
promoters 1t is estimated that $780,
100000 has been taken from the public
by this class since the close of the war.
The District Attorney has brought
about the conviction of eight brokers
and has convicted the American Cotton
Exchange for bucketing. 1t is the first
time that an exchange has been con-
victed.
Another campaign conducted by Mr.
Banton aims to put an end to the
scheme of obtaining goods on false
credit statements. As result Of @
conference with representatives of the
Merchants Association and banking in
situations, he has evolved plan where
by merchants, who have been mulcted
on false credit statements, may submit
evidence of fraud to him. When suf-
ficient number of cases Of this kind
have accumulated Mr.. Banton will ask
that magistrate be especially as
signed to hear these cases. II the mag
istrate holds the accused he is tried in
Special Sessions before three judges
The penalty may be as much as three
years Imprisonment.
Disposed of 48 Homicide Cases
Another successful prosecution on
the part of the District Attorney was
that instituted against chiropractic
schools and colleges, so-called, which
were operating without the required
certificate from the State Education
Department.
During this same six months period
the District Attorneys office has dis
posed Of forty eight cases of homicide,
including the Varotta case. On April
II Mr.. Banton announced that he would
start to clear his calendars in all the
courts in order that cases involving
crimes of violence might first be tried
and disposed of. Burglars, bandits and
highwaymen were rounded up for
speedy trials, and as result there has
been almost q continuous process
since that time leading from the Tombs
to Sing Sing and other prisons, accord
ing to the report. Only thirty eight
persons now await trial for crimes OF
violence. Of this number twenty-one
are on bail and seventeen are in the