New-York tribune., 1922-09-14
Order
Brings First
Police Victim
Brooklyn Patrolman Feels
AK When Charged With
Extorting $50 From 2
Former Saloonkeepers
Letter Is Stern Warming
District Commanders To Be
Held Responsible for the
Speak-easies in Areas

One policeman was arrested charged
with extortion and one was publicly rep
rimanded in court yesterday following
letter to police precinct commanders
from Commissioners Enright charging
negligence in liquor cases by members
of the Police Department. Prohibition
Director Ralph A. Day, commenting on
the letter yesterday, referred to the
stand of the Commissioner as "coura-
geous."
The Police Commissioner said yes
terday that the letter bespoke closer
cooperation between the Police De-
partment and other prohibition en-
routine communication, spurring the
police to greater efforts. He said it
was only such letter as he was ac-
customed to send to police heads at
intervals. He said the charges of graft
and bootlegging contained in the let
ter were based on rumors of trouble
which had reached him, and which
were being investigated. The letter
follows:
To Hold Commanders to Account
thereafter when arrests are made
by the Federal authorities or by spe-
cial squads of this department., the
commanding officer of the district and
the commanding officer Of the precinct
will be held to strict accountability
and they will be required to show
cause why charges should not be pre-
ferred against them for neglect of duty
and any other culpability OF which
Trey might reasonably be charged.
"The drinking public is being robbed
and poisoned by reason of this illicit
trade. There are considerable grounds
for believing that members of this de-
palpably negligent or corruptly inter-
ested in this vicious and unlawful busi-
Less.
celebration of these conditions or
excusing any negligence upon the part
of any member of this departm in
connection with the proper enforce
ment of this law is at an end and there
must be no Misunderstanding on this
score"
The letter is interpreted by the po-
lice to mean that when Federal agents
come into their precinct and stage q
raid, without calling the police in to
assist in the raid, that the police may
be brought up on charges of neglect
of duty in not knowing that the place
raided even existed as an alleged
"speak easy"
No Ill Feeling, Says Day
"There never has been any ill feel
ing between Federal officials and the
police, although we have had a few
conflicts between some of our agents
and policemen" said Director Day
owe do not intend to have any such
conflicts in the future. We intend to
avoid all conflicts and maintain a
better feeling"
The first policeman to feel the swing
of the ak since the Commissioner
circular letter began to circulate was
PolicemanYAlbert E. Helmerson, Of the
Parkville station, Brooklyn, arrested
and suspended from the force on
charges of having extorted $3.50 each
from William Goores, Of 5123 Second
Avenue, and George Schneider, of 520l
Second Avenue, both proprietors OF
former saloons.
The complainants charge they
handed the money to HENDERSON who
counted it and handed it to second
man, for whom the police are search
ing. HENDERSON was held in $4,000
bail on two separate extortion charges
Magistrate Geismar, in Coney Island
Court, severely reprimanded Patrolman
Edward Lamauree, attached to the
| special service division at Headquar-
| ters, Manhattan, for his methods in
| getting evidence against Louis Smith
waiter at Stauch's, Coney Island
| Lamauree, it is charged, used woman
decoy, who pretended illness and called
for whisky to ease her suffering.