Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-10
GRAFT EVIDENCE IN
POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS FOUND LACKING
Investigations Fail to Reveal
Any Foundation for Hush
Money Charges.
IDLE RUM0R MONGERS BUSY

Tho Directors of tho Department q
Public Safety yesterday afternoon
accepted reports which seemed to
clear the police force of any suspicion
Of having received hush money fov
' the rrotcction of gamblers and book
makers p Warren Green. assistant
city solicitor. and George Black.
superintendent of police presented re
ports 20 the effect that witnesses in
position 10 know whether the hOok
makers were receiving protection had
been examined aud all denied
knowledge OF such conditions
My investigation discloscs that such
rumors are the result of idle rumor
mongors and entirely without foun-
dation Whatsoever" the assistant city
solicitors report states:
\ motion was passed reques,in
the editor of the Morning News. which
FIRST carried the story of the alleged
graft and a shake up IN the police de-
rartment 60 appear before the Ill
rectors and make known the source
OF his Information.
Mr.. Green's report follows:
Il have Investigated all runners
reaching mo concerning statements
made that members ~ tho Police Dc
rartmont have received money for the
protection o. gamblers. especially one
who was recently arrested and in
addition thereto have caused nu-
merous Witnesses TO he brought be
fore superintendent 'of Police George
Black and myself and find an such
rumors making accusation against
the Police Department absolutely
false.
The witnesses suppocnacd were in
position 90 know 70 any protection
money had ever been paid and all.
without any exception. absolutely
denied any knowledge Of such trans
action. My Investigation discloses
that such rumors are the result ~
Idle runner monsers and entirely with
out any foundation Whatsoever"
superintendent Blacks report fol-
lowe:
with reference 20 tho. article pub
lished IN the Morning News. under
date ~ MAY 3. 1929. headed
Gamblers say money was paid FOR
protection"
"Rumor that there will be shake-up
~ Police Department as result q, reve-
htions made after Cohen's arrest"
The following named freauenters
and employees of Cohcn's establishment
were summoned before the Deputy
City Solicitor
y. g. Gocdley, william Jenness.
Thomas nonohoe. William shaw.
IA a -
George Wilmington
All % those named stated under
oath that they had no knowledge Of
nor did they know anything Of such
accusations. nor did they know of
anythins having been paid FOR pro-
tection, neither did they ever hear
David Cohen. tho principal OF the
gambling house say that he was being
protected or had paid anything for
such protection. and that the first
knowledge they had of such accusa-
TONS was the article published IN the
Mornins News on the 5th inst.
! will further say that IL any good
citizen 81 Wilmington knew Of any
ouch condition. either against me. as
the superintendent OF police. on
against any other member Of the po-
lice Bureau, that q was their duty as
law abiding citizens 20 acquaint the
Directors of Public Safety of same
and n such accusations were founded
upon facts. FOR the directors 20 i'm
modiately dispense with the services
~ any such member ~ the force
The Morning News on the 5th inst
proceeded 20 publish the article above
mentioned without consulting the Di-
rectors or anyone connected with the
Police Bureau. and 20 ascertain n
possible u there were any grounds for
such accusations.
Tho same paper has representatives
who frequently call me from my bed
a. late az . o'clock In the morning
% have some story verified
] would suggest that the editor Of
the News be called before the direct
ore. and requested % inform them as
20 who is responsible for the article.
and why said article was published
without being verified, instead OF
casting a reflection upon all the mem
hers of the Police Bureau.