Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-04-26
DETROIT OFFICIALS
ACCUSED OF GRAFT
Warrants for 19 Men Urged
After Probe-ThousandS
of Dollars Involved.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
DETROIT, Mich. April 25.-Scath
ingly denouncing conditions of graft
corruption and extravagances which
he said he found in city departments
and which cost Detroit taxpayers
hundreds OF thousands of dollars
Judge Frank Murphy of Recorders
Court, reporting the findings of his
one-man grand jury inquiry into city
affairs tonight recommended the issu
ance OF warrants for 1s persons. rang
ing from conspiracy and embezzle
ment to larceny.
A letter to Prosecuting Attorney
| Robert Toms accompanying the re
port directed the prosecutor to pre-
pare the warrants. Those for whom
Judge Murphy directed that warrants
be issued, and the suggested charges
included:
Bart Manning, vice president OF the
| Union Trust Co., conspiracy to de
| fraud; John A. Mercier, wealthy paw
| ing contractor, conspiracy John j
| Knight, former superintendent OF
street and alley cleaning, malfeasafce
! in office; George Garner. former head
| of the. city sidewalk division, NAL
feasance in Office; Werner Helmholdt
! former superintendent Of motor trans
port, and John Naz, foreman in the
city garage, conspiracy to extort and
accept money on agreement to act
| in a particular way in their employ
| ment. Helmholdt also is charged with
! malfeasance in Office in the report.
Administration Is Hit.
Helmholdt's administration was
| characterized in Judge Murphy's let
ter to the prosecutor as having been
base and sordid." A review OF Helm
| holdt's activities 'discloses a situation
startling as to improper practices and
| wasteful neglect" the report said.
Graft and corruption were found ir
| the board of education, the depart
ment of public works, the motor
transportation division, the parks anc
boulevard department, the water boare
| and also in connection with the pur
| chase of a county morgue site, the re
| port said.
Favoritism in awarding contract,
was the charge made in connection
| with the water board, which judge
Murphy said was dominated by PEI
vate contracting concerns.
The alleged Irregularities An the
parks and boulevards department, th'
| report said, were the result of thu
connection of Commissioner Edward
| G.. Heckel and Leonard G. Forester
foreman, with the|Dart Aircraft Co
Private work for the company wa!
done at the parks and boulevard:
garage, the report found. Heckel wal
not listed among the 19 men for whom
warrants were asked, but Forester
was named. with larceny the charge
Action to Be Delayed.
The investigation of Judge Murphy
was started last Fall following th'
disclosure of alleged irregularities II
the dealings of the department o.
public works. 1t was charged tha
John J. Knight, superintendent Of the
department, signed vouchers for th'
receipt of cinders, purchased from
William f. Garner although the Gin
ders had not been delivered. WI
liam Garner is brother OF Georgt
Garner, former head Of the city side
walk division.
Prosecuting Attorney Toms SAID
tonight that issuance of warrants a!
requested by Judge Murphy woult
be delayed until he has time to stud!
the lengthy report.