The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-09-17
HunchbQck'S Murder Touched
oft Philadelphia Racket Quiz

Monaghan began at the bottom and
his intrepidity has uncovered to the
amazed eyes of Philadelphians a pic
ture of official corruption, organized
crime, police protection, and similar
conditions that challenges belief. It
includes 20 gang murders in the past
year.
Powerful figures in the police de-
partment, such as Captain Charles
Beckman, head of the detective bu-
reau, were summarily called to ex-
plain to the grand jury certain per-
sonal transactions as we'll as official
acts of omission and commission.
Captain Beckman was later sus-
pended by Mayor Mackey, pending a
full investigation.
Gangsters, gunner, racketeers all,
public officials, policemen-none
have been spared and the grand jury
is now in the midst of it's second
month. Records of corporations in
which Hoff was known to be heavily
interested financially were seized as
were those of public accountants
who were engaged in the delicate
task of balancing the books for the
racket.
Safe deposit boxes in Philadelphia
banks in which in one instance Mon.
Afghan found record of 100000 in
deposits in cash to an official con-
spicuous in Philadelphia, were seized
and investigated.
Deposits in Philadelphia banks,
which Monaghan says must have
aroused the suspicion of the banks
nine and one-half millions in one
and two and one-half millions in an.
other-are being traced. Rumor has
! it that connection between certain
public officials and the racket will
be finally established.
"Boo Hoo" Hcff, who, according t.
Monaghan, seemed to have been ad'
viscd in advance Of police activitie,
whenever there were anyways ar
important witness. Two of his part
ners fled to Canada, but Monaghan
says he will extradite them.
Monaghan has initiated a series 0,
raids by his own force Of county de-
tectives. He insists that the condi
tions his present investigation hav,
disclosed could not have continue,
without the knowledge and conniv
ance of the police and therefore h,
uses his own officers whenever h
wants police work done.
| Meanwhile, through all these hap
penings, Mayor Harry A. Mackey at
tempts to stimulate the police depart
ment into action by orders and com
mands. Mackey and Monaghan cam
paigned together on q platform t
eliminate vice and crime from Phila
delphia.
Mayor Blames Butler
The present conditions, Macke
says, are due to conditions whic
came about under the regime of Ger
eral Smedley ,. Butler, the "fightin
! marine" who was appointed directo
Of public safety by Mackey's pret
! ecessor. Mayor Kendrick. Butler
emphasis upon militarizing the d.
partment had the result Of demora
izing it and rendering it ineffectiv,
Mayor Mackey claims. Butler wa
. removed by Mayor Kendrick, VIII
thereafter appointed George w. e
; liot safety director.
Mackey has repeatedly called
his director Of safety, Harry
Davis, and also his high ranking ps
lice officeY and given vigorous o.
. ders to clean up within "a hour,
! and to close every saloon and spsal
easy. There are estimated to
$4,000 In the city.
There are those in PHILADELPHIA
who see the parting Of the ways b
tween Mackey and Monaghan as il
dicating = determination on tho %
Of each to succeed to the contr
) Of the Philadelphia political machil
. now in danger Of passing from Il
control Of William 8. Ware, IN 4
valid whose illness Is not sxpecta
to permit him to aeain resume actii
control.
Both deny the implicatio
Neither has as yet openly direct,
criticism 1t the othtf. Monaghan,
lcriticism Is directly and solely 1t q
police department but Mackey warn
lly defends his director Of safety.
TOMORROW: Monash1a, IL
M4n behind the grand jury
1 ORGnI1n.