The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-09
Seabury viii Conduct
Probe Into Grains Affairs
as Prosecutor.
By United Press

By United Press
NEW YORK, March 9.-The way
was opened today for a sweeping
inquiry into the New York City
administration by Governor Frank
lin D. RooseVelt's appointment OF
Judge Samuel Seabury to investi-
gate charges Of neglect Of duty pre-
ferred by the City Club against
Thomas G. T. Grain, district attor-
ney Of New York county.
Judge Seabury already IS con-
Quoting the appellate division in
quiry into the magistrates courts
ON Manhattan and the Bronx.
Ramifcations Of the general stu
alton of crime and criminal investi-
cations in New York grew consider
ably over the weekend.
Pierre Franklin, SO, Of Montreal,
brother Of Vivian Gordon, muir
dered witness for the Seabury in
vestigation and alleged racketeer,
was in the psychopathic ward at
Bellows hospital today, suffering
from q nervous collapse.
He was found wandering through
the corridors Of his hotel, sobbing
and mulnhling incoherently. Ply
sicians believed it was the result of
brooding over the death of his sis
ter and the subsequent suicide Of
her daughter.
Gordon Probe at StandstiIl
Several "cals to arms" to the
citizens of the city were delivered
from New York pulpits Sunday,
urging them to develop a social
anger" that would "clean out our
cesspool Of civic corruption" Two
bishops Of the Protestant Episcopal
church-the Rt. Rev. Charles K.
Gilbert and the Rt Rev. Charles
Fiske-both urged public action and
thorough louse-cleaning for the
city.
The investigation Of the murder
Of Vivian Gordon still was without
any announced results, despite the
aid of Pinkerton detectives, who
we're called in by Charles B. Nc
Laughlin, district attorney, of the
Bronx, in charge Of the case. Nc
Laughlin denied reports Of a split
between him and Police Commits
sioner Mulrooney.
Governor Roosevelt, addressing a
meeting of several hundred at the
Broadway temple Sunday night, ex-
pressed confidence in the majority
Of the members Of the police de-
partmert.
Thomas Predicts Custer
Norman Thomas, addressing a
Socialist meeting, predicted that
District Attorney Grain would be
ousted as a result Of the impending
investigation. He attacked the
Tammany political machine as the
real enemy of law enforcement. !"
Magistrate r. Stanley Renaud,
before whom Vivian Gordon was ar
raigned in 1928 on the vice charge
which she alleged was framed"
was to be called cefore the Seabury
inquiry today.
With 1000 extra police on emer-
gency duty over the weekend in an
effort to reduce the number Of
crimes, three killings and four ma
jor holdups were reported besides
several minor crimes.
One Of the killings was that Of a
holdup man, shot by police. The
other two were thought to be gang
sters slain by enemies. Both were
unidentified.
Meanwhile, however, the appoint
ment Of Seabury to investigate the
charges against Grain appeared to
be the solution to the various pro-
posals for a thorough investigation
Of the city.
Grain Denies Charges
Judge Seabury, with long record
Of distinguished service on the
bench was appointed referee of the
appsalIate division inquiry into the
magistrates courts last fall, the re-
suits Of which led indirectly to some
of the charges against District At
toraey Grain.
Members Of the City Club filed
formal charges against the latter
Saturday, specifying disclosure in
Office sin failing to prosecute per-
sons whom a diligent public officer
would have prosecuted.
Grain denied the charges, asked
an immediate investigation and said
he would continue in Office until it
was finished.