Evening star., 1938-11-20
Bribery Details
Sought in Trial
Of fWarrings
Prosecutions Planned
IfTokers' Identity
Is Established
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.

- 6StoOUSSuuSo
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
While two oficial observers" sit
among the spectators, hoping for
''break" in the bribe angle, the law
yers in the Warning income tax fraud
trial, which will be resumed In Dis
trict Court tomorrow, delve deeper
into the intricacies of the books with
which the three defendant brothers
kept track of their 100000 num-
bers business.
The observers - Police Capt.
George M. Little, head of the Vice
Squad, and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Stanley DeNeale-are lis
tening intently for further explana-
ton of the protection money"
which, according to testimony thus
far given by two Federal agents,
Emmitt Warning, head of the busi-
ness, said he paid. They are under
instructions to take appropriate ac-
ton if later evidence brings any in
formation that might lead to the
identity of the alleged bribe-takers.
The Federal agents said Emmitt
told them he paid around $500 a
month in 1884, the year he started
in the numbers game; $1,000 in 1885
and Approximately double that
amount" in 1886. Justice Bolitha j.
Laws pressed one of the agents for
further information. The income
tax men apparently didn't even ask
Emmitt for details. They were con-
cerned solely with finding out what
taxable income the Warnings made,
and when Emmitt let slip that he
had bought immunity, they pounced
on this as a non allowable deduction
which he apparently had made in his
net income.
Graft Inquiry Suggested.
But when the discussion of the
alleged protection came out in de-
tail at the trial-at least the fact
that the Warning business manager
claimed to have been paying it
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen ex-
pressed deep concern. He asked
Corporation Counsel Elwood Seal
to assign some one to attend the
trial. The Commissioner also sug-
gested to Police Supt. Ernest w.
Brown that he do something about
the matter The assignment of the
two officials followed.
Commissioner Hazen also sug-
gested that it might be desirable
to have grand jury inquiry into
alleged police graft when the War;
ring trial is over. Others in close
touch with the situation, however,
pointed out that there would be
nothing for grand jury to inves-
tigate unless the trial brings some
more specific revelation. A grand
jury could summon the Warning
brothers, but they could refuse to
waive immunity and talk, it was
explained.
Capt. Little said yesterday he was
following the testimony closely, but
thus far had heard nothing that
would connect the alleged protec-
ton payments directly with the
Metropolitan Police or with any
other law-enforcement agency.
IF any one in the department
has been taking protection money"
he added. Il certainly want to
know it. But the mere mention of
protection, without name or source
disclosed, is too vague even to in
vestigate. We must have facts to
work on, and. If any one has been
paid of by the Warnings, I hope
his name will be brought out at the
trial.
Business Built From Scratch.
Experienced observers at the trial
consider the chance that the pro-
lection angle will "open up rather
remote. They point out that unless
Emmitt takes the stand, there will
be no way-unless unexpected tes-
tlmony develops-to 60 back of the
statements attributed to him by
the Government men.
The books of the numbers firm
reveal that Emmitt, with more or
less aid from his brothers, built up
from scratch a business that was
crossing close to 100000 the sec
ond year.
The books show that Emmitt
started in business late in 1884
with only six pickup men-runners
who gather in slips recording bets
and five Office workers. BY 1895
he needed IS pickup men and II
Office employees to handle the busi-
ness, and in 1896, according to his
income tax return, the Warning
syndicate had SIS pickup men and
19 office employees. Thus business
doomed.
Pseudonyms in Records.
The photostats of Warning rec
ords which the Government has
placed in evidence show that some
of the Office workers and pickup
men preferred to appear on the
books under pseudonyms.
These were among the Office en-
ployes listed-"Big," "Toots," Don"
ana Sugar" Then there were
"Cocky," "Smidy" and Anne Bee"
The pickup men, who worked
strictly on commission, included no
less than four "Slufs," who ap-
peared as "Sluf Nos. /, 2, 3 and T."
Then there were "Spud," TX S."
"Zum" and "Hogg."
When court convenes at 10 am.
tomorrow, Harry T. Whelan. of
counsel for the Warnings will re-
sumo his cross-examinatipn Of Will
liam H. F. Swain, special agent Of
the Treasury Intelligence Unit.
Mr.. Whelan has brought out from
Mr.. Swain that the 81 discrepancies
shown between the Governments
audit and the hit" columns of the
warning books for 1885 begin dim
inishing almost to the vanishing
point when salaries and commits
si6ns are added each Saturday to
the losses. The defense contends
the Government failed to account
for commissions and salaries when