NEW YORK POLICE "GRAFT."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 213, 5 September 1912, Page 8

NEW YORK POLICE "GRAFT."

', NOTED GAMBLER MURDERED CHARGES AGAINST THE POLICE. • A SCANDALOUS PARTNERSHIP. The clrmas in the latest police scandal !n New York was reached at an early b.-T;r on July 17. when an informer against the •'bluecoat.s - ' was dramatically shot and killed while standing in front n\ his hold. Herman Rosenthal, a notorious gambler, revived the question of the crookedness of New York's police recently, and created much excitement when he published in one of the big newspapers here an affidavit swearing that he had taken out a. (i per cent mortgage for ;.",no op hi.* household effects with a certain police lieutenant of the city on the understanding that, he (Rosenthal) could invest the sum in a gambling den. and p,-> long a* he paid the interest on the mortgage regularly, in addition to a "small consideration," would receive police protection, and his place would not be raided. Apparently .something went wrong, been ns<- no sooner had Rosenthal fitted up the rooms with all the gambling paraphernalia, such as roulette wheels, faro. PU\. than the police descended, cleared nut the place, and arrested Rosenthal. Th" pajnblor then retaliated by confessing his alleged relations with the police lieutenant- and the matter is now in the Stands of DSstrfct-Attorney Whitman, who declares that a thorough investigation irrto the alleged police "graft ,, will be. made. FEAR OF THE POLICE. Since Rosenthal began to talk about the police methods he. has declared that nr was afraid th.- police would "'get him" for" he had a. chance to give more information to the Public Prosecutor. His > fpar- were apparently well-founded, and he met his fat*. The murderers, of whom there are at least four, drove up to the Hotel Me.tropole in a taxicab just as Rosenthal came out of the revolving d<-r>rs of that hotel. According to several eye-witnesses of the tragedy Rosenthal saw the occupants of the taxicab as soon as they saw him, turned quickly on his heel, and started to retreat into the hotel. I n a moment the men sprang out of the taxicab, and, level revolvers, began shooting. The first volley missed, but the second sent two bullets into the gambler's brain, and lie died instantly. According to the same witness one of the men who shot the pnmbler was a policeman, a fact of which he is sure, because he "plainly saw the uniform." Other witnesses made a note of the tax Scab's number, and it is hoped that th" murderers will be run to earth shortly. shortly after the murder the police ar-r--t*rl at a garage the chauffeur of a hi" touring car answering to the description of that from which the murdere-s fired. UTv engine of the car wa« still hot and the chauffeur showed signs of nervous strain. He denied all knowledge of the crime, but was detained on a charge of murder. Two witnesses have also been taken into custody. The theory of the police i., that Rosenthal was killed by other gamblers, who fearcil the effect which the Tevelations he was about to make would have upon their business. The police say that they have learned that frequenters of certain re*<>rts have known for some time that the "squealer" was about to be silenced. The DistruAttorney, on the other Land swt.'s that Rosenthal on the day before' tie was shot expressed the opinion that the police would "get him." TARIFF FOR IMMUNITY. According to Rosenthal's story anyone could obtain police immunity. The following is a table he compiled of tow much it costs to "buy" the police "for various gambling establishments: To open a gambling house (roulette, faro, etc.), £100. To operate a gambling house, per month, £60. To open a horse-racing or pool room (afternoon play), £100. To operate a pool-room, per month, f£fio. To operate a dice game, £10 to £50 per month, according to play. To operate a poker "club","' £10 to '£.zn per month, according to play. Police Commissioner Waldo Was written to Mr Whitman declaring that New York City has never in its history been freer from gamblers or their establishments, and offering every aid of the police department to' rid the city of undesirable elements. The most discomforting feature is the popular belief that the real murderers will be aHowed to evade, arrest. Rosenthal's death has already strengthened the widespread conviction that the police of New York, like, the police of other big American cities where the force is controlled by politicians and exploited as the "spoils" of office," can be bought by evildoers willing to pay the price. If this charge is not true, the public argue, why do so many American police officers retire wealthy? One rich inspector, when questioned, admitted that hr had received "graft," but, he added, honest graft," and the distinction between honest "graft" and dishonest "graft" has since become historic. Until recent years, when the reform wave commenced rolling, police officers charged with "graft" virtually defended themselves in the words of the popular song, " Everybody's doing it." and the inquiry regarding Rosenthal's death is expected to show whether "graft" as an institution still retains its popularity. ROSENTHAL'S " PABTN-ER." Rosenthal said that his alleged partner, Police-Lieutenant Becker, was worth over £12.000, and that his income was between £1,500 and £2,000 a month. He QJ-1 not pretend that the Mayor of New i ork or the Police Commissioner was responsible for the system which was introduced by Boas Tweed, of Tammany Hall, and has now become so powerful than the" dWe ? bed aS ° re Werful than the organisation that brought it *>***— lea very varied and turbojet H S great prominence as a y£^ c "*° ■si \wmm ~~, mnicc fed been, laepiiei to

make the charge at the instance ot Police Inspector Schmittberger, with whom Becker at the time was on bad terms. Rosenthal's death is the leading topic discussed throughout the Eastern States, and the demand for an investigation of the Police Department is very widespread. The newspapers, irrespective of politics declare that the police, must clear themselves, or Xew York will stand disgraced throughout the world. DETECTIVE BUKNS ENGAGED. Jhe famous private detective, Mr. Wm. Burns (who tracked the Macnamara brothers, the Labour dynamiters of Los Angeles) has been engaged by the Public Prosecutor, Mr. Whitman, to investigate the murder of the gambling-saloon keeper Rosenthal, who was shot dead by five men in a motor car after publicly accusing the police of being in partnership with the criminals of the city and with taking a percentage of the profits from all houses of crime. Mr. Burns has been engaged because Mr. Whitman, who asserts that the police planned and executed the murder. bf>lieves that no regular detective dare incur the anger of his superiors by arresting the murderers. The police have done practically nothing so far. According to the newspapers the. names of the real murderers are known to every member of the criminal world of Xew York, and yet they arc not arrested. " The impression," states the "Evening Post," " is gaining ground that the police, the gamblers and the criminals are mouthing the names of the murderers, saying boldly that Rosenthal's slayers are still in the town." The "Globe" adds that at least two of the hired assassins have been boldly walking up and down Second and Third Avenues while investigations into the murder are proceeding; that they have been pointed out by gamblers and criminals there.; and that the price paid them for the murder was £400. There is no gainsaying the fact that these statements are believed by tens of thousands of citizens, who are asking why, pending the result of the investigations, Police-Lieutenant Becker, who was directly accused by Rosenthal, is allowed to perform his duties as usual. MACHINE AS DETECTIVE. DEVELOPMENTS TX THE MURDER MYSTERY. The arrest on Sunday night of three additional men in connection with the sensational murder of Rosenthal has brought the mystery one step nearer solution. Two of the men, " Bridgey" Weber and ?am Paul, alleged gamblers, were locked up on suspicion of direct participation in the crime, while the third, Jack Sullivan, known as the " King of Newsboys," who is being held as a witness, has admitted that he was with PoliceLientenant Becker the night before the :rirne, and that he was afterwards with Rise (another gambler who was arrested on ? charge of complicity), Weber, and Paul. Becker wrs on Monday relieved of '•his .-otnmand of the so-called '" strong arms squad," and transferred to desk duty in i suburban precinct. It is stated that the reason why so many patrons of Weber's pool-room in 42nd Street surrendered or were arrested was because the police on the day following the murder fixed a dictograph in the house. The instrument recorded all the details of the conversation about the crime, even indicating the subscribers to the murder fund, and the names of those who had been paid as well as the amount of the fund, which was 2,000 dollars. There was a sensational development in the case on Monday, when the chauffeur Versi, giving evidence before the grand jury, said Police-Lieut. Becker (who is stated to have been the partner of the dead man in a gambling house) drove Rosenthal to a point near the scene of the crime, and coached Versi as to what he wa3 to say in the event of his being questioned by anybody.