GRAFT IN NEW YORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17436, 7 April 1931, Page 2

GRAFT IN NEW YORK

"SPEAKEASIES" TOLL NEW YORK, Feb. IS. Millions of pounds in graft are extracted annually by the New York police from ''speakeasies/' houses of ill repute, and. gambling dens. This revelation was mado at tho investigation conducted by the referee, Mr. Samuel Seabury, into magistrate's courts.

The disclosures clearly indicate that the collecting of graft is not confined to tho rank and file of tho police, but that proceeds find their way into the po'ekets of many of the highest officials. Mr. Seabury ordered COO city banks to send him records of the accounts held by fU policemen, including those of several inspectors, captains, and lieutenants.

According to the tostiiiiony.of Harry I Levey, agent provocateur, .Patrolmen .Tames Qniolivaii and William O'Connor, two members of the Vice Squad, in one year collected graft ampuntiug to fcSO,O(M) from 12fi resorts. This means that if collections are made generally at the same rate from the reputed ".2,00(1 '' .speakeasies'' in the city the graft yield must be well, over £1,'000,000. Quinlivan and O'Connor, Who as policemen receive from £6OO to £BOO a year in salary, both lived in luxurious circumstances and owned several motor cars. Each received regular incomes as landlords, and speculated on the stock market. The great bulk of the. money they gathered in, however, was paid out to others, whom Mr Seabury suspects were their superior officers.