Chicago Tribune
NEW SENSATIONS FOR M’CANN
TRIAL
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Both Prosecution and Defense Will Call on High Police Officials for Testimony
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PLOT SPOILED BY WOMAN
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"English Jennie" Refused to Enter Conspiracy to Attack Reputation of Dean
Sumner.
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The trial of Police Inspector Edward McCann on charges of extorting bribes from keepers of resorts in the Desplaines street vice district will be resumed before Judge Albert C. Barnes this morning with prospects for a week of stormy sessions. Opponents and friends of McCann have prepared to inject fresh sensations into the case in support of their respective contentions.
Among the more sensational stories which gained currency is one to the effect that Detective Jeremiah Griffin, under indictment charging bribe taking while working under McCann, will be put on the stand to testify against McCann. Attorney Charles E. Erbstein, representing Griffin and "Mike de Pike" Heitler — Heitler also is under indictment for misdeeds in the levee — denied that Griffin would testify. State’s Attorney cloaked himself behind a blanket statement to the effect that "there will be some new witnesses, but I won’t tell at this time who they will be."
From the side of the defense came intimations that Inspector William P. Clancy ultimately will be called for the purpose of impeaching Louis Frank’s denial of a charge by Col. James Hamilton Lewis of counsel for the defense, that Frank offered Inspector Clancy a bribe of $500 to release a woman while Inspector Clancy was at Desplaines street.
Haines and Elliot May Testify
Capt. Haines and Lieut. Elliot, whom Frank was charged with having had removed from the Desplaines street vice district because they interfered with resorts over which Frank was "czar," may be called as witnesses by the defense. Assistant Chief of Police Schuettler, Inspector Revere, and Municipal Judge Fake already have been put on the list of witnesses for the state.
State’s Attorney Wayman will determine this morning whether to make representations to the court concerning Bernard P. Bonnelly of 7000 Yale avenue, brother-in-law of Inspector McCann, who got into hot water Saturday when detectives of the state’s attorney’s office intimated that there is a disposition on the part of the state to look upon the courtroom as "packed" with friends of Inspector McCann. This alleged feature of the case was pointed to as foundation for probable fireworks by the state’s attorney before the case goes to the jury.
Judge Barnes will reopen the court with Louis Frank, self-confessed collector of graft and chief accuser of Inspector McCann, on the witness stand. Col. Lewis expects to finish his cross examination of Frank before noon.
Synagogue Lauds Julius Frank
Julius Frank, brother and partner of Louis, has been rendered joyous by the adoption of resolutions by his synagogue, Anshe Kalvaria, setting forth virtues which his fellow worshipers say he has, and criticizing Col. Lewis and Samuel Alschuler for disapproving of Frank in talks at the recent dedication of a Jewish place of worship. Frank’s cup of triumph was topped by an offer of the presidency of the synagogue for another year. With the resolutions in his possession, Frank considered himself formally accredited as ethnarch of the community in which he lives.
Frank’s joy might have been diminished had he know that representatives of the Jewish community who disapprove of him will meet today with Dean Sumner to talk over the situation in the west side vice district with the view of combating what they consider a stain on the credit of the Jewish race in Chicago — the presence of numerous Jews among resort keepers.
Julius, who is alleged to know as much as his brother about the collection of graft on the west side, probably will be put upon the stand by State’s Attorney Wayman as soon as the cross examination of Louis has been finished. He is expected to corroborate the testimony of Louis.
Attack on Dean Sumner Averted
Then will come policemen and habitués of the west side district, including "English Jennie," alleged to have been depended upon by enemies of Dean Walter T. Sumner of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul to perjure herself by an attempt to defame the clergyman’s character, until the supposed plan was exposed by the dean himself.
The woman now avows that anybody who had depended upon her to assail "the little preacher" reckoned without his host, but in the same breath she denounced Inspector McCann and detectives under him. She asserted that while she knows nothing save good about Dean Sumner, she will be a strong witness against the police official, in whom the dean had reposed unbounded confidence as a cleaner up of a bad district.
She said she knew Louis Frank’s testimony concerning the levying of vice tribute to be absolutely true and had warned McCann that Frank would "double cross" him.
As soon as "English Jennie" read the Sunday papers she called on Dean Sumner and told him there was no foundation for the report that she would be a party to any conspiracy to defame his character.
Plot Foiled, Clergyman Says
"Yes, "English Jennie told me that there was no such plot a foot," said the dean with a laugh. "Although she may not have been consulted in the matter, I possess reliable information to the effect that a scheme existed to attempt to intimidate me so that I would be afraid to testify for Inspector McCann as a character witness. Everybody who knows me would be aware of the absurdity of such a story as the enemies of decency in this district have been considering., and may still be considering for aught I know; but I simply felt that a clergyman I was bound to do what I could to anticipate sensationalism in which I might be involved
(2) as the victim of conspirators. I trust that the public will understand that I cannot be stopped by foul threats from doing what I believe to be my duty."
"Why should I say anything against the dean or the cathedral?" asked "English Jennie." "I have been here practically all my life and I have never heard a breath against any one connected with the cathedral. And I know no other women in the district are talking about the dean, for if they are I would hear of it.
"When I saw what the newspapers said I was going to tell about the dean it made my blood boil. I went to him right away and told him I would not be drawn into any such a conspiracy. Dean Sumner never was in my house."
Says McCann Took Bribes
The "Jennie" spoke about the McCann case.
"If I am called as a state’s witness," she said, "I shall have to corroborate Louis Frank’s testimony. Since McCann has been in charge of the district women here have been subjected to a terrible system of persecution if they refused to pay for police protection. I am not proud of the business I am in — not at all — but I have always felt superior to the men who wore blue clothes and stars that levied tribute money on vice.
"I was one of the last to get in line. Last April on the advice of "Black" Mulvihill, one of McCann’s detectives, I went to Louis Frank and gave him $20. For months before that I had been arrested and fined repeatedly, while women who had resorts on both sides of me had been let alone by the police. They told me to pay and I would not be bothered, but I refused until I saw it was no use trying to do anything with the police against me.
Tells of Paying Tribune
"Just before Easter I had been over to a West Madison street dry goods store to by a shirt waist and was returning home when Detective Mulvihill stepped out of a doorway.
"‘The inspector wants you again,’ he said.
"Well, he took me over to the station and I was told I wouldn’t be booked until 1 o’clock. Louis Frank came over and wanted to go on my bond, and I refused and got bond after 1 o’clock. The next day Mulvihill came to me and said:
"‘Jennie, my advice to you is to see Louis Frank, pay up, and the inspector will leave you alone.’
"Before this I had talked the matter over with another policeman. I told him how I had been persecuted. He said for me to get on my best clothes and go to see Mr. Wayman and tell him my story. I hated to do this and concluded to follow Mulvihill’s advice. I went right over to Frank and paid him $20 and told him it was for the inspector.
"I started back home and met Policeman Dwyer, who arrested me and took me to the station again. I got out on bond and made straight for Frank’s saloon, where I created a scene. I said I had just paid for protection and had been arrested again. I demanded my money back. Frank called up the inspector over the telephone and then paid me back the money.
Alleges She Warned McCann.
"Yes, I talked. I told about the deal that I had received, and McCann sent for me to come to the station. The inspector took my hand familiarly, and said:
"‘Now, Jennie, you are an old timer and I am an old timer. Let’s have some understanding. Go on back home and quit talking. Tell them all you have paid up, and we’ll let you alone.’
"I told the inspector I had paid the money and he said there had been some mistake. I told him he was working his collection business with Louis Frank, and that he was foolish to do it. He said for me not to mind about that.
"‘He’s double crossed everybody over here and he’ll double cross you yet,’ I said.
"I was in the state’s attorney’s office several weeks ago when Louis Frank told his story just as he did on the witness stand. I was surprised, because I did not believe he ever would tell the truth as he did there. I don’t know whether they will call me as a witness or not. If they do, I shall tell the truth about the collection of money from the poor women of the district."
Col. Lewis is of the opinion that the McCann case may be completed by the end of this week. Mr. Wayman believes that if other witnesses are cross examined as diligently as Louis Frank has been by Col. Lewis, the case may take two weeks. The state’s attorney considers Frank as having shown himself to be a witness who cannot be broken down on essential in the story that he collected graft for McCann.
The grand jury investigations, conducted simultaneously with the McCann trial may result in more indictments in connection with the McCann case. Persons in close touch with Mr. Wayman continued to hint at possibilities of "something doing" among men "higher up."
