The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-10
FORGERY AND FRAUD,
Some Ugly Revelations that We're Made ut the
City Hall Yesterday, duplicating Aldermen
and Assistant Aldermen and tho
Clerks Of Both Boards-How the
Servants Of the People
Discharge Their Du-
ties Themselves

tics Themselves
Ihere has long existed beneath the Mayors
once' Ia the City Hall, what Is known as
"rHE BUREAU OF PERMITS"
ohueT tue Ola Iammany regime 1t Is alleged that
II was run In the interest OF certain snecures OF
william Marcy Tweed. and little revenue was re-
turned to the city. Within a few days the HERALD
has published an exposure OF this bureau that has
created lively sensation In certain circles, which
finally eliminated yesterday. when the word was
whispered around the City Hall that the HERALD
exposure had eveHtuated In the ventilation OF
GIGANTIC FRAUDS AND F0RGERIEs
in the issue OF permits for street membranes.
These most seriously implicated certain clerks OF
the Assistant Board OF Aldermen, who, 1t was said
had resorted to forgery to levy tax OF from 81 to
IS upon each applicant for a permit
The reporter OF the HERALD who had written up
the Permit Bureau, over which German named
Weiss presides, heard these rumors, and with
view OF ascertaining Information he called upon
Captain Wendell, Chief Clerk for Mayor Have
meyer.
Mr.. Wendell is one Of the on-committal gentle
men In the Mayors office, VITO endeavOrs to shift
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SENSATION
from his own shoulders to those OF q reporter and
when the HARALD reporter, after Alderman Fall
coner, who had had q long confidential interview,
retired put the question:
''Mr. Wendell, understand that you have dis
covered frauds and forgeries in the applications
for permits in q bureau over which you preside. s
there any truth In the reportf' he responded
81 have given 1t to .-'s boy and suppose
you have learned all about it.n
HERALD REroRrER-No. sir, I do not know
DIS boy'' nor Glnxs' baby" but know the
Aldermen ana their assistants. and do not pro-
pose to apply there for information. You are the
authority for this rum0r, and come to you, as
chief clerk OF the Mayors ONCE, for Information.
Mr. WENDELL, somewhat alarmed. lifted his
eyes, after Alderman Fac0ner had retired, ana in
o low tOne communicated to the HERALD reporter
the fact that in the Bureau of Permits several ap-
plications had been made to Mr.. Weiss in which
FORGED SIGNATURES OF ALDERMEN
had appeared The little Captain brus he'd UP his
hair, and finally said, 'The ordinances provide that
all applications for permits shall be signed BY an
alderman and the assistant alderman OF the district
where the applicant resides We nave knowledge
that the names Of assistant aldermen have been
signed by clerks officials In the Clerks Office Of
the Assistant Board, and
MONEY CHARGED FOR THE APPROVAL"
'Do you pretend to tell me-" asked the HERALD
reporter Of Captain Wendell, "that apprOvals Of
permit applications signed in the Clerks office
OF the Assistant Board OF Aldermen by clerks who
Captain wendell hesitated moment and finally
said -
II learn that certain persons havesepplied for
permits In the onlce OF the Board OF Assistant AL
uermen, and have, by paying dollar or MORE
secured the names OF the Assistant Aldermen to
their papers,"
'AND ARE THEY PoRaRR1Ess"
Mr.. wendell leaned back in his chair and hest
lated.
HERALD REPoRTER-Can you give me cases In
points Are all the clerks Of the Board OF Assistant
Mr.. wendell was again SILENT and finally sug-
gested that the HERALD reporter might play the
part OF detective, apply for permit and learn
the nOduS Ope7'd71d The reporter approved the
suggestion and declared that he would work upon
Turning to leave Mr. Wendell said that he had
the Board of Assistant Aldermen were parties to
the fraud, but he had knowledge that man not
connected with the Board in any official capacity
had a desk in the office and charged certain sums
for the signatures Of Assistant Aldermen, And"
said he in conclusion,
'Ilearn that there is in that bureau
DRAWER FULL OF BLANK APPLICATIONS.
I may say, however, that have no knowledge that
justices me in charging forgery upon any Clerk Of
the Assistant Board OF Aldermen"
The reporter at once repaired to Clerk Moloney's
quarters In room No. 10 and discovered that he
was absent From Assistant Alderman Foley, who
was at desk, he learned that that gentleman mad
long been engaged IN signing recommendations;
but he and the deputy clerks
DENIED THE CHARGE
that any charge had been made for signing per-
MUS OI1e Vi Tile CleTkS, uOWcVcT, WHcu iuIOII
OF the exposure OF the Ring became excited and
satd:-
''The same thing is done in the Clerks office OF
"With the concurrence OF General Pinckney,
Clerk" queried the reporter.
''Oh. no! perhaps not" SAID he; 'but Mr.. Garry
signs the names or Aldermen Reilly and Flanagan
.'Do they do It in blank ~ asked the reporter.
IL do not know. You can quietly
GO IN AND FIND OUT"
the deputy clerk SAID. with peculiar wink.
AS the reporter entered he encountered Alder
man John Reilly going out, and remarked
"Mr. Reilly, may askif you have ever given any.
body permission or power OF attorney to sign
your name in approval OF application for permits
Never" responded Mr.. Reilly. "why do you
ask"
The reporter took Mr. Reilly aside and explained
the difficulty, when nc most emphatically denied
that he had ever delegated any authority to any
Samuel NJ. Slater's desk, Mr. Reilly said :
HAS anybody been in the habit OF signing my
name to applications for permits I"
MIR. Slater quickly responded
"ies, sir MIR. Garry has done so, and
HAVE sTdNED ALDERMAN PLANAGAN's NAME"
"liave you power Of attorney to sign Alderman
Flanagans name?'' asked the reporter.
"Yes," responded Mr.. Slater.
"Wi you show 1t to meSr asked the reporter, in
the presence OF Alderman Reilly.
Not without Alderman Fanagan's PERMISSION "
said Mr.. Slater "The applications have been SO
l have authority from Alderman Flanagan 10 ap-
prove them. Buzz" added he, .there Is not clerk
in the Board OF Aldermen who has pronted cent
in this matter.n
At this juncture
CLERK GARRY CAME IN,
and Alderman Reilly asked HIM II he had signed
his (Reilly's) name to applications for permits.
Mr. Garry quickly admitted that he had, and told
Alderman Reilly that he had authority 20 do so.
Alderman Reilly responded that he had sufncient
education to sign his own name, and informed Mr..
Garry that he had never, verbally or otherwise,
delegated to him any power in the premises:
Mr. Garry insisted that Mr.. Reilly nad done So ana
the question OF power remains between Clerk
Garry and Alderman Reilly.
While the above interview was progressing
Alderman Flanagan came in. and, learning OF the
excitement, stepped up to the HERALD reporter
and politely said eli there Is any blame attaching
assume II. as authorized this gentleman (Mr.
Slater to sign my name." This declaration Of
Alderman Flanagan was made In the presence Of
an immense lobby, and there was at once a scat
tering OF the crowd which had gathered to witness
THE CLERK's DIsCoMFITURR.
Later the HERALD reporter cohveIsed with AS