New-York tribune., 1879-04-12
CHARGES AGAINST An OFFICIAL.

r. s MASSEY, PRESIDENT or THE BOARD OF CITY
WORKS, BRoOKLYN, CHARGED WITH HAVING
FIREMEN WORK FOR HIM WHILE HE WAS PRES
IDENT OF THE FIRE COMMISSION.
1t became public in Brooklyn yesterday al
ternoon that an investigation recently had been begun
respecting the affairs of the Fire Department while
Frederick S. Massey, now president Of the Board oi
City Works, was at the head OF that department
The testimony OF James Lynch. superlnten-
dent Of the Repair shop. and William
A. Beardall and James Dale. district eng1'
neers is said to that while in the pay OF the
department were employed By Mr. Massey IN making
repairs in his house. in putting machinery In his steam
yachts and in taking them TO the Thousand Isles ana
In painting decoy ducks" for his use In shooting lh
Chesapeako Bay 1t also stated that they did work
in the houses OF Commissioner Mclaughlin ana Ibei
Engineer Nevns
Fire Commissioner James Ryan said last evening that
about two months ago the present Commissioners,
David Williams, Bernard Gallagher and himself
began this eX-partc investigation 10 learn no"
matters had been managed by thclr Pre-
dccessors The aforementioned witnesses were
examined about months and the Investigation
stopped because Mr. Nlams ien sich' hr ~! ny az AZ
said that he at loss 10 know bow thc proccchhE
became public at this me and expressed his regret
that II had occurred rs 1t wOuld hinder the freedom
Of the investigation, which Will DE resumed rs soon rs
on his examination in the c. y Court this week in the
trial OF Messrs. Flahcrty and bennett Mr. Massey tes
him when they duty for the Department
The following u brief summary OF the testimony
given the witnesses summoned by the fIre cOlnls-
-lOeTs under authority them by The charter;
William A. lioardGl testified that be painted the
houecs of Commissioners Massey and Mclaughlin ana
Chcf Engineer NcvnS working seven or eight days on
each. except Mr.. Masscys; he assisted by three
other frcmen. He also pautcd two boats for Mr. Mas
scv, the stCau-yaCht Giaric, the 0thcr sallnS
yacht The orders for the work were gwen by the
Chief Engineer Mechanics and mHChinlsts from the
Department were also employed IN ihis way. Two OtHef
yachts were painted, and some duck shooting boxes
and decoy ducks. -,
James Lynch. Superintendent OF the Repair Yard
testified that orders for the machinery OF
Yacht: he furnished castings and put The machinery IN
a holt. He was assisted by two men who were on de
Mclaughlin WAS furnished. The men were cmplojed
Tor two or three Ks IN the shop. and the came time
IN putting machinery in the boat. In bul dng the
engine ne used, If any twenty pounds OF IRON belonging
To tine shop The witness took the Ndcut itlaclt
10 B.ooklyn from New-Jcrscy in 1872 for Presi-
dent Massey vino bought her. lie did several days
work on her with men. and took her to the Ihous-
Lake Ontario. lie inward put machinery in ano her
boat ana took her 10 the 81 Lawrence IN 1879 win
three mcI TO far is he knew they hdd no custom
House p'IS. 80
James Daic, District Engineer testified that he had
acted engineer the Oracle and went win ner 10
the lhousaud Islands 1873 1S74 getting leave OF
absence for ten days Two years later lie went
up with another boat. which men cor
nected with the Department had worked. In
regard 10 sal-boat known as the duck" boat, the
witness testified that Of the Department worked on
Ter and assisted in The launching, ana hat she wa
taken 10 the dock truck drawn by horses Oi tie
Fire Department.