New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-23
an increase of $4,000 since the of 1880 was
taken.
MIR. MKEON'S APPOINTMENTS.
PHILIP FARLEY A SUBPOENA CLERK.


HIS RECORD AS GIVEN BY poRGERs AND cRIM1-
NAILS.
Much comment is made by politicians and Others
about the class Of men District-Attorney McKeon
is surrounding himself with. There are several po-
sltons in his department which are vet TO be filled.
Already he has appointed Philip Farley AZ Subpoena
server in place of $. A. Madge, who has taken po-
sitiOn in Surrogate Rollinss office. Farley Is a
man of considerable wealth. but peculiar record,
as will be seen by reading the following.
George Macdonnell is forger who has an inter
national reputation. lie was once convicted OF
forgery in this city and afterward went to England,
where be became famous by committing an extern
sivc forgery on the Bank of England lie fled TO
this country and was pursued by the British author-
ties and was returned on extraditon proceedings
After his conviction lie made the following confes-
SION:
NFwG,rE JAIL. August 90, 1873.
hcSSrs FREsHFIELDs, No. D Bank Buildings London.
GLNTLEMEN: In fulnmcnt OF my promise in our Inter
writing the substance Of the communication then made
to you and viii state at the same time that my only
ures may be taken TO recover the Bank
of Engands property from the person. who are pow IN
possession OF # IN York, and bv whom ! was ne
trayed plundored aud insu!tcd while in that city ON
the arrival In the hIrbOr OF NcwYork ot the steamship
OF the NcwYOrk detective force, James irving
upon nlSt seeing Infln lIOusnl bh'y "VlO
there at my request for had tecgraphed Irving frat TO
meet the Cuba and afteTward from Havre 10 meet the
c TGH gs so II m after Sre deal OF
with the collectors for the bank they had succeeded
in being specially deputized a. United states
Marslas to effect the arrest; that their only
object was to afford INC an opportunity
to mako way with anything compromising ! might
happen to have with me- and in furherance OF that OBJ
ject they had cOptrved to prevent the ShErs officer
fnIiv eHoysd They then advised me to hand over to
them any documents had expressed their sorrow ior
sst me
@cScTgy 9nndGa them ,,; Gaokasse cqaaqpS
of the following numbers: Fifteen bonds
Of $1,000 each 'yz e .2+633 80 to 2229' ;2S'
5i4 two bonds of $500 each viz 1897, 43 83l two
bonds Of 500 each viz: 49327 and 5326s; one bond
Drcze iarjes & CO. Of Paris upon Meesrs J. & Morgan
& Co Of London for $500 and very fine diamond ring
the cypress understanding that it was 10 be nsed ac'
o9rdns & to my dreSStCnSy Tor ,ot me IsrpnsES "S@
my firm belief that their only reason for obtaining
this requisite authority to make the arrest was to he,
not in the least with the intention Of afordng me any
assistance or protection. II il this belief which induces
money been used according 10 my directions l Wounl
to-day he liberty and out ~ al danger OF ever occu-
pyng my present terrible position.
Although sent repeatedly tn both Irving and Farley
TO ask for my property, received 0uly $4,000 in bonds
that they could do without compromising thcm-
selves. The $1,000 in bonds were sold; about 5000
cOnfscated presme by way OF commission by the per.
sons who acted ormc. Fa ley and irving both Informed
that they had been obliged to make afhdayits that
they had nothing o mnc IN their possession ana asked
to be and keep their secret promised to 90 So
find the men 20 whom il made willing 10 keep
faith with no intent only IN lng their own pockets
paid TO protect, and OF those who, for Il different
kind Of protection, submit TO backma'ng such as
that perppraeG In further PROOF hat my inter
course With them Il OF long standing you WIZ hi
the record Of registered letters sent them by last
Of part Of one Of them i4tat found in my trunk, com
incncing d" Friend PHIL Trust You VIII not ran 10
am etc GEORGE MACDONNELL.
The letter addressed 10 Friend Phil made men.
ton of sending SlGO to Mr.. Farley.
The matter was Investigated by the Board OF Po-
lice, but the investigation came to sudden con-
cusion by the attorneys for the Bank of England
refusing to assume the attitude of pros rcuors in
trial before the Board. They insisted that they
wero merely tho agents of the bank
in sending to tho City of New-iork
information that it hal unfaithful
scryants in its employ After rendering this their
duty was done. The Board took no subsequent &C
ton in the matter.
r. S Pettis familiary known as" Spence Pettis,'
notorious and skillful 'oreer mad" confession in
December 1874, concerning the extensive f0rgerles
of the bonds Of the NcwIOrk Central Railroad Com
pany, tho Buffalo, Newl0rk aud Erie Railroad
Company, the Western Union Telegraph Company,
sion and IN il this paragraph appeared:
Abou thi4 time I wanted TO know how thes" bonds
were to hc uspd and what was 10 understand by pro
lection" Roberts and Gleason (accompuccs) said that
Farley aud Irving OF headquarters were 10 get their
usual percentage and that it there any exposure
they would have control OF the and protect any
might use said that Farley was per3Ona enemy Of
mine time back but that we had settled the matter
on the surface, and that l would like to him with
Roberts and talk the matter over, which was agreed
upou | met Farley with Roberts at George Ne
Tays in Amty-st New-YOrK, and Farley said
that when the time came he and Jimmie Gryng)
would keep their end all right If we took of Ours
but that he must know the men. told him the name OF
ono WAS Engels he said that all right, he ipti
mate with him had conversation with Farley after
this on the same subject Roberts told me tnat Farley
"a the man Wilkes who took the 200 bonds 70 Europe
on safe and when Roberts left England he teieGraphed
Farley him, which he did, and Roberts said Far
ley could be depended on.
A TRIBUNE reporter called on DisinctAtt0rney
McKeon recently and asked him ii lie was aware
of Mr. Farley srecOrd.
Il know all about it," replied Mr. ,McKeon.
81 have made full inquiries. He was
honorably acquitted by the Police Com
rnissioners, and ho has been appointed one of the
subpoena clerks in my Office"
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