New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11
JURY FIXERS CAUGHT.
A RING IN MR.. CAULFIELDs OFFICE.


HIS DEPUTY, TWO CLERKS AND A FORMER EMPLoYE
ARRESTED.
The consultation of Inspector Byrnes and Assist
ant District-Attorney O'Byrne with a prisoner at
Police Headquarters on Friday night, mentioned in
THE TRIBUNE was explained yesterday when ad-
dtional arrests we're made and the action of
rupt ring Of clerks in the Office Of the Commissioner
of Jurors was made public. Comm ssioner Caul-
field told District Attorney McKeon about three
months ago that he suspected that clerks were
extorting money from business men. Mr.. McKeOn
| had observed and inquired about articles in The
| TRIBUNE alleging that there were frauds IN
| the existing system Of selecting jurors, and
had complained that it seemed TO be Impossible to
get Jurors who came up to the standard of inteli-
| gence expected when jurors were supposed to be
drawn at random. 1t was believed that many in
telgent business were permitted to escape per-
forming jury duty by paying sums OF money
to clerks under the Commissioner OF Jurors Mr.
Caulield said that his suspicious had been directed
particularly against William +. McGratb, former
clerk OF record whom he had noticed frequently in
his Office. Acting upon The advice of Mr. McKeon,
Mr.. Caulfed went TO Police Headquarters and con
suited with Superintendent Waing and Inspector
Byrnes. As most of the detective-sergeants were
well-known about the City Hall, it was not thought
best to employ any of them at first in investigating
Mr.. Caulields suspicious. Mr.. Walling detailed
Patrolmen John Salmon and Charles Noonan from
uptown precincts to work under the direction of
Mr. Caulfeid.
The policemen for several weeks spent their
time In "shadowing" MoGrath, who lives
at No. 800 East Twenty-fnh-st., and had
law office No. Warren-st. They
noticed that he was much in the company of Pat
rick CUNNINGHAM. a clerk In Mr.. Caulfelds office.
bctl, a
daytime. McGrath went about the city, visiting
the stores and Offices of business men. The officers
paid visits at such places afrerward and learned
enough to make it certain that the business men
had paid money TO McGrath to escape performing
fury duty. On account of the Illness of Mr.. MckeOn.
Assistant Distnct-AttOrney O'Bync gave his atten-
tiOn to the collection of evidence agar ST the ring
in Mr. Caulfeds Office. Deectlve-Serg geants
Slevin. Reilly. OConnOr and Heidelberg visited
many merchants, who admitted having given money
10 McGrath. 1t was ascertained that McGrath had
visited about 1000 business men, with varying
success.
AniCayits were made by the policemen on Friday,
and Judge owing issued warrants for the arrest of
YcGrath and Cunningham. McGrath was arrested
near his home early in the evening a d taken di-
rcctv 10 Police Headquarters Commissioner Caul-
field and Mr. OByme afterwards went b. Police
Headquarters AMI McGrath was confronted with
them. The prisoner ut once mad' con esSiOn
Deputy Comm ssiOner Of Jurors, and J. W. Jaryis
the irst assistant IN the Office Cunningham was
arrested on the atoopof NcGraths house, Ia'er IN
the night. but IL decided not to
arrest Kcrgin and ryis until additional warrants
could 10. obtained. kcegan lives at No. go West
rty-irst-st. and JARVIS a No. 223 West One !
hundred d-and- twenty -seyenth-st. They were ar
rested yesterday, and IN company with McGrah |
and Cunningham were arraigned ~ the lombs Po-
lice Court. Commissioner Caulhed made charges |
of maloIsaucc in Office against kcegan. jarvis and
Cunningham. and tho charges were sustained by
sworn confessions OF McGrath who was charged
with bribery. Tho risoners were held IN $1,000 |
bail each for IA eX0miuaUOn At II a. IN. Tuesday.
At MCGmt's house were found long lists Of Names
OF bu-luess men who bad paid money 20 the ring.
Many letters wcr. found IN his possession al o,
some of The writer's stating that thew BAD pad
money 20 be excused from Jury duty and still they
had be'n served with notices. The letters c.
" P' and appeared frequently on the lists:
DE. retiyc, sAid they meant co lrct' pad" and
lnckcdp Ii SAID that when lists Of jurors
werc drawn the men N the ring ln Mr. Caulhclds
Office would .rlcct from 500 names placed In the
wheel about 100 names of men whose business adj
dr. sscs indicated that their umc was valuable |
Notices would bo made out end McGrah would
call or the II. n, representing him.e as mes en-
ger from Nh Clultlcds Office. II IS said that most
Of tAc merchants thus visited have paid from 50
to 500 ea,h to escape the duty which
they thought they had been summoned q perform. |
McCraih WIS expect II to give oue-hali of what he
received 10 his confederates. Cunningham, how
ever. had private lists and visited merchants on his
own account
Tho police Yesterday refused to make public the
names OF business men who mad paid money TO Nc
had given money believing thai thcy wcro paying
a | gl me, and probably thry did not tfnk they
were brlbing any one,
In conversation wi n TRIBUNE reporter Com
mis- ioncr Caulield said Oh { MS >u1 ic ons were "
clted time ago by publications III HE
UIpUNE that ther- wa a ring ia his Office |
engaged in reccivlng money 10 excuse le,so
from sTvng IA jurors. he salarl of his ONCE |
were now paid from The city trea ury, the sa ne rs
those OF all Oth clty employees. the tines Tor non
Attendance of persons drawn jurors AID the fees
for exemption very small aud he could |
accou"t for il only on the supposlloL that much |
of he money thus received was not accounted for |
About November /, lss2, he Informed Distrct-At- |
torney McKcon OF his suspicious aud they called |
ON Inspector Byrucs. lie detail. ed two on |
the ease aud close watch was kept on the sus-
prctrd men. McGrath was followed AID seen To |
collect money from business men. He after
ward seen TO give money To keegan. jarvis and
Cunningham presumably portion OF
that obtained from the persons whom he
had visited A search warrant was procured and
McGrath's room was VISITED. In It was found
book containing more than 1000 names OF husl-
ness and professional men. Nr an Held added that
there was doubt that this business nad been car
RED on for "a long time. and that the city had lost
good many thOusand dollars The scheme ~ en-
urciy broken NJ now" he SAID ne istS OF lnoae
liable tO do jury duty will be revised.
Kergan Cunnin CHAM and JARVIS will be proceeded
against under section 27 Of the Penal COdc, winch
provides tnat any pubic official TecoiVlng money
for any account not authorized by law shall be
punishable by "A fine OF $4,000 or imprisonment Tor |
ten years, Or both. McGrath is arrtisueu under
section ~ OF the Penal Code, which provides that
any person who gives any money TO influence |
officials shall be punished in ike manner as Vhe
officials whom he hrUes."
Deputy Commissioner Keegan has been in the Of
flee OF he Commissioner of Jurors about ten years.
lie Is a member OF the County Democracy County |
Committee from the XVIII District. Patrick Gun
ningham was for several years member of the
fammany Hall General COMMITTEES IRON from tue
XVlllth District. When George Caulileld was
made Commissioner of } jurors Cunnlnghams
political opinions changed to the extent Of
inducing him to become II member OF the
County Democracy. j. NJ. Jarvis has not been
prominent In politics. William l.. McGrath is
lawyer but does not practise. He is about forty
two years o I'd. Several years ago he was member
nj I he Iainuanv Hall General lOmm tee, out for