New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-23
THE WATER-METER FRAUDS.
INSPECTOR DAVID E. AIKEN ARRESTED.

INSPECTOR DAVID E. AIKEN ARRESTED.
COMMISSIONER THOMPSON REFUSES INFORMATION
HOW THE FRAUDS WERE PERPETRATED.
David E. Aiken a clerk in the Department of Pub
lie Works. who has been suspected OF completely In
the water-meter Frauds was q prisoner at Police
Headquarters yesterday. His arrest was kept
secret by the police until last evening, when
his son aud brother-in-law went to Police
Headquarters to make inquiries When they
entered the building together Captain Washburn
was on duty in the Superlntendents office. He
looked at the arrest book, but he could not find any
record of the arrest, which they SAID had occurred
late on Friday night Mr.. Aiken's son
said; 1.-TWO men, who claimed to be
policemen, came to our house at One
hundred and d-seventieth-st. and Franklin-ave.,
about nine o'clock last night and waited until my
father came in They arrested him then, but they
waited in the house until about three o'clock this
morning in order to get tram. They said they
would take him to Police Headquarters.
Before noon they returned to the house
and said my father would send word to the
family later IN the day if he wanted anything"
.'Were the men in uniform ~ Captain Washburn
asked.
"No. they were dressed like other men,"
did they have warrantP
al think not. They did not exhibit any,"
"What did they accuse your father of doingP
"I do not know what they said to my father
in private but there was charge mentioned to
the rest of the family.p
Captain Washburn thought it strange that no
mention of the arrest made on the morning re-
turns to Superintendent Walling. Ii was probable,
he said. that Mr.. Aiken had been arrested
by private detectives, but he directed the
relatives to make inquiries in the
| .a1 fha
latter office few minutes later the young man was
| weeping aloud He said that his father was prs-
oner In the building and would be kept there all
night. The arrest mad been made by Detective
| Sheldon aud policeman OF the fremont squad
In the Detective Office 1t said that Aiken had
been remanded by police justice until to-day, but
! information concerning the evidence against him
WAS refused. Aiken is forty-eight years od.
It was not known at Police Headquarters If he
| had engaged any lawyer to defend him.
Commissioner Thompson declared yesterday that
! there were 40 new Developments In the water
meter frauds The examination of the books was
nearly completed, ana the report to the Mayor
would soon be ready, he said. lie was asked II
David E.AiklD. the watcr-mctcr clerk had been sus-
| nended and he replied that he had n He declined
TO give any further particulars. Mr. thompson was
| seen again last evening by lHbUNE reporter
| ." An arrest has been made IN COM ctlon Win the
| vntrr-mrter fIauds. Is there any reason why the
details OF the frauds should not b" made puDlo T.
10 III an arrest has been made it has
| been by direction of the District Attorney" he
| reoled. " lie mas acted IN thIs matter
on ls own responsibility aud according to MS Dest
What is the evidence against Mr.. AikenP
| 'Tnat must decline 10 answer"
| "What reason can there be for Withholding in
formation now that one OF tue suspected persons
| has been arrcs el p
'''i' oreler TO ,1t nothing until have consulted
| with the Mayor. lie has been kept advised Oh the
de,ail, Of the mater up to .nG no P,ScepP PoSo
"1hlt too must decline TO answer, | can say
| nothing NJ present. .,
| "That will depend circumstances My report
will give all the information we have been able to
| discover concerning the amount OF the un-
| Lawful collection of water-reuis and the persons
| concerned IN the matter. Ii Will rest with the
| Mayor whether he makes II public or NOT. really
cannot say any thing now. am wlillng nat every
! thing shall be gwen 10 the public at the proper
The report of Commissioner Thompson Is prac-
tically complete aud Will probably DO handed ed
| TO the Mai or on Monday. This Will be
| n mere formality, however, as the
Mayor has been kept advised of the details OF the
investigation rs it has proceeded. Tho Mayor has
| Steadily declined to give any information, on the
| ground tnat II might interfere with tho ends OF
Justice. and Commissioner Thompson has excused
| lis rcticencc on the same ground.
! The frauds are confined to the wrongful collec-
lion of rents from some OF those whose consumption
of water IL measured DY meters luc,e are usetl
only where large quantities OF water are consumed
such AZ IN hotels manufactures livery stables etc.
| The use of water meters Tor measuring the amount
| of water consumed IN a building may be said To
date from 1879, when there were about
400 At the present time there are nearly
| II 400 The accounts of the water measured by
these meters are kept In the ONCE or the Chlet
| Engineer of the CToton Aqueduct. Aiken was the
| Insoector of Meters and he made out the Bulls.
no money Is received in the Chef Engineers office
nil n1yInenis should be made to the cashier IN the
bureau of the Water Register, John II. Chambers.
IL Is alleged that Aiken furnished con-
frdefate with the names of those persons who W ere
| remlsa IN their payments and tho confederate
| would then 40 the debtor and ouer To set the
| matter on the payment OF a sum considerably iess
| than that owed. These offers have been accepted
in many instances. How much OF the sums thus
received has actually been turned IN 10 the cashier
and how much has been appropriated Will be shown
Aiken has been connected with the Department OF
Public Works for several years. lie received a
| salary of Sl,2OO per annnin. - =,
| n has been stated that Ira &. Bellows, n former
| clerk was suspected OF being IN some way concerned
i'm the frauds because of irregularities IN his accounts
| MIR Bellows was appointed "a clerk IN the water
| Rnrrau IN 1873 lie received salary OF $l.3OO
| per annun. He resigned last spring ana owent
| West ustensby because he had received an Oner VI
more lucrative employment A.. .o.,
| The last of the ward books showing the arrears
| of Crotop water rents for 1882 were yesterday
| handed TO the Controller, complete, by water heg-
| ister Chambers This would indicate that the
examination AS TO the amount of the frauds Is COM
| 10 know that the frauds VIII not exceed @lO,OOo
| The only information thus far given by Commis s.
| sioner Thompson was that they WouIu hot Ieacn
| $4,000.