Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-22
A VERY BOLD SCHEME'.
Frank Templeman's Plot to Fleece New York City.


Attorney Follows are the Officers
 Dragged in-The Rogue Now Be-
 hind the Bnrs
 RNEw YORK, May 22.-Inspector Byrnes, District Attorney Fellows and Commits siopers of Accounts Holohan and Barker were constantly in consultation yester- day and when they repaired to the grand jury room tremendous crowd followed them to the door.
 When they emerged, report had it thaS an indictment had been granted against a distinguished city official.
 The uncertainty as to who the culprit was continued until last night, when not u city official, but as cunning rogue as has been run down in many year, was placed behind the bars.
 His name is Frank Templeman, and the charge against him is subornation of perjury His capture revealed not only plot to secure a big supply of cash for himself but to smitch the character of Inspector Byrnes, District Attorney Eel lows and the commissioners of accounts and Detective James E Wilkinson, who figured so prominently in the Kerr brib- cry case.
 Inspector Byrnes, in giving the details of the story to reporter, described what
 
 stroy himself and District Attorney Eel lows, and added that Templeman was only the tool in the hands of some one else, and he believed that some one, else to be high city official
 II learned Monday morning." said the chief inspector, that the Commissioners of accounts had offered man S1 ,000 to swear falsely that the district attorney and were interested i'll the bill of Jas. E. Wilkinson for St, 900 for services ren- dered in shadowing jurors and witnesses ini the Alderman Kerr poodle trial. l rushed downtown in hurry. l found that Commissioner Holahan had sent a letter to the man who was to per1ure himself, and I now have that letter in my pocket. l found that the commis- sioners of accounts had negotiated with man and that he was told to call at their office today to get his money and make his affidavit
 ..The man proved to be Frank Temple man, and, as I learned that he had gone to another man and offered him $500 to corroborate his statement, l got that mans affidavit, and on that Templeman was arrested and locked up here at police headquarters.
 Inspector Byrnes would say no more, and the reporter sought out Commis- sioner Holahan who made the following statement:
 "Williamsons bill for S5 50 was signed by the comptroller and the war rant for payment was signed by the City Chamberlain and the comptroller. The mayor thought the bill should be looked into, and he sent it to the commissioners of accounts for that purpose a week ago. We thought the bill was all right and were about to so report when city off cial said that one Frank Templeman was prepared to swear that the bill was a hot if l>n money would be divided between Dis trict Attorney Fellows, Inspector Byrne s and Wilkinson.
 II wrote a letter to Templeman that day asking him to call at our office the next day. He came last Saturday and stated that he had been in the employ of Wilkinson, but had left him shortly after the investigation on their bill began. told him what 1 had learned, and asked him if he could prove the statement. He said he could, and that there was man as near to Wilkinson as his underShirt, who would corroborate all he said, and who could get the book in which private accounts were kept, showing that Bynes and Fellows had drawn money from the Wilkinson detective agency on many oc- caSionS.
 II warned Templeman that his charge was serious one and he answered that he could bring good proof.
 He promised to bring the other man at nine o'clock Monday morning, and at that time he appeared alone at the office, when he said he was ready to furnish proof. 1 asked where his man was, and he told mo he could have him in the office in four minutes, but that he wanted to talk business first, and then went on to say that if they gave the story out it would create sensation, and that Byrnes would make it so hot for them that they would have to leave the city. He then said they would want S1, 900 for tn 6 in formation.
 II suspected that all was not right when he asked for money" continued MT Holahan, ''and 1 saw I had him on the hook so l let him talk on. 1 told him WIG could give none of the city's money with out proper vouchers. He said he would take no chance but eventually asked fol S25o cash and promise of the balance. told him to call Wednesday and that if found l could talk to him before I would write to him.
 ''He left, and we sent our messenger tt the offices of the mayor and the distric attorney to see if those gentlemen were in. Both were out, and few minutes later Private Detectives Arthur Conwa, and Edward Bracken came in and intro duecd themseleS, and then told how thi man Templeman had asked Coeway t, go into the scheme and share proceeds.