The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-04
LITTLE JOHNNY'S BIG BLUFF.
CHARITIES COMMISSIONERS sHEEHT
AND SIMMONS ARRESTED.

Island Who Work for tho City for Their
Hoard and tiothes-The Commissioners
Accused OF Unin>Sfuiiy Putting ~ Of
Them on tho Pay Roll 80 that They
Could Observation-Disclosures Men from
the Island Taken to Ludlow Street Jnl.
John I. Davenport made one Of hh charac-
terie.ic bluffs yesterday. The forces at his
command were brought into play to bring
about the arrest OF Commissioners o! Charities
and Correction Charles L. simmons and Ed
ward C. Sheehy. The United States Grand
Jury indicted hsty-eight men. whom they
termed "ratientu" on Eandalls Island. for
false registration. Thercupon United States
District Attorney Edward Mitchell made ntli-
davit before Commissioner Shields charging
Commissioners Simmons and Shcehy with
having procured the false registration OF
twonty. seven OF these patients
Commissioner Shields issued warrants for
the arrest OF tho two Commissioners. depu-
ty started out to find them. Shortly after
noon Commissioner Shields met Commits
sioner Sheehy in the corridor OF tho Post once
building.
"IIello Commissioner" said Shields.
Hello Commissioner" said Sheehy.
"By tho way. Comm issioner. I've Just issued
warrants for the arrest Of yourself and Sim
mons" enid Shields
is that sot' asked Sheehy. with serious
face. What's the trouble?
"pietrict Attorney Mitchell charges you
both with procuring tho illegal registration OF
some men on Eandalrs Island"
"l'll go right up stairs with you. Commits
sioner. I'll telephone for simmons"
They went up to Commissioners Shieldss o.
fee. whore Mr.. Shcehy teephoncd to COM
missioner Simmons to como down vt once
with a bonds,nan.
MAY see tho complaint? 2" Commissioner
Shelby asked, The clerk handed him Dis
trict Attorney Mitcho!rs affidavit. 1t said that.
on information and belief:
Charles L. simmons and Edward C. sheehy were at
the times hereafter mentioned. and now are two
OF the Commissioners OF the Department OF pub
lilo Charities and Correction OF the city OF New
YORK. sad department.. under tie laws OF the
state OF New York. and the Commissioners there
Of rosscss and exercise tull and exclusive
powers for the government, management. mante'
nance and direction OF IN. hospital at Randa!s Isl.
ami in tie ct:y of New York. which is in the Third
election district OF the TwCnty.scventh Assembly dis.
trct OF New York clty therefore, and Irior to the
aud still are kept AZ sai4 hsn,'a At hanta Island
rati in WH,cn 10 person wno,s kept at pubic expense
r, IA ,-s ' ", 's a or ns Of
tns STATE Of Sow YORK. which is as follows:
to nays by reason q nj, GIs.,
.,trrlr ll,S
srSny other asyllm a. public eNp.nss nor while con
ined IN any pubic PRISON .., ,,. ,,,, =,
provln q q. r6ns.i,n',s,n, rIi?5 to me Ten
llsi a, pbc expense a. the Randas isnnl "sn.
tnec4 in 9ns kSp, sn n%rn nnn s sn 5
s ,sy :n enti .nFy Il "ts an. md
| ting Board OF Commissioners Of said department
rMas the pay roi and payroll b, book a; zach
MhS.e sSapsn:a.ni sosTa .d clothing as we.i as
tho. EcS.t!inf Hary ant .n,, Island uo,,,,
Above NAMED $" se a., 4. pe ss2sI 1 mt
Isrn in ,nrou. day thereafter sa'i patients we're
kvth "s'S isa a"i ' !" Visit the city yor.
.na iA'a E'.sfi Ss5s sss
Pub!ic Charities AMI Correction above referred to-
| Mr.. Mitchell goes on 10 say that the rnt!ents
| on this leave. and had no lawful rig ut to do so
ana have been indicted for it, nnn that The he
says:
rnsnames q til. patients ksrt a, public sxT.n.;
for ,ass rss,,rai"n as fore:@a are; fGans Fen
pss ra tGsi yns e". nois
Waiter f., W"u,ris. Thomas liArr,aston: Lawrence
S.s:.F FsTsi srs. f%zss!" %K;s;s 6;n;:
o .9 Mares ahsf
He says that the surgeon Of the hospital and
the records are the sources of his information.
Commissi9nsr smm?ns arsiTea at ",c!osk
nue.. and the complaint was read to him: The
two Commissioners were then arraigned before
Commissloner shields on the charge of having
| procured and advised twanty-sev men to
register. fraudulently; They pleaded not guilty
ana w HG oxrmIaiTn lhsy were rr %n
| pers and everybody shook everybody disc
| hand. and the Comm ssioners Of Charities and
Correction LETT the building Commissioner
The momcnt you see howthe matter stands
on Dayenport's part. There are $1,000 people
| in the institutions under the control Of the De.
partment of Charities and Correction. and all
| Of them have to be taken care Of 1t requires
force OF 800 people to loot; after them. Our
appropriations for salaries have never been
sufficient to pay for such force, 1t happened
a ain,hG Keepers that M, men ,nnpli.d for ro-
to S Ts h e at thns
Aihoagh We dig not like tho idea Very much.
| only an act Of charity to the applicants. but it
| was u tept?ward economy Of the city,'s money.
We hayo had applicants for such places
who were mon. Of education. but had been
unfortunate. Many people came there to cs-
th the Mas q" frns 6ste Is
| correspondent for clothing house. but who
found that drink was running him. Then there
men who are too weak to do 'longshoremnn's
work. and men In various stages OF mis!or.
place where. they will receive salary
There is another class-con valescsnt patients
| who arc well enough to be discharged. but
| too weak TO work. They beg to he allowed to
, do keepers or attendants w;orl; for their
| Lo,rd and clothes. and it would be cruel to
| refuse them.
"All Of tho peonle ! have referred to-thero
arc ahout 100 OF them-are employees. and
| not paupcrS They arc not committed here
| but 20 there under u certain agreement with
! the department. In October the wardens
and surerintcndents OF the various institu-
| tions appealed to the Commissioners saying
| that these men had lost their votes by living
| on the islands. Tho Commissioners consulted
ana decided to put them all on the my roll
| been long ago. That's all there is about it.
Davenport. objects TO these men ,yotn. be;
object. to everything t.at is not done By the
! Republican party.
| Ecsid"s the twenty seven men named in tho
complaint against Commissioners Shechy and
| simmons. WHO were Indicted ny the United
residents q tho i;andalls d ls!and HHspIta
| day afternoon. at 2:l5. Deputy United States
| Marshal Augustus Grant. iarmed with the war;
ii. nitrht M MT