New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-07
AN INQUIRY REFUSED.
THE CHARGES AGAINST DEPUTY CON
TROLLER STORRS.
JUSTICE PATTERSON SAYS THEY WERE MADE
ONLY on INFORMATION AND BELIEF AND
NOT IN THE FORM or SWORN STATE
MENT-THE PAPERS To EE COR
RECTED AND TEE APPLi-
CATION RENEWED


CATION RENEWED
Justice Patterson yesterday denied the application
OF Judson Lawson. Henry c. Robinson. Increase
NJ Grenee. James Denholn and Louis Bauer.
presented by Clarence G. Ferris their lawyer. for
permission to investigate The Finance Department.
to discover what truth there in the charges
Of Matthew Jephson ORourke that Dcputy-con-
troller Richard \. Storrs had iuggled the accounts
o! the Sinking Furd. and swindlel the city out oil
$5.G000. more or less. by the issue Of fraudulent.
illesal and duplicate bonds. Justice Patterson
based his refusal the ground that the charges
were formulated merely information and be-
lief and were not sufficient for an action under
the statute. The petition lacking In the first
requirement of the law. that 1t must be sworn
statement The Judge said that the papers might
he withdrawn. and II the petitioners aftcrward con-
formed to the law and able TO show that
they have airy foundation for their statements.
tho application could be renewed
a. Wills Lightbourn, who has taken an active
part in this movement. said yesterday that Judge
Pattersons declaration that there not
single material statement in the petition was alb
surd. The petitioners all property -owncrs
and responsible men, and the pagers were drawn
as they were because the petitioners did not wish
TO expose the grounds OF their case. He said also
that the petitioners did not rest their conclusions
on the unsupported allegations o. VI. j. O'Rourke.
Neither were they limited to ancient frauds. There
were more recent matters 10 De lOpheu Ilto. \
new petition would he drawn up. he said TO meet
the objections OF Justice Patterson.
Controller Fitch said that he ccurted an invcsti-
CATION OF his Office. AS for Mr. Storrs.' he said,
he is patient and long-srffering II
were in his pace. would very soon have that per-
O'Rourke summoned to court charge Of
crimina libel"
Deputy Controller S;orrs said Yesterday after
hearing OF the Courts decision: THE charges are
ridiculous and could only be mad 10y irresponsi-
BE- persons hoped th1i the court would order
demonstrate the reckessness % this man OIourke
In starting such reports He has made these
charges against this department several times and
always with the same result. Controller Myers
took the trouble 10 cxhmine the who:e matter him.
sc.f shortly after taking office. lie found that the
reports OF various experts who have cVaraine1 the
records from time and COM
pete
What nave ! 70 10 with the charges' am only
deputy in the department and have never been
any higher These bonds were never handled by me
We have bond clerks and stock clerks. and the
exact number Of bonds outstanding i made pubic
every month II there We're discrepancies they
would he discovered Now that / have been
s.r gled out for attack must defend myself and
V IL take measures accordingly. % what character
they VII be. ! am not yet prepared 20 say.