The morning call., 1894-06-27
BRIBED TO SIGN.
Charge Against a Public
Official.
Torpey Says There Is q Desire to
Break Him in His
Office.

A special session of the Fire Depart
ment and Finance Committees of the
Board of Supervisors was held yesterday
for the purpose of investigating charges
Of eXtortiOn brought against William II.
Torpey, Superintendent Of the Fire Alarm
Telegraph.
Superin ,endent Torpey is charged with
completely in a transaction TO accept
commission for passing on certain de-
mand. The amount of the commission
being $40 80.
When j. Williams was Superintendent
of the Fire Alarm under the old board
lot Of goods was bought from the Game
we'll Company for S195. When the de-
mand was presented for the goods Torpey
had succeeded Williams. According 10
the charge made Torpey. who had to pass
on the bill. refused to allow it.
Agent Stover of the company paid
visit to Torpey. and asked him why he
did not allow the bill as the goods had
been furnished. According to Stover's
story, who is now in New Y ork, but who
sent an affidavit. Torpey told him to go
and see John CurIan and he would fix
things all right.
Sioyer says he went 10 Curran. who said
he would have the demand passed if there
was a consideration. Slower was willing
to do this TO get the money, and check
was drawn up in the GsmewelI Cnmpany's
office for $40 90. by John w. Rose, an EN-
ploye of the company, and made payable
10 John Curran or order. The check was
drawn upon the CrOckerW Woolworth Bank,
and was duly paid. The demand of Slower
was subsequently allowed by SuDerintend-
eut TOrpey.
The charge against Torpey was that he
was interested in the commission paid.
When the joint session of the committees
was held Yesterday afternoon to discuss
the charge the committee made grave
mistake by going into executive session.
The investigation should have been open
and above board, ana il Superintendent
TOrpey was able 10 prove himself innO-
cent Of the accusations made against him,
he should have allowed all tie evidence
and testimony to have the broad light Of
day.
During the secret investigation Torpey
was examined in his own behalf and
denied all completely in the transaction.
He denied having said to Slower that
Curran could fix the matter of the demand,
and said that Stoyer had threatened TO
break him because he could not get the
prices for his cOmpany's goods he did
before.
John Curran was called and asked about
check was paid to him for S100debt owed
him by Slower.
"How is it the check is for $40 9Op''
asked Chairman Goodwin.
"Oh, he paid me $50 before that" glibly
answered the witness.
"Well, again / ask how is the check for
$40 902" asked Goodwin. How aboutthe
80 cents"
Il know nothing about that" said the
witness. ut may have been for interest"
One j. White, who was a clerk in the
Gamewell Companv's office. testified to
having been told by Slower that he had re-
ceiyed 81 for certain articles which he
could only get 30 cents for from Torpey,
but that was all the goods were worth.
"What became OF the other so cents?"
| inquired Supervisor Forman.
"'Oh. % cents went to me- said Slower,
and the other 25-yOu know and he gave
me a wink" said the witness.
DO you mean 10 say that 25 cents on
the goods under the last superintendent
was paid 10 a public official?" continued
Formsn.
Il do not know. said White" "Stover
only wiBked"
Chief Sullivan of the Fire Department
was present during the investigation and
was placed on the stand. BE testified to
having been told by Slower before the
latter went to New York that he had
been victlmized in the matter of the bill.
The chief did not accuse Torpey in The
matter.
The committee excluded all witnesses
and discussed the matter. There were
some expressions from a few members
that the defense was very lame. Others
thought it would be better to give SuperIn-
tendent Torpey more chance to explain
and it was decided to take the matter
under advisement.
When the committee adjourned there
was no evidence of the investigation hay-
ing been held, MS the evidence of the
check and the affidavit making the charge
were not made part Of the public records
OF the committee.
Torpey in denying the charge against
him says there is desire to break him as
certain of the Supervisors have another
candidate for the Office.
On next Tuesday the joint committee
will meet again to take some decided ac-
ti0n in the matter.