New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-17
NO SERIOUS SWINDLE.
The MOT TAIH OF NAVY YARD SCANDAL hRIN"S
FORTH THE MOUSE or PETTY DECEIT
WORKED FOR CHARITY

The MOUNTAIN OF NAVY YARD SCANDAL. hRIN"S
FORTH THE MOUSE OF PETTY DECEIT
WORKED FOR CHARITY
Careful investigation OF the charges against Mat
thew Kirby and James Mesney VINO are said TO
have been mixed up in an attempt to defrand the
United States Government by prolonged series o.
mper sonations OF each other. by when theY Do'h
drew pay on the Navy Yard rolls while engaged
n labor outside the Department. does not reveal
any extensive fraud on the Government About me
worst thai can be made OF the affair Is mat
Meaney drew pay under Kirby's name for Few
months for loing work that he says kiIDy Mas
Incapable Of doing. Kirby says that the middle IN
the Navy Yard accounts Kept him out OF joo.
Matthew Kirby. who lives at 80 2ls Hudson
ave- brooklyn. told Tribune reporter yesterday
that when he made application 10 the Navy Yard
he was astonlshed to learn that he had worked
there before, and thai he was Al work there at
the moment lie went 10 see the captain oil fne yhrd
and was told mat man was dra"ihs pay un""r
mis- name and was AT work in his place. Kirby has
made repeated applications. he gays. for Work IN the
Navy Yard. one OF these was at least tour years
Ago and this applica ton. under the peculiar forms
Of hng ihes, papers had worked ITSELF at last
TO "A position next to the most preferred class. the
veterans and II he had not declar ~ "mphailcaly
that he had never worked IN the Navy yard, he
would shorty nave found himself well placed there
AZ IL was. his denial Of having hal IA previous
engagement .auaed an inquiry. and ,hcn h. re-
ceived a communication from the authorities which
told him that according 10 orders received from
Washington. his Application VAS definitely dis
missed.
"Of course" said KIRBY, ~ had known how
matters really stood. "a have kept shut about my
never having worked AZ the Navy Ynrd
James Meauey, OF 40 10 Carleton ave. Brook
jyn said thai ne had worked AT IN" Na,y yard
on and on since he was fifteen years Old. and that
nj present. like Kirby he 4. out OF Job The
way he came to take place at the Navy YARD
under The name OF Kirby was through man
named Tracy TO whom Kirby gave up his ticket,
no, being able 10 DO the work required. Tracy.
Meaney SAYS did not want to do the work. ana
James Bell. foreman OF the gang In which Meancy
Meaney by the Of Kirby. IN order that ne
might make littc money. 81 which his family
was In much need Meaney says he was working
at the Navy Yard under the OF Kirby when
laid off on account OF lack OF work last autumn.
He only worked thus under false colors for about
Ave months.
At the Navy Yard the reporter referred 10
Recorder j. Il. Briggs. who would only say that II
was possible that some mistakes might occur in
the handling OF the 900 men who are employed a
greater part OF each year Mr.. Briggs was not
Inc cases OF the two men in question. and ne would
only say that ali the care possible was taken 10
prevent the Navy Yard from being cheated OF
Imposed on in any way Then he shO~ed the re-
porter the system OF index cards. by which
the applications and all the particulars OF each en-
ploye and applicant for place At ,he Navy Yard
are kept There are some $500 docke;s in all