New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-23
ARRESTED FOR EXTORTION
A FORMER SURVEYOR IN THE BUREAU OF
COMBUSTIBLES IN TROUBLE.

,,,pcrn WITH HAVING TAKEN MONEY IN PAY
uEyT FOR A FAVORABLE REPORT TO
SECURE PERMIT FOR THE SALE OF
Observation-Disclosures COREuP-
rJoN IN THE BUREAU.
An investigation OF the Bureau Of Comous'ples IN
the Fire Department was begun recently by ir'Si-
dent La Grange. Of the Fire Board, on account OF
reports that some Of the and oil collectors
of the Bureau had been guilty Of hlackmah ana eN-
,orf,on The Bureau was reorganzed last spring
when Peter Seery who had been the chef OF Inc
Bureau for about eighteen years. was removed from
office and several OF the surveyors ana OIL collectors
were also turned out. Lately number OF reports
Indicating corruption in the Bureau under Scery
administration. were received by the flre 'o'-
mlssioners.
las, veek General La Grange called William L.
Fndlev the Department attorney. into the investiga
ton and late In the week there had been discoNer'
some proofs of corruption upon which II was de-
cided 10 apply for warrants Tor the arrest u "
surveyor and an oil collector who mad heen as
charged Mr. FIndlcy yesterday declined to make
any statement about the alleged corruption' anu
General La Grange was out of town. II was under
stood that there warrant out Tor ne arrest OF
Michael j. Duane Of No. 2ot East Ihirty-hfth-s'''
formerly an oil collector in the Bureau, and that he
had left the city and could not be found In the
afternoon Henry Scofeld. of No. 1906 West Farms
raigned before Magistrate Simns. in forkViho
Court, a charge of extortion.
The arrest made by Court Policeman Robert
VAIL on a warrant sworn out by John ~ Church
OF No 26sS Thiri-ave. on Friday before Magistrate
Mott. In his affidavit Church sets forth that on
May r. 1892, he paid to Scofed sl3 in cash 10 in
huence report favorable TO the issuance OF
permit for the sale of fireworks Nos. 2.123 and
1855 Thirl-ave.
The alleged reason. after so long a delay on
Churchs part. for making the fact public now Is
the recent investigation by the Fire Commits
sioners. Scof"d declined 10 talk about his arreSt
further than say that it was "A complete sur
prise 10 him He said he had lived all his life at
his present address. and since his dismissa. from
the Bureau had been without Employment. He
asked for time 10 procure counsel. and the Magis-
trate committed him IN 800 bail for examination
on Tuesday. July 80.
At the home Of Duane in Eas, Thirty-hfth-st.. it
was said In tho afternoon that he had left the city
about a week ago. and had not told where he was
going. Peter Seery at his liquor store AZ
Third-ave. and Thirty eighth-st.. and he said TO II
Tribune reporter
had charge of the Bureau Of Combustibles for
eighteen years. and If there any corruption In
the Bureau during that time was not aware OF H.
There a time when everybody VINO wanted - sell
fireworks could do SO. but on account OF IN" iahtcI
of having fireworks kept in larg" quantities IN some
buildings We made regulation 10 limit the mum
Der of places where fireworks could De sod Every
year since there has been = r',sh - n"r'oi =,
running their legs off Just before thc rOuat.
vestgatc applications for permits. We made II a
rule grant permits only on the written consent
OF the owners agents OF buildings. That mad"
more trouble for the men In tho Bureau. because
OF the delay getting The consents som" ~
the people who the permits may have though
the men from the Bureau. who took good deal Of
trouble, deserved 10 get few dollars. II IN" mon
took money in that way they never tod m" about
IT, I defy any living man 20 say ever received a
cent as a present or corruptly while in the
Bureau. was turned out because was a Tam
many Hall and my plac" was wanted Tor 4
Renlbllcan " the Comm ssioners had said to
that thev wanted my place for political reasons
would have got out chcerful,y but they tried TO get
nv resignation in another way and refused 10
sign They put out on alleged charges which
| answered fully and "A suing TO get back.
| think this investigation is partly intended 20
scare me dropping my suit for reinst atement.
but they Will find that am not TO be scared
George r. Murray. the present chief OF the
Bureau said yesterday that he could not speak Of
the discoveries which had been made In the in
vestigalon. but he would say that all OF the men
now in the Bureau known 10 be thoroughly
honest.