New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-05
w. S. ANDREWS EXPELLED.
NO LONGER MEMBER OF THE COM
MANDERY OF THE LOYAL LEGION.
THE EX-sTREET CLEANING COMMISSIONER
THROWN OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION BY
VOTE OF Is1 TO 76-CHARGEs
AGAINST HIM UPHELD

AGAINST HIM UPHELD.
William s. Andrews, who served two terms as
Excise Commissioner and later was Commits
s!oner of Street Cleaning under Tammany rule
In this city. was expelled from the New-York
Commandery OF the Loyal Legion last evening.
The action was taken at business meeting OF
the Commandery preceding a dinner at Delmon-
icos. The meeting was held in the large par
lors on the third floor. which were crowded to
their utmost capacity by men ters Of the honor
able military order.
The time which had been set for the meeting
was the hour between $50 and 7:3O p. m. but
the efforts made by friends OF Mr. Andrews for
delay caused the time TO be extended more than
al hour. About four hundred members OF the
commandery were at Delmonico's to attend the
dinner but many of them could rot get into the
parlors to listen to the arguments, and a num-
ber of those who did get IN refrained from
voting. Mr. Andrews was expelled by the over
whelming vote of 161 to 76. 1t was apparent that
all OF the friends OF the accused man Voted
against the resolution 10 expel, while many VINO
believed that the charges against him had been
sustained were unwilling to vote on the resoiu-
ton.
In deciding to expel Mr.. Andrews from the
Loyal Legion the Commandery sustained the
findings of board of officers. Of which General
Horace Porter the president and A. Noei
Brakeman recorder. Members OF the ooaro
spent a good part OF the summer In taking evil
dence. and to Mr. Andrews was allowed the
fullest opportunity to make his defence. The
Board Of Officers reported at meeting OF the
Commandery at Demonico's on the evening OF
October that the charge OF conduct unpe-
coming a gentleman and companion of the
nrIor IN I0N Leg
States'' had been sustained The report carried
with II a recommendation that Mr.. Andrews be
expelIed from the order. Mr. Andrews pleaded
for delay and declared that he could present
some additional evidence II more time was al
lowed him. and action upon the report OF the
BOARD of Officers was deferred until last even
ing
SPECIFICATIONS SUSTAINED
The rcport OF the Board Of Officers sustained
three Of the four specifications Of the charge
which had been made by Captain James Parker.
a Companion OF the Loyal Legion. after MT
Andrews had demanded an investigation OF the
accu,ations which had been made before the
Iexow Committee The first specification sus-
tainsd was that Mr. Andrews in September. 1887.
when he was an Excise Commissioner. accepted
a brbe Of $500 for the issue Of license to sell
Iiuuor at the disorderly house known as the
'Maison Torton." for which license had been
twice refused. Another specification was that
he had borrowed 81 900 from George W. PluhKitt
In 1893 when he Commissioner or street
Cleaning and x-Senator Plunkitt was Interested
IN q contract with the Street Cleaning Depart
ment Tf.e third specification sustained was mat
Mr. Andrews obtained $3.50 from the Govern
,oent as pension money for Alexander 5. Top
lanyi a veteran, and applied to his own use
about 81 800 refusing TO pay that amount 10 Top
lavni before his death or to his relatives later.
Mr. Andrews appeared at the meeting last
evening in full evening dress. and with MN was
General Stewart L. Woodford. who mad unoer-
taken to make An argument for him before 'he
mmandery. Captain Parker. VINO hau "iaue
the charges against Mr. Andrews. offered reso-
luton TO approve the report OF the Board OF VI
fcers and expel NJ Andrews from the order
General Burnett moved that the argument or me
resolution be limited to one hour, and that nan nan
OF the time be allotted to Mr.. Andrews IN Whlch
TO make his defence. He accepted an amend
ment by which the first fifteen minutes OF the
hour should be- given to the representative or
the Board OF Officers, the next half hour 10 MI
Andrews and the last fifteen minutes TO the
Board Of Officers.
The members OF the Board OF Officers which
tried Mr. Andrews were General Horace Porter,
Rear Admiral Daniel l.. Brane, Major Thomas
B. Odel Captain Luis F. Emilio, Act1ng 60 As
ant Thomas W. r. Hughes. Lieutenant Colonei
Charles c. Suydam. Brigadier-General Nlcholas
w Day. Pay Inspector Arthur burtis, Major r-u-
mund X Russell and Acting Ensign Aaron van
derbilt. ~ l.,
General Woodford pleaded for more delay in
the consideration Of the report He declared that
IL was a matter OF the greatest concern, almost
a matter Of life death to Mr. Andrews. ana
the Commandery ought to take more time before
the decisive vote was taken General Anson u
McCook said that many members OF the COM
mandcry could not hear the arguments, ana
many more did not feel that action in the case
should be taken Just before a dinner. He moved
that the consideration OF the case De postponed
until the next stated meeting OF the Commandery
and thai the Board of Officers be directed To pro-
vide room large enough To permit all tAe ne'H-
bers of the Commandcry to hear the arguments.
His nation was lost by a show of hands. Ii was
then near the hour for the meeting to adjourn
and the time for the meeting was extended Tor
another hour and a quarter
GENERAL WOODFORD's PLEA BEGUN.
The Board OF Officers allowed Mr.. Andrews to
have the first fifteen minutes Of the hour In add-
tion t. the thirty minutes already allotted To him.
and General Woodford began az earnest plea for
Mr. Andrews He declared that the charge that
Mr. Andrews had accepted a bribe in the case Of
the "Maison Tortoni' rested on the unsupported
testimony of Edgar NJ Tomlinson. an enemy, who
ought not to be believed There was no evidence.
he said that Mr. Plunkitt was contractor for
the Street Cleaning Department at the time when
ne lent the $1,000 to MIR. Andrews captain
Parker In response 10 the challenge or General
Woodford referred t. testimony before the
Lexow Committee in which Mr. Andrews had
acknowledged the alleged fact General Wood
ford then read an affidavit by Mr.. Plunktt, con-
tanning a denial AS to the Toplanyi case General
Woodford sought to make it appear that Mr..
Andrews had really befriended the old man.
Lieutenant Colonel Suydam, In a brief reply.
smoke Of the evidence which had satisfied the
board OF Officers Of the guilt Of Mr.. Andrews.
He also referred to the imprisonment Of Mr..
Andrews In the Ludlow Street Jail for his fall
ure to pay money which he had received the
receiver OF an estate. Mr.. Andrewss face flushed
and paed by turns as he listened to the brief. but
effective. arragnment Then he was Invited TO
leave the room before the decisive vote was tax
and he went out. Captain Parker and General
Woodford were the tellers. and they announced,
after they had counted the members who voted,
that l6 votes had been cast 10 eXpel Mr.. An
drews from the order. while rs members had
voted against the resolution. Two-thirds having
voted in the affirmative. the announcement was