New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-15
FINDS CHIEF RYAN GUILTY
COMMISSIONERS STURGIs DIsAIssES HIM
FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT.
POSSIBLE THAT AN INDICTMENT WILL BE
sOUGHT-DECIsION BEARS OK
CROKER CASE

CROKER CASE
Fire Commissioner Stureis yesterday after
noon az Fire Headquarters filed his findings i'm
6he case Of Patrick r. Ryan, chief OF construc-
hon and repairs 10 apparatus, who was charged
with conduct prejudicial 10 the good reputation,
order and discipline Of the department and
with wnfu neglect Of duty. Chief Ryan was
found guilty as charged, and ordered dismissed
from the department his dismissal 10 take ef-
feet on October is at noon.
In his opinion Of seven typewritten p ages
Mr.. sturgis says.
The commissioner deeply regrets the action
he feels compelled 10 take In connection with
an officer who has served so many years IN me
department, but his consideration 81 me 'Nl-
nence leaves him no alternative.
The Commissioner found in the matter Of the
purchase OF material that the responsih'l'5 81
the Commissioner ended with his purchasing II
the material called for in the reQuisiuon. and
that the verihcation 20 amount and quality
rested with the officer in charge Of the repair
shop 10 whom the material is delivered direct
~ from the seller
In the matter Of allowing overtime work, the
Commissioner found from the pos ton occupied
and the power exercised 10y him tChief Ryan,,
A follows that he must necessarily be response
hle for the acts Of his suhordinates. subject TO
such favorable construction as may he reason
ably allowed for the occasional receipt Of de
fective material without his knowledge or tho
performance Of unnecessary work by his sub
ordinates without his authority. In other
words occasional errors such as these could be
properly pardoned hut a frequent recurrence of
such acts cannot he construed otherwise than
as indicating ineficiency. neglect or connivance
or al combined"
IN the matter OF overtime allowance. the
Commissioner found that in many instances
pursued through Sunday WAS laid aside on
Monday and the ordinary routine resumed the
emergency work being again taken up the
following Saturday and sunday"
He found that Chief Ryan was not responsi-
BILE for the alleged mutilation Of books OF the
department. which said by witness 10
have been done by himself without wrong in
tent The COMMISSIONS. however says that
a was shown in certain instances that false
records had been made and that the entries
regarding work done failed 10 describe such
work fully and in detail.
Regarding the allegations Of the conversion
OF the property of the department 10 private
use. he SAYS:
Il was shown by the testimony and Was ad-
mittcd by Chief Ryan that he directed at Nari-
Gus times that harness in considerable Quanu-
ties Of kind not suited 10 department use
should be made for eN-Commissioner Scannell
and that ne also ordered 10 be repaired and
rebuilt private vehicles Tor the same official. for
which work the city received no compensation.
II was also shown and admitted by him that
he had allowed certain amounts ~ IRE hose
and nozzles 10 be taken from the shops for the
use Of private individual corporation. on
whose premises the property still remains
In the matter Of q private work done for eN-
COMMISSIONS SCannen and OF The delivery Of
nrehose and noZZes 10 private parues Chief
Ryan places himself sQuarey on the ground
that he considered himself Justified IN perform
ing any W.rk for any purpose which he was
is
true that the rules and regulations give 10 the
Commissioner the right 10 order the chief of m.
repair shops 10 perform any work The Commits
giOner chooses but they are also most explicit i'm
making the chief responsible that all material
and work shall be for the exclusive use Of the
department In no proper sense this be
construed legaliZing the making of private
harness and private vehicles for the Commits
sioner or delivering department property for
private use. Chief Ryan has testified that he
considered himself justified ia obeying any
orders OF the Commissioner. short Of the COM
INITIAL az crime. but while he should obey the
orders Of the Commissioner, nevertheless il is
no defence for subordinate 10 allege this rea-
fon when the order was known by him 10 be
illegal. The charter makes the conversion OF
public property 10 private use "a misdemeanor.
The announcement Of the dismissal Of chief
Ryan was no surprise az Fire Headquarters
The dismissal Of Ryan has "a bearing on the
Croker case. the allegations IN a few Of the
specifications being almost the same. The state
ment in the Commissioners opinion thar the
charter makes the conversion Of public prop-
erty 20 private a msCemeanor Is looked
upon AT Fire Headquarters as threat that an
efiort viii be made 10 inoict Chief Ryan.