New-York tribune., 1902-10-23

who was removed as customs inspector
gerald from the service apparently held it 10
be fagrant case Fitzgerald had an ex-
/ tended examination before the Collector. and
made poor defence. He could not remember
names. dates or places and tangled himself up.
| The story disclosed by the examination Of
| Fitzgerald and the other witnesses the week
l following the landing of tir. Astor and the mas
! sage Of his baggage is substantially as follows:
John c. Fitzgerald was appointed TO the Gus
/ toms service in 1857 as a storekeeper. by Col
lector Magone. He continued in this position
| until May !. 1894. when he was transferred and
made an inspector Of customs
GOT HOLD OF AsToR COURTESY CARD
The day that the Majestic landed on April /.
| 1896, Fitzgerald was informed by one Of his
associates that William Waldorf Astor was on
board. This apparently greatly interested him.
as he used certain methods 10 get a place IN the
line Of inspectors so that he could get hold OF
william Waldorf Astor's courtesy card. These
courtesy cards were issued at that time to in
coming passengers whose responsibility was
generally recognized. and they served TO facili-
tate the inspection Of the baggage Of the hold
ers. Such card granted 10 Mr.. Astor.
who turned IL over 10 his agent, Mr.. Baldwin,
who thereafter looked after the baggage. which
contained a lot Of dutiable silverware. Mr..
Baldwin paid about S12l duty on the Astor
baggage.
Fitzgerald who at that time lived at No. 1G0
Rodney-st.. Brooklyn looked after the govern
ment's interests in the passage Of the baggage.
It appears that he had passed Mr. Astors bag
gage the year before. when Mr.. Astor had come
! 10 Ncw-York from England and for reasons
best known 10 himself ne wanted 10 handle it
again.
Mr. Baldwin. when officially examined the fol-
I lowing week in the presence Of Charles a. Pea
body, another agent Of William Waldorf Aetor.
said Fitzgerald had approached him and told
him that he Ritzgerald) had passed the Astor
+ baggage the year before and had not heard
from him. and that he would like TO mass the
( baggage again. Mr.. Baldwin told him "an
right" The day following the passage Of the
Astor baggage. Mr. Baldwin said FITZGERALD
called his office and after he, Baldwin be-
came aware Of the identity ~ his caller nc put
a SO bill in envelope and handed il TO FitZ-
gerald. Fitzgerald shrugged his shoulders when
he what he had received. and said accord
ing TO testimony. he guessed he would better not
accept the money. il was not worth while
He remarked 10 Baldwin. II is alleged that he
had been put to good deal OF trouble in pass
ing the AstoT baggage. and that the SO was
too little a sum for him 10 accept as he had TO
was inclined 70 send Fitzgerald away with M
"gratuity." but after thinking II over he said
he went TO an inside office and got another $40
bill and putting both the bills into the envelope
gave Il 10 Fitzgerald, who Immediately went
away
SOMEBODY "SOUEALED"
Almost Immediately there was trouble Soma
one 'squealed" on Fitzgerald Collector t<u-
breth sent word to Fitzgerald to report at the
office and when he got there he was cross ex
amined He denied everything of a compromis
ing nature Meanwhile. some Of FItzgeraId's
relatives were busy. One of them called on Mr.
Baldwin 1t developed that he was a relative
or close friend Of Fitzgerald. and was serving
as a cook or butler in the family Of John Jacob
Actor He wanted 10 know il Mr. Rar6u-;r -
Mr. Astor had lodged any complaint against
FITZGERALD He said that the customs peonIe
were hot after Fitzgerald. and that he was fry,
ing 10 find out VINO made the complaint Eri,z
gerald did not last long in the customs sertica
after that The Collector reported the case 70
his superiors and on May 4 Fitzgerald Was re
moved.
Mr. Fitzgerald or "Fitz" as he is faniI,ar,,
called in the Bowery district where he &c iit-i
10 succeed Tim Sullivan. was narsbaIlirg
section Of a Tammany parade last night NJ.
seen by a Tribune reporter.
..It don't matter what you publish ahou+ mo .,
I've grown up with the people in this distrtn.
and they know me well enough to elect ne ~. -
the votes will show week from Tuesday -
why did Kibreth dismiss your" he mo-
asked.
He had it in for lot OF my friends -
that's the main reason. There were no -. @ ana
against me- Kilbreth simply wanted 10 get Sc So
NV friends know me. My life has been An onus
Did you live at No. 100 Rodney-st in -.
spring OF 1862 'ne
No said Mr.. Fitzgerald. but my foll,s a., -.