New-York tribune., 1902-08-17
GOT TURKEY FROM SCANNELL
WITNESS PAINTED COMMISSIONERS
CARRIAGE-EMPLOYE TORE OUT
LEDGER PAGES-WORK
FOR STURGIS
FOR STURGIS.

Patrick +. RYAN. chief of repairs of the Fire De-
partment did appear to be alarmed at the
testimony against him yesterday at the continua-
ton Of his trial before Commissioner Stursls' ana
seemed confident Of acquittaL The rank and file
of the department appeared TO support him. ana
make light of the charges. 1t is said that Ryan
is a scapegoat for somebody else.
William H. Mefick, a wheelwrght employed IN
the department was recalled to the stand Mr..
McCurdy, Ryans attorney. in cross-examining the
witness, asked him if he knew that the present
Commissioner driving in one OF the vehicles
mentioned yesterday having been built for
Commissioner ScannelI and Fire Chief Croker. The
witness said he did not He did know that the
present Commissioners harness was being repaired
In the shop. When Mr.. McCurdy asked the wit
ness If he knew OF any law that allowed the Fire
Commissioner ride in u carriage at the expense
of the department Commissioner Sturgis broke In
and refused allow the questions. which. he said,
personal. TO be asked.
Mr. McCurdy brought out the fact that 1t was
usual in the repair department to burn up brokeI.
fragments removed from apparatus Mesick ad-
mitted that this burning took place every year
This cleared way the insnuation made yesterday
that OF the evidence against Ryan had been
burned up.
In reply TO a question put by Commissioners
Sturgis Mesick said that the work done for Com
missioner Scannen much better and done more
carefully than that for the battalion chiefs. MI
McCurdy asked questions about the general
practice in the department relative to the Commits
sioners privileges
The Commissioner and the former Commissioner
are not trial here interposed Commissioner
Sturgis.
Il don't know about that" said Mr.. McCurdy.
The point to have been made that any
shop work done for the Commissioner was baneful-
You trying the chief. but under Section 4oa the
chief IS obliged to do what the Commissioner says.
That's quite true" responded Commissioner
Sturgis. Many things might be ordered 20 be
done which subordnates ought not to perform"
Stephen Bridge. No 81 West Ninety-nlnth st.
a wheewriGht In the repair department since 1880
testified that oak and ash used In the repair shop
OF poor quality. He said that In 1881 they
had received 500 feoes in lot, that he had in
spected them and had thrown many Of them.
Chief Ryan told him to look them over again on
the second inspection he had thrown out twenty
seven Chief Ryan kept the twenty-seven also.
telling witness they surplus stock. and that
Battalion chief Turpeng, Of. No. AZ East one,
battalion. testifed that ne had found at the Polo
Grounds sixteen lengths OF rubber hose six lengths
OF canvas hose and TWO nozzles lie SAID that tne f
hose had been given TO the Polo Grounds by tne
could not say how long before Mr.. McCurdy tried
to show that the Polo Grounds structures were or a
combustible nature and that the Fire Department
had done d good service by having the nose there.
a repair shop wheelwright for seven years. Com
missioner Sturgs allowed the witness TO testify to
conversations he had heard between other work
To Mr. McCurdys exceptions Commissioner
StTrgs said that ne wanted TO ger at most fhe trqsE m
handed method he had ever seen
repair shop painter for five years testified that he
had touched up Commissioner Scannells brOugham
three different times, and tnat he had painted q
red runabout and blue runabout- He said that
several OF the vehicles had the initials j. J. s.
them. In the latter part of December. 1900 he
said he had painted sleigh for Mr.. Scannell and
that Chief Ryan had sent him turkey, with the
Commissioners compliments. and the message
that he much pleased with the sleigh He
said that he had also painted d high backed VIC
toria for the Commissioner.
Chief Croker TO keep carriage factory running.
he said.
Commissioner, Mr.. Sturgis asked the witness II
he heard that the hanson was TO be sent 10 Sara
toga.
John NJ Haas. of No Col Lexington ave, who has
been employed in the harness factory of the de
partment for twenty-four years, said that he had
Chief Croker. In his Judgment it was for them in
dividually. Most of the orders he had received
from Chief Ryan personally. Two years ago he
had been ordered to charge up the Commission
ers work the hospital stables. He said that
he had made a mIZze for dog, and also a dog
collar. with the name John j. Scannelr' upon II.
He said that he had made a set or cob harness for
Chief Croker.
The witness said that he had remarked Ryan
that Commissioner SCannell wanted good deal,
and that Ryan replied
'.Scannell IS a fancy of a fellow"
Haas said that he had made harness within
the last months for Commissioner Sturgis.
That is true remarked Mr.. Sturgis, my life
is too valuable to risk IL with the Old one
Commissioner Sturgis declined allow the hear
ing to proceed personal lines any longer.
Haas said that he understood that Chief Ryan
had been charged with mutilating ledger No. q of
the harness department by taking out twenty-five
leaves He wished state that he had done that
were unimportant and that he had used them for
memorandum
At o'clock Commissioner Sturgis adjourned the
hearing until 10 a. m. tomorrow.