The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-15

eneti to stop the work Of itiling In
Riker's Island shoals by Recalling
Go, eminent Heats Unless the Money
Was Paid al Once and $3.50 Week
observation-disclosures Posing as the
Harbor Impro, emcnt CO.'S Treasurer
paid Them. ana a Ct, Lawyer Watched
the Transaction-Both Men In JAN.
Dr BENJAMIN T Whtmore. "A physician
living at 1872 West Seventy-thrd street, and
Harry G. Wilson, who is chief clerk of the
Harbor Improvement Board in the Army
Building, are prisoners at Police Head
quarters charged with b!ackmail.
The pair were arrested in the Hoffman
House Cafe in New street late yesterday
afternoon, after each had accepted s?.z5o
in marked Ills. the price they demanded
for continuing to permit the city to Use a
Government dredge and barges for the
filing which il being done at Riker's Island.
The money was passed to the two men
BY Detective Bernard McConville Of the
Central Office, who posed for the occasion
~ one Of the officers of the Water Front
Improvement Company. which is doing the
work for the city.
All this followed series Of meetings with
Whitmore at which II il alleged the money
was demanded. Their story was that the
cash would GO to certain army authori-
- naalaI to oil
the tugs and dredges to be retained by the
city
Whitmore and Wilson. after their arrest
which was witnessed by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Krcsel. representing Dis
trict Attorney jerome. were taken 10 the
T, mbs police court. After formal arra!gn-
ment they were locked up in Police Head
quarters. Late las, night neither had been
baird DE- Whitmore described himself
"a a reporter. For several years he has had
charge Of the publicity bureau Of Parke.
Davis & Co.. the well-known drug firm.
He also has a considerable practice on the
upper West Side.
Tr Whitmore is 81 years old He was
tylishly dressed. Wilson is - years old
ard lives al l43 East Twenty-seventh street.
4a has been employed in the Government
cryicc for twenty years. For five years
10 has hecn chief clerk of the Harbor I'M
-,rovcment Board which il in charge Of Col,
Mansfield.
Last June Major John Mctiaw Woodbury.
the Street Cleaning Department decided
90 Use the asles and refuse matter, which
40 To that time 1t had been the custom
20 carry out to sea and dump there. for
tiing in a large section Of shoals about
Riker's Island and thus adding 70 the city :
property. One of the I easons for thi-
action was the numerous complaints that
he garbage was continually coming up
on the beaches.
The city, at that time lacked a good deal
Of the>apparatus necessary for the work
Of filling in, SO al the request of Major Wood
bury, Mayor Low asked Secretary Root
to lend for the work dredge and tug which
the War Department kept in this neighbor-
hood for harbor improvement work. Secre-
tary Root forwarded the request TO Gen
Gillespie, Chief of Engineers, with the
recommendation that it be granted. Gen
Gillespie then ordered Col. Mansfield &c
turn over TO the city the dredge He'll Gate
and the tug Humphreys.
The conditions on which the boats were
lent we're that they should be put nomi-
nally in charge of United States Army
officer and that the city should give a bond
of s35, 600 to maintain them in good order
Capt. Piper. now Deputy Police Com
missioner. was then connected with the
Street Cleaning Department. As he was a
retired army officer he was selected as the
person to represent the Government. Nc
rent for the boats was asked, a. that is not
permitted by the army regulations.
The contract for filling in the crib al
Riker's Island was let by the city TO the
Water Front Improvement Company o'
which Mr.. II. A. =. Martin of Jersey City
i the superintendent The company sup
piled the men on the boats, but that was all
The dredge and tug under the first agree
mont made with the Government were I,
be returned in three months II was founo
later that thoy would he needed for a longe
period than this and last september the
Government agreed to extend the tim,
until Dec. |.
Tie alleged attempt To blackmail IN,
company began six weeks ago according
to Cart Piper and Capt Titus of the Detcc
tive Bureau. DR. Whtmorc then approach, {
Mr.. Martin. superintendent Of the Water
front Improvement Company and said tina
the Government needed the dredge ano
tug and that they would I've taken away un
,.. the company did sonnet hing about it.
Mr. Martin asked questions and DIR
Whilmore, it il, alleged then represented
iha, he was the gent for two men who wer,
'clcse Ia certain high officials and that b,
IA wing him a certain sum weekly il woul,
BE- ~ a. that the boats were rot demanded
But il the money was not paid, il was threat
ened that they certainly would bc. BY thi'
time the pumping boat Hudson, a scow an,
a dumper had been added to the first tw,
by the Govern ment
Mr.. Martin sad he would see about i
and consulted with President Walter l.
NcDermo,t of the company and the III
Iectors. They decided that the matte
should at once he put into the hands of TIN
ti'y authorities and the police.
Tho revelation was deemed Of 80 mucl
importance hy Police Commissioner Par
,idg" that he hid n consultation with Com