New-York tribune., 1903-06-30
PIER LEASE PARTNERS.
DELNOUR MAJ BE ONE.
Sheehy and Frasoleg Also Said to
Haze Dock Interests.

1lne Assistant District Attorney Clarke said
Yesterday that he had been told that Larry
Delrnour. Richard Crokers friend; Edward C.
Sheehy. former Tax Commissioner. and Senator
James J Frawley are interested in the Brown
& Fleming pier and dumping board leases. It is
likely that they viii be called as witnesses.
The Dock Board investigation has the call
for the summers work. said Mr.. Jerome. IT
an speaking within bounds when I say that
regard the investigation as very important Mr.
Clarke. Of my staff. has been assigned to the
work and il is understood that he viii do moth
ing hut that With reference 10 the prospect
Of calling on Charles f. Murphy. ]. Sergeant
cram and Peter F. Meyer TO testify, all care
n say Is that these gentlemen are defendants,
and cannot be compelled to testify. If the evi-
denoe seems 10 Justify their arrest, before
would subject them to rhe indignity of an arrest
I certainly would allow them to explain away
things that on their face look dana gng-
The first positive information that had OF
rossih1e wrongdoing in the old Dock Board
was brought TO me by q newspaper man. was
impressed by his statement, and a little later,
when I learned that John H. Hammond had
seen engaged as special counsel by Corporation
Counsel Rfves in action to cancel q lease
granted by the old board. ] sent for Mr.. Ham
roond's report. When 1 had read it, made up
r7y mind that either he was in a fools paradise
or he had struck an important trail have
grown sceptical about the findings Of special
counsel as rule, 10 matter who the counsel
NAV he Quite often they see only one side of
q case and when an explanation of damaging
circumstances is made the case looks entirely
different That may turn out TO he true in the
present investigation. In order TO make sure
of the facts in tie present investigation have
asked Mr.. Clarke TO go into things with great
thoroughness. All of the people who have OBJ
tanned leases at what look like ridicuously low
prices. viii he called on TO tell about how they
got them
CHARGE MAY BE NEGLECT OF DUTY.
Mt. Jerome was asked if all the cases would
he combined in indictment if there was TO
be any criminal prosecution. He said that he
could not answer the question. He said that the
members Of the old Dock Board. if the evidence
warranted it. could only be charged with neg
lect of duty. which is a Inisdemeanor- He said
that in case there was q criminal prosecution
against any one he would take the initiative
himself
Mr. Jerome stated positively that if it could
BE- proved that Alderman Gafney was connect
ed with the New-York Contra citing and Truck
ing Company at the time the pier at Seventy
ninth-St- and North River was leased TO the
company Section :, ,533 of the charter, which
makes IN illegal for city official to negotiate
with city for leases of property, would not
apply TO the aldermans present term of Office
~ eo;5 boTre1-er tI7a+ II he foTnd thar Alder
man Gaffney and John J. Murphy. who in Au-
gust, 1901, was Councilman. had violated the
law he would prosecute them. 1t suggest
ed 10 AIr. Jerome that account Of the statute
of limitation no prosecutions could be begun
against them after August /.
If there are TO be any prosecutions, said Mr..
Jerome we viii know before that time where
We stand charge Of r11isden3eanor against
the former dock officials would be based on
specific instance Of neglect of duty One in
stance might not be deemed conclusive, as there
might be circumstances which would mitigate
the offence, but if a dozen instances can be
cited. then the neglect becomes clear. John J.
Murphy and James E. Gaffney certainly will
be summoned TO testify.
Iohn Fleming junior partner Of the firm Of
Brown & Fleming. who secured a lease of the
od Slip pier only TO be elected by the city
the ground Of illegal occupancy. was sum
nnoned TO testify before Assistant District Attor
ney Clarke yesterday He did not make his ap-
RearanCe.
FLEMING NOT EAGER WITNESS.
I twice sent man to see Fleming at his Of
Zee" said Mr.. Clarke The man in charge Of
the Office said that AIr. Fleming hadn't been
there to-day and would not be there. After his
second call my told that if he went
back again he would be kicked out.
This does not indicate. however" Mr.. Clarke
added with a grim smile. that We shall have
anv trouble in getting Fleming. 1 think he
VIII he around tomorrow EX-Police Magis-
tTate Burke. former secretary Of the board has
b-en sub-oEnaed for tomorrow. and has
--- !'OE4'tiSas tiiS = 4.4iliao o-~44 u
lIeSsrs- Burke and Fleming VIII take a good
de2i II time. William Eastorf is in position 10
tel something interesting about his lease of the
Ias- ThiTtieth-St. bulkhead. The Murphy
Crarn-Neyer board on Nay J. 1899. gave him
lease at S25G a year, with the term at pleas
lJre Of the board Mr.. Fastorf occupied il until
nfter the Low administration came into power,
when Commissioner Hawkes. put il UP at public
auction. He himself bid il in at Sc, 200 & year
There IS a good deal Of difference between these
sums. and il the dumping board was worth
$500 year TO Mr.. HasroTf when he had to
buy it at public auction. ] naturally desire TO
oe Informed why the old board did not charge
him more for IT in May, lSsS
John A Bouler. Of No "a State-st. a well
known business man, who is highly esteemed
ny his friends. asked the old board for lease
~ 2 dumping board at the East Seventy first
there for q dumping board, but he showed the
commissioners how it could be built without in
terfering with ether business on the pier, and
ileN allowed him TO go ahead and build it They
imposed a rental of 500 q year. with the ten
anCE 2t the pleasure Of the board. Commis-
ECuer Hawkes. advertised this dumping board
q public auction, and it brought $500 a year.
E9rinE gone TO the trouble Of demonstrating
iee Utility Of the pier, Mr- Bouker objected 10
IaItrnent bid of $1,000 year for the priyi-
lego His offec is being considered.
REPORTS ABOUT SILENT PARTNERS
= ha,- heard that Larry Delmour was
silent partner in the firm Of Brown G. Fleming.
il has been stated 10 me anonymously that Del
mour. Edward c. Sbeehy and Senator Fravyley
were interested IN the leases and privileges OBJ
famed from the old Dock Board by Brown
Fleming
Charles RUrkholtz, consulting engineer of the
5-f1e Railroad. was with Mr.. Clarke for some
hne yesterday. anG Il Is supposed that he was
.-shed about The tactics used by Joseph E,gan.
-'ss'r 81 the huikhead between Twenty eighth
l"aSeG by the old Dock Board % Egan through
conspiracy ana fraud. The Eric and Naugflton
O. % used tfis bulkhead the Erie paying ES1n
% ? Gay MI- Clarke has sent for an Erie de
tectNe who ha. long hunt in finding Joseph