New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-24
E. F. MSWEENEY ACCUSED
PROSECUTION ORDERED.
Charged pith Emsbezzing Official
Records from Ellis Island

York, be prosecuted for the ernbezzlenlent OF
about four thousand public records and docu-
ments. This action is taken upon the report Of
United States District Attorney Burnett. of New
York, after a hearing granted to McSweeney,
at his own request upon the charges made by
United States Commissioner Shields. The De-
partment of Justice this afternoon furnished the
following official abstract of General Burnett's
report:
THE facts are not disputed that Mr.. Nc
Sweeney took from the room where he performed
his official duties Assistant Commissioner,
and removed from their usual official places
about four thousa Id so-called quasi-officaI
papers which were clearly official papers and
records and caused their removal from that
his personal property.
The report holds that McSweeneys
ton comes within the laws which punish the
embezzlement or unlawful Withdrawing of off
cial records and documents: that insolvency
had the fullest opportunity to explain the mat
tiers out of which the charges in the complaint
have sprung, and that his explanations were
not satisfactory, and did not meet the charges,
which fully sustained by the facts brought
out during the hearing.
Among General Burnetts reasons for think
ing that offence not merely technical was
committed. and that obviously interested mo-
1t appears that among the papers removed
Dy MI McSWeeney, were official conlrnunica-
tons from the Commissioner General Of Imrni-
grafton, Criticisfng the Ellis Island office for
furnishing statistics to outside parties and d.
recting the discontinuance Of the practice; also
a reply to the Commissioner General (written
by Insolvency., denying that statistics were
being given out improperly In addition there
were large number of letters from certain
transportation companies calling for special
statistical data
Commenting on this. the District Attorney
say5:
1t to his interest, and he had clear
motive in removing from the files at Ellis Island
the correspondence in relation to this matter. l
am Of the opinion that he was responsive 70
these applications for statistics from transpor-
tatior companies. largely because he expected
to receive and was constantly receiving, indi-
vidual benefits in the way of passes from these
various companies. and this matter Of giving
out these statistics had been criticised by the
Commissioner General. 1t was to Mr.. Nc
Sweeney's interest that the applications for
these statistics and his correspondence with
parties in regard to the same, should disappear,
ana am OF opinion that ne gathered up an
matter. and put them in his boxes that Moth
ing should be on the records in relation thereto.
Among other irregularities shown by the alb
stracted papers. and as Illustrating the mental
makeup and moral fibre Of McSweeney, Cen
eral Burnett refers to the actions of Mr.. Nc
Sweeney in giving railroad pass held by him
ploye, for a trip. The man was recog-
nized and the pass taken up. and Mr. Nc
Sweeney. failing to receive an annual pass the
following year, certain correspondence upon the
subject passed between himself and the general
passenger agent, in which ii was represented.
among other things. that the pass had beer
stolen from McSweeney's desk and used without
his knowledge. Upon such representations the
desired pass was finally issued. The statements
made in these letters TO the general passenger
agent were shown, by affidavits of certain en-
ployes at Ellis Island and by statements of Mr.
insolvency himself upon the hearing, to be de-
Tberate falsehoods. As to this transaction.
General Burnett says:
It will be seen that deliberately. and in writ
ing he had made several false statements IN
order to procure a reissue OF his pass, ana II
is clearly shown by all that appeared on the ex-
animation il relation TO this matter that he at
tempted TO corrupt the employees of the station
and induce them to back up his falsehoods-
referring to the charges preferred against
Mr.. insolvency in this connection. and his
answer thereto, the District Attorney further
says:
It is hardly possible TO adequately describe or
characterize this whole transaction think the
record shows very clearly tndt ne was s!s ,L,s
favors in the way of statistics to these various
railroads for the purpose OF procuring these
passes to be issued to him in his oft1c1al name,
which he used for his personal oenent IN gong
ahort and delivering his lectures, for which ne
received personal compensation. and otherwise,
and that he gave these passes to other persons
~ uss thereby defraudng the railroads, but
when brought to book in the Welhe mater was
ready to state any number of falsehoods to ex-
culpate himself and to induce others 10 lie Win
and for him to secure renewal of the pass
Edward F. insolvency. previous to his appoint
roent as Assistant Commissioner OF Immigration
IN the second Cleveland administration. was
labor leader in Massachusetts. He was continued
in office during President Mckfnleys aornlnlstra-
+ion hecause of his knowledge of the affairs of the
h,reau at Ellis Island. The Commissioner Of I'M
migration during President McKinleys adIninstra~
ton was Thomas Fitchie. OF Brooklyn. Mr.. NC
Sweeney owing to his hold on the bureau, was me
working head throughout Mr. F1tchles TERM MI.
Ncsveenev and the Commissioner General at
IUosbinz4or IT V Powderly, were at loggerheads
+brouehout the term Of the latter. each accusing
the other Of political schemes This, coupled Win
tho constantly repeated tales of mstreatment OIL
the Immigrants or Ellis Island. decided PRESIDENT
T5--.1+ N get rid of M Powderly and Messrs
F-i+cbia and Insolvency. The expiration or MI.
Fitcfie's term of office was made the occasion -
tha changes and in spite OF the pressure Which
z,-as brought to bear upon the President. William
Williams A New-York lawyer. and Joseph r-u1-
~, -ara selected TO succeed Messrs. Fftchle ana
Mcsveenev Mr. insolvency. when asked TO re-
sign at first seemed determined not 10 90 Sc o"'
he finally sent in his resignation
Shortly, after insolvency left the immigration
t.a commissioner Williams found that part OF
tic e1As we're missing, and last summer 1t was
l-nov,n that Mr. insolvency was suspected OF know
ing where they were. Portions were returned. ing
s+7,osnbere of the bureau has been completely
-,,,,,aa sinca the new regime began. There is
nothing concealed Ellis Island. Where once
ei4e offers TO submit to newspaper Investigations
v-as difficult TO learn the basis of the constantly
recurring reports Of irregularities OF 'he par. u
,aos ~ .o1cessionaires. one may now obtain
uts+ever information he has right TO have with
ont difnculty All of the old concessionaires have
cone together with number Of employees who were
NJ Nc