New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-19
MEYER THE CAPEG0AT.
PL4N TO SHIELD MURPHY.
Egans to Explain as Witnesses in
"John Doe" Proceedings.

parently have decided tc unload the responsi-
hiIity for the queer doings of the old Taunany
Dock Board on their former associate Peter f.
Meyer. Richard Croker's former business part
rer Murphy is showing the white feather
Hardly had the announcement been made that
Marshall B. Clarke. one OF Mr. Jerome's ablest
assistants had been detailed TO the investigation
which begins to-day before Justice Mayer than
Nj Murphy's friends began 10 make excuses
for him. Now various district leaders in Tam
many Hall are openly saying:
Why. Charlie Murphy didn't have anything
70 do with those leases He was sick nearly all
Of 1901. And Mr.. Cram didn't have anything
u do with them. either further than TO vote
formally on them Mr.. Meyer was the active
nan in the board in 1901. He did all the work"
All such remarks as these are intended to
pave the way. it is now believed by the District
Attorneys office. to making Mr.. Meyer stand the
brunt OF the blame. Peter r. Meyer asso-
ciated with Richard Croker in business until
Nay ! last. The partnership then dis
solved Since then Mr.. Meyer has dropped
largely out Of sight in Tammany politics while
Mr Cram has been pushed to the front
Not since the days of the Lexow COMMITTEES
have the Tammany men been so perturbed as
they now are. There was any amount Of
crooked work done in the old Dock Department
in the Van Wyck administration. Had there
cover it up. But there was a lot Of it. and 1t
will he a surprise if the District Attorney does
not uncover enough Of il TO make serious trou-
bic for the men responsible
WITNESSES TO BE HEARD NOW
District Attorney Jerome said yesterday tnat
Re did not expect to have any vacation this
.u-,r,er He said il in a rather meaning way.
,.,btle he was talking about the John Doe in
cuirv into the record Of the old Dock Board
This morning before Justice Mayer, the mysteri-
cus Joseph Egan. who secured from the OLD
Dock Board lease which Corporation Counsel
Rives is trying TO cancel on the grounds OF
conspiracy and fraud. will BE put on the stand
and asked 10 explain how he happened 10 get
the lease Michael Egan, a lawyer. whose once
* with Daniel F. Cohalan. No 2Il Broadway
will also go on the stand tomorrow TO ten aooul
his lease Of the West Thirty-ninth-st pier II
Countless will be a hard day for the Egans. as
there are plenty Of things for them 10 clear up
Nth reference TO their respective leases Ex-
Police Magistrate William H. Burke, former sec
re.s--z of the Dock Board, has been summoned
ss ne is supposed TO know considerable ABOUT lhe
transactions that are regarded as 1rauo anu
conspiracy BY the District Attorney
ASSISTANT District Attorney Clarke was not
--enared Yesterday 10 talk about the MlchaeA
Fean lease. but II is understood that II is re-
perded as unusually damaging to the iO4IIei
c,,,o-nsssjoners Egan December 70 lsoI'
,t+sfnea from the old board ten years ease
"a n. West Thirty -ninth-st- pier at S1.ZoV
s.- The 1,ier contains an area Of $500 square
feet 1t SO happened that just before TINS A y
r~,enoUeth q contractor who did not seem 10 De
able 10 understand the peculiar system "Iloef
--hfch the Dock Board was run, had appIleo IoT
g North River pier. He didn't get H. alIh9ueh
. is alleged he went to Richard croker 10 see
urv the Murphy board would not entertain MS
written appiicaion. Soon after the change IL
st,-+-s+ior The West Forty-seventh-st. pier
,-ss advertised. and Mr.. Chenoweth leased it at
se go 2 wear 1t is Of the same size as the
rvar rier When the District Attorney thls
week tried TO find Michael Egan TO summon MN
70 the inquiry now under way the process
server could not ind him either at his once
or around the pier He was traced TO ms nome
i- Harlem. where he is said TO be close per
sonsl friend Of Senator James j. FraWley' 1aih-
-aanv leader in the XXXIId Assembly District
FORGERY TO RAISE LEASES VALUE
While Michael Egan IS likely TO have conslo-
era HE trouble in explaining, Joseph Eean
doubtless will have a still harder time 'AlIer
The election in the fall Of 19Ol. Joseph hgah'
who at that time was and still is. in the employ
Of ex-Polioe MAGISTRATE William H Burke, 1or-
r7er secretary of the Murphy Dock Board. nlec
an snn1ication for a lease Of the bulkhead be-
tween Tvzentv-seventh and Twenty-eighta SIS
Right here is where something peculiar &C
CURED II came TO the knowledge Of the DOCK
Departuaent that the Erie Railroad had bought
: hlock On the North River waterfront Tor
freight ward. II was understood at the time
that the Erie had bought the block between
Tventy-seventh and Twenty-eighth sts- This
would make the bulkhead Immediately IN tront
Of their plot extremely valuable Egans apph-
cation was il then was supposed, Tor the pAlk-
head Immediately in front OF the Erie ne"
block. The old Dock Board gave Egan a ShTee
years lease. Then one with access 10 Tue
minutes OF the board and also access 10 the
formal leases in the secretarys Office, commit
ted forgery on the minutes and lease Inc MIN
utes We're so changed as to make II appear thdt
the board had given Egan thirty years lease
But that not all. Another chahee was
made in the minutes. changing the location Oh
the bulkhead lease from between Twenty-seF-
enth and Twenty-eighth sts- TO one belWeen
JWenty-eighth and TWenty-ninth SITS ms
change was made after il became known to some
one on the inside that the Erie had oouShl,
not the block between TwenIy-seventh ana
Twerty-eishth SITS. but the one between T~eh-
ty-eiehtn and Twenty-n ninth sts. The forser,
whoever ne Eas, did not stop there. The lease
price VAS S1.2oO a year. This price was changer
in the lease TO read $50 year.
When the Erie Railroad people discovered
what lad been done, they refused 10 be held
l.p and instead Of dealing with Egsp they went
ahead and leased the bulkhead between Iwen-
rv-seventh and TWenty-eighth SITS Corporation
Counsel Rives. in mis- action to cancel the lease,
alleges that this Joseph Egan lease with its
Gurping board privilege. is worth about $4,000
4 year
examine half a dozen lessees Of dumping board
r.-ivfieges and after he gets through with them
he viii call on the former Dock Commissioners.
Messrs Murphy, Cram and Meyer. ana ask theln
Io,z, & lannene6 that the city's interests were
allowed 30 suffer under their mar2senrent.