The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23
NEW YORK FIREMEN HONEST,
HUT They Are OFTEN Falsely Accused of
Theft. Says Secretary l.eary.


Secretary William Leary of the Fire
Department has just emerged triumphant
from controversy with a life insurance
man OF this city, who, some weeks ago,
made the charge that during fire in an
apartment house in which he lived, on the
upper West Side, ST., 600 worth of diamonds
belonging to his wife were stolen by fire.
men, and lot of valuable furniture was
destroyed unnecessarily.
Mr.. Leary says that, by looking up the
records Of the Fire Department, he has
found that nine times out OF ten after a
fire in private house, an apartment house,
or hotel, charges of theft have been reck-
lessly made against fremen. In every
case, so far that he has discovered, save
one, the charges have been found to be
utterly without foundation and made in
moment Of excitement by persons who,
when they have recovered their equanimity,
did not take the trouble to correct the mis-
take they made.
Since Commissioner Sturgis took charge
Of the department, the charges Of dis
honesty have been fewer. The Commits
sioner was very proud of this. Conse-
quently, a short time ago, when an anony-
nous communication was printed in a
newspaper accusing flremen of theft
at West Side fire. and asking why fire.
men weren't investigated once in while.
like grating policemen, Secretary Leary
was instructed to make a complete in
| vestigation of the matter.
The fire referred to was soon located
by Mr. Leary. Instead of being in swell
| apartment house." as the letter writer de-
| scribed il, 1t was in fiat over a grocery
| store.
Instead Of 81, 900 worth of diamonds being
missed, $500 worth Of jewels were taken.
| Not an article in the apartment had been
| broken, although IT was charged in the let
ter that "some fine old Chippendale pieces
had been kicked to bits by the firemen in
their frolc
Mr.. Leary got positive denial from the
firemen who were engaged in putting out
| the fire that they had taken anything out
of the apartment, and also the information
that all the time they were in the room Of
! the life insurance man, the latter's step
son, who is Is, was with them. They left
him there when they went out, they said.
! Mr.. Leary got this far but couldn't trace
| the missing jewelry. In despair he called
| In the police and asked them to help him
to clear up the matter as 1t was one that
rested heavily on the honor of the Fire
! Depart ment.
The police Of the West Sixty-eighth street
station began an investigation, and the
| very next day reported that the stepson
| who was In the room with the firemen and
! who stayed there after they left, had been
| arrested three times in the past two years,
| always on the complaint of the stepfather,
who accused him Of theft. The young man,
| the police said, had stolen jewelry, clothing
and money.
! Mr.. Leary confronted the writer of the
| letter, who he learned was the stepfather,
! with these facts and got Wind ication for
| the firemen
at seems to me-" said Secretary Leary,
that good time has come to let people
| know that while there may be exceptional
| cases. New York has no better or more
| faithful servants than it's firemen They
| are honest, and although opportunities for
| theft are constantly before them, II is
| the rarest thing in the world for them TO
take advantage OF them.
People who rush into print with charges
| against firemen ought to be sure Of their
ground. Hundreds Of people see the
| charge, but few see the vindication.
in the case on the West Side, no more
serious charge has ever been made against
! firemen, and on it's face never saw what
| looked at the start to be a clearer case.
| Yet investigation riddled II through and
through and brought the firemen out tri-
| umphant.
-The toughest part Of 1t all Is that man
| who knew that the chances were all In
favor of his stepson's being the thief should
be willing to besmirch the Fire Depart
ment In this way