New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-24
RING SELLS POLICE JOBS.
BIG scandal Lid BARE.
{. X. LerOzc's Name MentiOned-
5000 900 Paid. SdyS Broker"

II revealed yesterday through the hearing
OF apparently petty before Magistrate
Ommen I'm the West Side court. that the Dis
trict Attorneys office has been for some time on
the track of a ring which has made the selling Of
places on the police force an everyday business
and received money from men who mad sufficient
faith in promises to pay in the aggregate over
S20oO0 II declared that Charles X.
Lexow. Republican leader OF the XXth AS
sembly District had ordered of his district
captains 10 write a letter which the complainant
in the IN court presented 10 William B.
Duke. Duke read this letter and said 1T viii
be all right for SGCJ."
1t Duke. who had hesltancy in admit
ting that he took the $500 that told Magistrate
Ommen that the District Attorneys office was
already working the case, and in the same
breath he ntimated that he was merely a small
cog in big system Of wheels. the largest of
which were men Of prominence politically ans
otherwise
Duke moreover. who declared that there was
100000 represented in deals, with which
he familiar. 20 make policemen, asserted
that Emil II. Sonner against whom there are
now two cases pending in which he is charged
with taking money to get places for men on the
police force. a part OF this ring. sort Of
clearing house for It, holding the money paid by
the trustful ones.
Assistant District Attorney Kresel. who has
been working up the case against the police
place buying ring refused to talk about the case
last night. intimating that 10 do so at this time
would defeat the ends OF justice. Hence IT was
inferred that more arrests likely to follow
soon--in fact before Monday for then. Mr.
Kresel said. he would be ready to give out in
formation he is Withholding
DUKES STORY N COURT
There was no intimation bsfore the case was
called that it was Of such a stirring nature.
Duke who lives at No. 30j West Fifty-seventh-
ST.. appeared summons issued to James r..
Fitzpatrick of No. 156 East For+y-eighth-s
Duke said Fitzpatrick lived at No 165 East
Thirty-nfth-st
Fitzpatrick in explaining the case to Magis-
trate Ommen. said that on August T. 1903. he
gave Duke $780, with the promise from Duke
that a position the police force would be
obtained for the money.
How was this transaction brought about Pc
asked the magistrate.
II went to a man named Danaher." said Fitz-
patrick.
who is Danaher?"
Fitzpatrick refused TO give Danaher's first
name but said he was district captain for
Mr. Lexow.
"Danaher went to Mr. Lexow and Mr.. Lexow
told Danaher TO write letter to Duke" said
Fitzpatrick. This Danaher did, and I got the
letter to give to Duke l met Duke at the Of
fice OF the New-York Cab Company where l
was connected then. and turned over the letter
to him. Duke read II and said: 1t will be all
right for 5000
II then went to my mother and she drew the
5000 from the bank and l gave it TO Duke. He
again said. 1t is all right now I took the ex-
animation for the police, but did not get any
rating. have since put I'm another application.
have demanded the 5000 back from Duke sew
eral times. but he always put me on
Magistrate Ommen asked Duke to explain
II took the $500 all right" said Duke
''whatr CALCULATED Magistrate Ommen. What
was the purpose of it?'
Il took the 5000" explained Duke. for the
purpose of having him placed on the 'eligibe
! list. Regarding the money. 1 acted only a
broker for another man. I turned the money
over and the money was 10 be held in trust
until the was placed on the eligible list II
| he was not so pla,. IL to be returned"
| "Who was this man2" asked the Court.
Emil H. Sonner." replied Duke. IF you
would telephone TO the District Attorneys office
! the District Attorney would clear up the mat
! ter"
Mr.. Kresel knows about this case" continued
Duke. "and he had Fitzpatrick before him yes
| terday."
Yes" said Fitzpatrick. Duke had served me
the day before with summons in a sealed en-
velope L did not think it legal but answered
| It Just the same. / appeared before Mr. Kresel
as ordered and Mr.. Kresel questioned me closely
Csniinnsd eleventh page.