New-York tribune., 1905-02-03
SAY GEORGE BLAIR STOLE.
Larceny Charge against Former
Charities Official.

,-so-ss Fslair supe-fntendert of the Outooor Poor
perartnent under Mayor Van Wyck, was ar
raisne6 and waived examination IN AorhNIHe
police court yesterday on charge OF grand lar-
renv Mrs Dora ". Johnston of No. lSl west
sstb-st for whom lie acted as committee OF per
s,, and property while she vas in insane asylums
in the last five years. is the complainant Masls-
trate whitman held Blair in $3.50 ban Tor trlai'
The defendant denied the charge
T-srlv in 1900 Mrs. Johnston was committed TO
the Rivercrest sanatoriur. according TO Blair he
became q committee Of her person and property at
ff,at lime At the request Of her brother Mrs
Johnston remained in the sanatorium two years
and was then released parole. In January. 1908
she applied for Blair's discharge. her property
amounting at that time according 10 Blair' 10
ss19 in cash besides considerable iewelry- Justice
(suGersleeve granted her application. On February
. 1904 Mrs Johnston was again committed 10
Bellevue On February one Of the alenlsts
there who was examining the woman. was visited
bv Blair who told him that he was acting as COM
rutree for her person and property and asked that
such property as the physician held for Mrs. john
sion be delivered TO him. The physician did as re
o-,ested giving Blair S45o in cash and about S50l
worth OF ewelry. Shortly sfterward Mrs. Johnston
-rss committed TO a sana toTium at AmityN Long
Island. She IS now out on parole from tha' 'iSu
tuition
air blair contends that he had every right 10
ask for Mrs Johnston's property. since it was
stipulated that he should be discharged as COM
-nittee for her and possessions only after the
legal expenses had been paid. These ne salo' had
not been paid. Blair said further that ne lent Mrs
Johnson $500 two years ago
Blair vas slsrrr1arilv removed Superintendent
of outdoor Poor by Homer Folks. Charities Com
missioner under Mayor Low. Mr.. Folks gave as
formal reason that Mr.. Blair could not handle the
business Of the department bEt later it was alleged
that there had been embezzlement Of the funds of
poor persons which given to the department
10 hold. Most of this money, which belonged prin-
cipauy abandoned wives and children. passed
through Blair's hands. Ia specific case a suit
was begun. against him by Ellen Duff TO recover
s5Sa which she said she had given him in 1881
When sao began her suit Blair began lunacs pro-
ceedines against her. These were stopped. She
obtained Judgment against him for the money
4 receiver appointed for him in connection
with the case. Blair finally paid the money;
Meantime he had begun suit for relnsta teInent
the ground that he veteran OF the Civil
Wal and could not be ousted. This suit was
fcl eb1 "a The Court Of Appeals which finally or
oere6 his reinstatement in October. 1SS. He held
hs place until the present administration. I'M
I.-diateiy aIter January !. 1894. Homer FOLKS
NED six distinct charges against Blair with Com
missioner TuIly Of the Charities Department.
Only the first and third OF these were tried but
o. both Commissioner TGliy found Blair guilty
sld dismissed him February .. The third charge
that he had MAY g. 1902 induced l. J. fiig-
haTD. who had s501 belonging to William Hughes,
applicant for relief. to turn over this money
10 him. He promised HghaD that he would main
tain Hughes private institute for the rest Of
sioner Tully found he had let him become pub
liz gLas