The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-03
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Charges have h"an prepared against
nirI y Culsr President NJ the Borough
~ Rrcoklvn, who vas slectsd On the Murioi,
fal Ownership tichnt last fall With u view
~ having him removed FROM Office The
charges will 10 laid before Oov Higgins
to-day In them Color " acc1issd ~ making
. corrupt bargain before election With
The BROOKLYN Democracy. ~ which ex.
Senator Corey Ia the busa. and With the
German American League ~ Brooklyn, nv
which hs was 10 give those organ '%sation-,
through Cufcy. control ~ the patronage
n his ONCE In rsturn for their support at
the polls.
Tho charge- ara made by James A Healy
and james s Taylor, members ~ tho
Brooklyn Democracy, who swear that they
were presen; when Coler made the promIae,
Attached TO tho papers are the afidavits
Of Healy and Taylor giving tho details Of
the alleged transaction. The charges
recite
THAT IN November 1, 1905, ~ n meeting
~ q committee acting on behalf Of the
Brooklyn Democracy. Mr.. Coler illegally,
~corruptly and contrary TO good morals,
and with the object Of procuring and fur.
thoring his election to the Office Of President
~ the Borough Of Brooklyn 10 the en-.
suing November election. promised and
agreed that in return for the political sup
port and influence OF said committee at
such election he, said Bird y. Coler. would,
in the event Of his election, give the patron
age Of his Office to such committee.
That on the same day, at a meeting OF o
committee representa- ing the Geman Ameri-
can League Il Brooklyn, he promised and
agreed that In return for the political sup
port and influence at said election Of the
said German American League he would
not, In the event Of his election, make any
official appointments or distribute any
patronage Of his Office unless such appoint
ments and such distribution Of patronage
were satisfactory to Michael j. Coffey, who
represented IN such distribution Of petron-
age the said German American League
And that on the same day, at a Joint meet
ing Of committees Of the Brooklyn Demoo-
racy and the German American League,
no promised and agreed that, In return
for the political support and influence at
such election Of the said committee OF the
BROOKLYN Democracy, and Of said commit
tee OF the German American League, he.
the said Bird 8. Coler, would, In the event OF
his election, refuse to make any appoint
ments from or distribute any patronage OF
his Office to the Willoughby Street Democ-
racy, represented by James Shevlin, but
that such patronage should be distributed
to the Brooklyn Democracy and to the said
German American League. through the
said Michael j. Cofey."
In his affidavit Healy says that he was
notified by the chairman OF tho Brooklyn
Democracy to attend a conference on the
evening Of November 1 at the headquarters
Of the organization in the Temple Bar Build
ing. He went there with Taylor and found
among others in the room Michael j. Cof-
fey, the chairman Of the Brooklyn Democ-
racy; Edward Cough, Frank Belford, Frank
Grove and two others whose names he
does not recall. These constituted the oom-
mittee acting for the Brooklyn Democracy.
There were also present, he says. a COM
mittee Of Ave representing the German
American League Of Brooklyn and Mr..
Coler, who was running for Borough Presi-
dent. Immediately upon their arrival, the
affidavit says, Chairman Coffey introduced
Mr.. Coler, who thereupon addressed the
two committees, saying:
o course you all nov I am a candidate
for the office Of Borough President. am
in the race to beat McCarren, and I want an
organization behind me, and II your two
organizations give me your support and l
am elected, and / am sure to be elected, l
will give part of the patronage Of my office
for your support"
Mr.. Cough then said, according to the
affidavit:
IF you are elected, Mr.. Coler, will there
be a resurrection of Willoughby Street,"
To which Coler Ii alleged to have replied:
"The only man in politics that l owed
anything to is dead. Anything ever got
out Of Willoughby street I got over Shevlin's
~head-Shevlin never had any use for me
nor l for him"
Henry Hamm, a representative OF the
German organization, then said, according
to the affidavit:
$50 far as the German American League
is concerned in distribution of patronage
YOU can deal with Senator Coffey. Any
thing that is satisfa ctory to the Senator will
be satisfactory TO the German-Americln
League
To which Healy swears Coler replied:
sThe Senator and l understand one
another and | will not make an appointment
that Is not satisfactory to the Senator and
that does not meet with his approval"
"Thereupon," continues the affidavit "the
said Bird S. Coler left the said headquarters
Of the Brooklyn Democracy, saying as he
was leaving;
Now, nobody must know anything
about this
and that subsequently, and in oonsidera-
ton Of the foregoing promises and pledges
OF patronage deponent voted for resolu-
tions indorSng the candidacy Of the said
Bird \. Golfer Tor the office OF President Of
the Borough OF Brooklyn, which were
adopted by the said Brooklyn Democracy"
Taylor's affidavit is identical in language.
II the charges against Mr.. Coler are
proved he may not only be removed from
ofloo, but Section ilv OF the Election law
IAny person who, while holding a public
Office, orbeing nominated or seeking a nom
nation or appointment therefor, cor
ruptly uses or promises TO use, dire city or
indirectly, any official authority or infu-
enoe Possessed or anticipated, in the why
OF comforting upon any person. or in order
to secure, or aid any person in securing, any
Office or public employment, . upon
consideration that the vote or political in
fuonce or action Of the pc rson to so be
benefited or OF any other person, shs he
given or used in behalf Of any candidate.
officer or party or upon any other corrupt
condition or consideration . is pun