New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-21
CLERK OUT.
REMOTED FROM OFFICE.
District attorneys Office InUestigat-
ing accounts of Charities Employees.

Announcement was made yesterday by Com
missioner Robert w. Hebberd Of the Charities
Department that he had dismissed Frank r.
Kelly almony clerk. employed in the outdoor
poor division of the department
The specific charge on which Commissioner
Hebberd based his action was three weeks
absence without leave. During Kellys alb
sence accountants had been at work inves-
ugating his books. and the Commissioner al
legged that certain discrepancies between moneys
said to have been paid and those accounted
for as paid had been found. The results of
this investigation have been put in the hands
OF Assistant District Attorney Mott. who was
assigned to the case by the District Attorney.
Frank r. Kelly, who was appointed to the
place Of alimony clerk in 1902 by Homer
Folks, then Commissioner of Charities, was in
formed by the Commissioner that he was
absent without leave and requested to appear
before the Commissioner for trial. He ignored
the request and his dismissal followed.
The dismissal of Kelly follows a number of
dismissals that have been ordered since Com
missioner Hebberd took office on January l,
when the Commissioner took charge, he called
the heads Of the departments before him, and
said:
Il intend to conduct this department entirely
without party considerations and strictly in
cordance with the Civil Service rules. expect
every man to do his best and if they do not
they can expect the worst"
When he took Office a report filed in his
office showing that, for the five years previous to
1902, there had been stealings in the department
to the amount of $4,000 OF this amount
$4,000 was subsequently returned
This report prompted Commissioner Hebberd
to prOmulgate an order to the effect that all mail
coming to the department and employees. should
TO lie ba t,{e
secretary, Mr.. Baker. This order went into
effect February Il. Only mail marked personal
was excepted. This met with considerable dis
satisfaction, and led to the trial Of Captain
Mccarthy, of the steamer Thomas S. Brennan, Of
the Charities Department, who objected. Later
he apologized, and the incident was dropped.
According to Commissioner Hebberd after the
letter order went into effect on February u,
Kelly suddenly disappeared. and has been alb
sent ever since. This made the Commissioner
suspicious, and he placed accountants to work
Kelys books. AS a result Of those investi-
cations. the Commissioner has several affidavits
in his possession from women who claim that
they received certain sums of money, while the
books showed they should have received larger
amounts. 1t is this evidence that is in the hands
Of the District Attorney.
According to these affidavits, the names Of the
signers being withheld by the Commissioner, one
woman states that on December ., 1905, she re-
ceived Sc. while Key's records show that the
amount paid was 81 80. Another woman on
February 90 1906, received $40; the records
show SO. Another, on December - 1910. re-
ceived SO; the records give SIC, and in an
other case a woman received SIC, while Kelly's
books show 500
All these women say that the receipts given
them were found to be blank when they opened
them, no amount of money having been filled In
but they were forced to sign them.
Yesterday the Commissioner received WORD
from Kellys brother in explanation Of his alb
senoe, saying that he had been very III, ana
would try to get to the office on Friday. hely
lives at No. 267 West Hath street
Kelly is not the only one dismissed by the
Commissioner since he has taken office. In the
last two weeks he has discharged three people
The Commissioner also admitted yesterday that
DR. J. 3 Nickel, formerly superintendent OF the
METROPOLITAN Hospital. had been allowed 10 re-
sign. Charges had been preferred against hlIn
II is alleged by the Board of Medical Examiners
attached to the hospital