New-York tribune., 1907-08-08

missioner Hertle, done work for outside concerns
1t IS said in his affidavit Mr.. Schenck swore
he had audited the books Of the restaurant at the
request of the commissioner during the hours that
he was supposed 10 do work for the city, ana that
he received for this work SO bonus and MS sai'
ary from the city.
Commissioner Hertle spent yesterday at his nome
No. 964 Amsterdam avenue. He refused either 70
see any one talk the telephone Al
3 o'clock notice of hts suspension was served on
him. Afterward he authorized friend 10 MAKE
the following statement: Il am innocent or the
charges made against I have long expected to
be murdered tho result of the part played IN
the Ahearn investigation. and consequently my sus-
pension did not to as a surprise
Il consider 1t my duty TO say that the work done
FOR the restaurant done BY men who were
paid FOR their services by me Two accountants
were assigned 10 do this work but they were drunk
decided TO have the work done by my men. out
they did It only after olsce hours. on sun
days and on holidays. and after their work ior
the city done. For this service l PAID thetn
rnvself l am entirely innocent Of all wrongdoing
but as said. I expected to be murdered for the
part l played in tho Ahearn investigation and
I am o be-
After receiving the report Of the bureau Of nlu-
nicipaI research the Acting Mayor forwarded II to
Mayor Mcclellan. and received teleRraphlc ~ ~orueIs
from the latter to suspend commissioner der,.s @
pending investigation Of the charges which VIII
probably be had as soon as the Mayor returns from
his vacation.
IAN ] know about the AFFAIR said the Acting
Mayor YESTERDAY lis that I received copy Of the
report OF tho bureau or municipal research shortly
after the Mayor went his vacation L did not
go into the report very closely myself but merely
forwarded II 10 the Mayor. To-day l received
telegram from him ordering the SUSPENSION ot Mt
Hertle pending an investigation He said that /
could try the charges myself or await mis- return
on the 18th of the month.
Besides tho restaurant work. il is said that Com
missioner Hertle had accountants do some work
for the Democratic club. John X. Haywood. chief
accountant, said that this was thank YOU Job
Commissioner Hertle. he said. had sent the mon up
10 do the work and had paid them himself
District Attorney Jerome refused t" discuss the
matter Yesterday RE has. however. experts look
Ing into the methods of the Commissioners OF Ac-
counts in auditing tho books of Borough President
Ahearn.
According to the statutes Of tho state, II the
charges made by Mr. Scheuck sustained Mr.
Hertle IS open prosecution for committing a
felony The statute governing this states that
citv official certifying the payroll Of city en-
ployes. knowing that eniploye or employees SO
certified To has or have been engaged in other en-
ployment during the hours for which he or they
are paid by tho city 10 do work for the city. IS
guilty OF II felony.
The investigation Of the Commissioners Of Ac-
counts by the bureau of municipal research was
undertaken through the instigation of Commission
er Mitchell This same bureau undertook the in
ouirv which eventually led 70 the Ahearn investi-
CATION This investigation. It is said. revealed
seeming delinquencies in the office of the Commis-
sioners of Accounts that stirred the bureau 10 an
investigation its own account
This Investigation showed it is generally said
and specifically stated r the bureaus report. that
Commissioner Hertle did not distinguish clearly
enough between his private business and his public
duties
II 10 charged that Mr. SchenCk certified TO on tho
payroll of the city by Commissioner Hertle as being
assigned 10 and working for the Street Cleaning
Department examined the books OF uptown
restaurant some time ago during the hours for
I which he was paid by the city to do the work OF
the city This work il is alleged. private
! piece Of business for the firm of which Herte was
| a uember-Hertle. Cook Il Decker OF No. 23O
/ Broadway, a firm which engages In the business
! or auditing tho books OF business firms
| Mr. Hertle is Democrat and Tammany poll
| tician He was many years warm personal
| friend of ex-Nayor Van WyCk, who appointed min
I 10 office lie made commissioner of ac-
counts on January !. 1904 and has served in that
/ capacity since then He was one of Mayor Van
! \Vvck's three personal appointments" the only
4 ones made by him, it Is said. that were not die
+ IA ted by Croker. Later ne was one of the most
/ active workers for Mayor McClellln's election.
! This personal friendship between Mayor Var
/ Wvck and Mr.. Hertle had rather curious out
! come Mrs Kate f. Hertle. his wife. divorced
from him on January 20, 1905 The case con-
! ducted with the utmost secrecy and none of the
! evidence was made public on March q 1906. she
married Mr. Van Wyck tn former Mayor. The
i wedding took place in the Broadway Tabernacle
and only "A few intimate friends and relatives Of
the bridegroom present. The marriage was a
! ereat surprise to Democrats Mr. Hertle himself
said ne had no idea that his divorced wife was
! 10 become the bride of the man who introduced
| him into politics
Mr. Hertle was employed in 1903 make a report
! for William n. Amory. who sued the metropolitan
| Street Railway Company for $4,000. When the
Case came to trial Mr.. Herte testified that he had
found a deficit of $1SOO0OOO in the Metropolitan
/ treasury As Mr. Hertle has been of late consd-
cred a strong Mcclellan man, there is no especial
| sympathy felt for him Tammany headquarters
and Murphy men feel an inclination to rejoice
! over his present difficulties.