New-York tribune., 1907-02-14
HIGHWAYS MAN HELD.
Brooklyn Superintendent accused of
Taking Money for Jobs,

superintendent Frank ]. Ulrich Of the Depart
rnent OF Highways, Brooklyn. was arrested yester-
day on charges Of taking money for getting
Jobs FOR men in his Office. The arrest Is the re-
suit Of John Doe proceedings which District Attor
ney Clarke privately instituted after the arrest OF
Alexander Potruch last Friday for levying oo
on Lewis Schuiman who wished TO get his son
HyInan a place in the Department Of Highways
After his arrest Potrucn who until a few days ago
was a corporation inspector in the department
swore that he had obtained place for his brother
William and stepbrother, Louis shelkin, by paying
Ulrich.
The John Doe proceedings were conducted be
fore Magistrate Geismer. The magistrate Issued
a warrant for Ulrichs arrest yesterday. Clr1ch
was taken before him in the Adams street police
station in the afternoon and arraigaed. He plead
ed not guilty to the two charges, and was held
in $500 bail each charge for examination In the
Myrtle avenue police court at o'clock on Monday
afternoon. The bail was furnished by John J.
Brown. builder, of No IS Johnson street Abel
Crooke appeared for Ulrch. Borough President
Coer. who says he believes thoroughly in the inno-
cence of Ulrich was present at the hearing with
his private counsel. Stepnen c. Baldwin.
Mr. Coler protested against the star chamber
methods which he says are being employed. and
insists that the whole affair is simply an attempt
on the part Of Brooklyn newspaper to lnJure MIN
and befouI his administration. He made the follow
ing statement:
I went over 10 the Adams street cQlrt because
| am intensely Interested in this case | was some
wnat surprised the result OF the star ChaHpe
proceedings before Magistrate GeiSmer as
thought the District Attorney was sufficiently Wei
known in this county to have his reputation Stthu
as a guaranee for the honesty and comprehensive
ness of any investigation which he might ne max
interfere with that investigation | want the VINO ie
truth brought out and | not bound 10 accept
as the truth in the Of 50 serious a ch"l E'
against a public official is the one against Mti
Ulricb the affidavit of sef-confeSsed scodllattI
such as Potruch. CorrobOrated by his two stct!,-
brothers after he had been arrested at my llSu-
cation That the reason wanted an llllHIt
diate and open hearing before the maElS ''T,;
That is the reason ! want revealed TINS ploI IN an
its raminca tons I going 70 get NJ te Dpl ON
of this thing before I get through with II; nut lt'
course | will pursue will be in the hne OF prose
Cltion and not Of assa ssiuation think the teSl,
nlony of those for whom asked subpoenRrs ana 2naI
mart! !cularlv that Of Mr.. Evans, of The t.aEle'
tinonv against Mr. JlrCh procured , -,
If The Eagle IS right I want IL 10 have az tle
honor: If II is wrong want il to shoulder all the
responsibility.
Both William Potruch and Louis Shelkin nave
made afidavts telling how they got their JOBS as
corporation inspectors in the department Potruch
saws that his brother told him last that he
500 In August he says the two met and went TO
see Ulrich in his private Office Alexander says nc
picked up envelope, put the bill In II, and lald
il on the superintendent's desk, saying: Here's
the $50
IN a pigeon hole and replied: Come to work to-
morrow