New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-28
TRAP In HOSE INQUIRY
Bookkeeper for City Sad to Haze
Been attracted By the Bat.

C,,ddor1y dronn;np the examination of witnesses
about hose which did not contain sea lsiS'iu GU
ton as required in the specifications. Oohuhs
sioner Mitchell at the Fire Department inVesu3a-
+ion Yesterday called Charles T. Griswold, DOCK
keepr in the Bureau of Sewers. and asked nun
about a trip made to Phiiadelpha on apr" -
when according to F. Sheppard. an examiner III
the Department of Accounts. he had a CONVERSE
tion with a mysterious Mr.. Schaeffer there IN
which criswoid it Is alleged. agreed to assist n
Pennsylvania IL. supplying goods 10 'le
New york Fire Department. for which he was 10
receive commission. turned out that Shep-
pard posed as "Mr. Schaeffer'' to try and trap
GrfswoId Commissioner Mitchell had the report
Of Mr. Sheppard before him
CiriswoId it is said did not know why ne was
summoned until he asked about his Phadel-
pha trip. He admitted having gone to Phiaoet-
pha and that he stated he could probably help
..Nr Schaener' but he said he did this only to
draw "Schaefer' out. being suspicious of him from
first. Griswold sent letter TO 9cHieheI'
later declaring that all theI" deals We're on WHO"
communication Mr.. Sheppard admitted had been
sent When Griswod sworn he said that ne
had been the secretary and representative OF Ma
tie Donohue when the latter was leader OF the
nth District. then the old Ast District
After receiving several telephone messages ana
finally letter unsigned coming from the Ne"
Bingham Hotel in Philadelphia Griswold said ne
received signed letter from ''Schaeffer' asking
him to Philadelphia. saying that all DIS
expenses would be paid. Cirswold said that when
he first met Sheppard whom ne theh suPPoSeu
was Mr. Sehaeffer" he understood that the meet
ing was arranged for the sale of automobiles
81 was suspicious of him from the first especially
when he mentioned the Fire Department salu
CfriswoId land l determined to draw him out. but
intended to have nothing whatever to do with his
scheme He showed me some specifications from
the New York Fire Department calling for Ger
tain chemically preserved hose He told me that
was a Joker run in for the benefit of the Fabric
Hose Company which owned the oniy patent under
which such hose could be supplied. l told him
would see what l could do. l told him l had
friend on a committee and that If he had a pat
ented device as good or better than the one now
employed for the same work in the department
could get him a hearing before the committee
told him the man was Mr. Johnson, and thai ne
was a man no could give cent to-.
Griswold said that his district leader advised INN
to make the trip, but to be careful Of a trap
Commissioner Mitchell cautioned the witness that
he was under oath and asked him if he did not tell
Mr. Schaefer' that, this was their first meet
ing. he could not, be expected to tell the latter
everything. and that. Alfred Downs had recon-
nended him that should be sufficient GriswoId
declared that he probably said this.
Did you say" continued Commissioner
Mitchell when he said that it evident you
were willing to do what you could, but that you
apparently could do nothing without your leader
that he would help you and that you always gave
him three-quarters of what you made"
Never shouted the witness. Such thing
never happened-never happened"
Mr.. Sheppard took the stand and said he had
worked under the direction of Commissioner Mitchell
that the statements attributed TO GriswoId
about the division of money true G. A
Wanzer, who accompanied Mr.. Sheppard. testified
that he was in a closet in the with
Griswold and Mr. Sheppard, and corrobOrated the
Iatters testimony.