New-York tribune., 1908-04-30
QUEENS LOSES RERMEL
RESIGNS UNDER FIRE.
CASSIDY Making Fight to Become
Borough President.

the charges being in the hands Of the Governor,
Yesterday resigned his Office by sending the fol-
loping announcement TO City Clerk Scully:
: hereby resign the office ot President of the
Borough % Queens
Not only was an investigation of Be-mel about
n he begun by Samuel II Ordway. d commits
sioae- appointed by the Governor. but Con-
t-olIe- Metz yesterday sent Bermel a sharp let
Ter practically charging his department with
waste of public funds in ;he purchase Of sup
Plies
Unless prevented by . subpoena ordering hiIn
70 remain and give testimony before the grand
+ury Bermel viii sail for Europe at noon to-
DAY on the Savonia.-to be gone for indefinite
period He says that he is going on 4 pilgrim
aEo - the Tatic1a-
Mayor Mcclellan yesterday called meeting
@. TIE Queens Aldermen, 10 take place today
at noon al thy CITY Hall to elect a successor to
-e-uleL There are fv= Aldernlen-Thoruas NJ
Quinn. George Emener. Joseph Flanagan, John
: Hogan and Michael J. Garter. Flanagan. Ho-
eaa and Emener arc Democrats. Quinn was
elected by the independence League and Carter
Is Republican
ASKED FOR BERMELs REMOVAL
The removal Of Bermel was asked for by At
-o-ney General jackson and his deputy, Nathan
TIdaze-. following investigation Of the
-7e-bo6s employed by officials III the Borough
hissera Park. which cost the city more than
x5350oo. In addition 10 the charges presented
n the Attorney General, William s Petit, Of
"a Rockauay counsel for Christian z thinner.
member of the special grand jury impanelled
70 Investigate Bermels office. presented an aff-
cavi- 70 the Governor containing fifteen different
charges. some Of them being fncompetency, neg
lect. waste and violation % law IN the admins
1rsrion ot his Office.
.r------=S-F-r7.- sNT7zz-sz- Ia hear
.rr for May :. n the Borough Hall, Long Island
City B4-aleI has engaged Martin W Litteton
= defend him Commissioner OrdDay said yes
1e-dzy that he would consult with Governor
Hughes before taking further action.
G5Ee-uor Hughes had recommended TO the
present queens grand jury that il investigate
ful-y 1le Kissera matter He sent { verbal mes
sage % District Attorney Ira c. Darrin that
charges against him would be entertained If he
failed - Investigate fully any evidence Of crime
called - his attention District Attorney Oar
N designated Assistant District Attorney Nc
k4nne= 70 conduct the investigation. and II has
t1us -fa- been thorough, il Is said II was this
very raoro1ghress that caused Beruel. accord
51g . report, 70 resign in haste.
ore 81 least Of ITe grand jurors. = Is alleged.
vzs n constant communication. ny telephone
zrl otherwise. with the Borough President who
had Immediate knowledge Of all that took place
! cae room Several q the telephone messages
ve-s intercepted. Il x said
SCENE N Grand -LLRI ReeA
4 witness before the grand Jury Tuesday.
rhs dav Be-rneTs resignation vas actually
written. asked permission 70 make statement.
There x z man in this room he said. who
kss beer promised 2 job on May II he remains
On the grand jury and prevents certain lndict-
merits being found + YOU wish 70 know his
name I VIII state 1t
That vas not necessary. : grand juror
sprang 70 his feet
there -as 10 such bargain that I on
Ire Civil service list" He afte-N-ard admitted.
Z, is alleged. that place had been promised
= n5- b. -he administration on May J.
yesterday morning person. said 70 be one
C re firm = WeIz & ZerWeck, vent 70 VIII
1a- : Petit, { lawyer.
~. BermeI viii resign Al noon to-day If you
~ stop The present grand jury investigation"
sz6 -he =-1issz-v- Petit. who. as counsel for
--e civic Association. had been most active in
presenting evidence before the grand jury now
st-i-e. declined absolutely 10 make a bargain
- -az5gratfon D-ss dled Al O'clock
District Attorney Darrin vas asked Z he !
vr--5 -rv u prevent Re-ueI leaving the coun-
T. He replied that unless The grand jury spe- /
c.sca--y ordered = no subpoena would be issued |
t0r Re-rl-I - q uirness-
NAY SUBPOENA BERMEL-
II & believed IN Queens that the grand jury /
VI b slzeI bv some civic interests tc sub |
--rns Fe--0z- before nc leaves this port. If /
t-p---e~ -he-@ should not Dc time for the issu- /
a--e and serving of such subppsa warrant /
--ay b. asked for
Former Borough President Joseph cassidy /
2zz- NIGHT asserted that he would be elected to /
csv n rh@ frs ballot. Mayor Mcclellan viii /
PRESIDE e -he election. and in case q tie he |
-Hr -azr the deciding vote
--a Aldermen stand as follows For Cassidy /
Thomas = Quinn and John Hogan For /
laurence n .4resse~. Commissioner Of Public /
Wc--s or Sheriff Herbert T. Harvey. or any /
. ether aatt-Cassidy uan-Joseph Flanagan and |
fse~-zz E-rnener Michael J. Carter holds the
h sree o< power ard he Is against both th@ |
Cassidy faction and me antI-Cassidy crowd ds
q r-~ser- constituted He viii vote for Re
ru6-fczn
E~r months CsssidFs friends nave peeh pre-
olcrt-= mat IN case Of BermeIs removal OF res
trrs-.nn CASSIDY had three u the Aldermen
F--e THIS -erort Is positively denied 10y 'h@
b. faction. EesterdaE 1heE decIafeo al'el
-he -ssfg-s-5or became known that BeTHel only
cons---~.7 - hand in his resignation amer IL
w. -.ae+,i-eI, assured taet three Of the locai
= d@--en ,,ouIc sand by Lawrence " dresser
. snd elect him 70 fl the vacanoy-
CASSIDY I.xPEcTs ELECTION.
~ MS Old stand in Mlilers Hotel IN Borden
avenue surrounded by a scattering arra2 OF MS
crs -.s.-.--~-- -.a-- s,-re unable to ind place
+ Tho F.e-rqe1 administration. Joseph CASSIDY
he'd court and .-assed upon the news I'D S-o-
oIe5 tones 70 c5ufdan1s only
2