New-York tribune., 1909-04-23
COURTCLERKS ACCUSED
Padded Expense Bills Alleged IN
Whiteade's Report.

Charges that the expense accounts Of several en-
ployes in the clerks Office of the Court of Special
Sessions have been padded for the last three yNrs
we're revealed yesterday by the publication of tie
report of George ". Whiteside. Assistant District
Attorney. Copies of the report have been sent to
the justices Of the court and it said yesterday
tnat their next meeting they would probably ask
all the attaches involved in the charges to resign
II was said at the District Attorneys Office that If
the justices did such action criminal pro
ceedings would instituted. The padding Of the
accounts. IL was said. constituted a felony The
report also shows that many petty amounts have
been put in vouchers but these thefts are now out
laved and not acrionable IT said.
1t was also said that the District Attorneys office
was taking up a new phase Of the matters OF the
court, dealing with the destruction "f certain rec
ords- Just what acticn may he taken cannot Ne
learned
The report of the Assistant District Attorney shows
that the contingent funds of the court have been
running the rate of about SG9 year between
January so5. and January. leoS During this period
it is shown. according Mr Whtteside. that vouch-
ers have passed through the Controllers office of
William Langhein & Bro. cutlery dealers. in Cen
tre street The vouchers show according to the re
port that William NJ. Fuller. deputy clerk Of the
court had account there. and that in that
period the Court Of Special Sessions had SIS 20
worth of work done chiefly grinding scissors and
repairing erasers AIr. Langben. the report shows.
vas called during the investigation, and testified
that the actual repairs done for the court we're
pocket knives. safety razers and in one instance
carving set
Another account mentioned by Mr Whiteside is
that of Waterman & CO. who received sSe n dur
ing 1906 and 1907 The account. Mr. Whtteside SAYS
shows that II originally opened by Herbert n
Mase who assisted Mr.. Fuller, and in the report
IT is said that admitted fasifying his expense
account Mr. whiteside SAYS that the amounts
paid were for fountain pens and repair work and
alleges that pens and materials purchased for
vreT .ba
Mr. Whireside else mentions Sn account With
the Tower Manufacturing Company for fountain
pens.
Nr whiteside also alleges that Samuel F. Spell
man. q stenograp pher in the clerks office OF the
court during 1906 1895 and 1907. admitted that he put
in false vouchers in the names Of Max Miller,
Edward A, Barnett and Ira y Schwartz Ihe
amount nut in for this work aggregated 800. the
Assistant District Attorney says 1t is also alleged
that the expense account Of Hugh : DOYLE,
messenger OF the court shows that more than 500
a year spent in serving court processes
whereas il is charged, he never served any other
detailed charges are made against the messenger
Dovle resigned his position and is now assistant
clerk in the Court of Special Sessions. in Brooklyn
II is also alleged in the report that Mase SAID
II was no uncommon thing to change the records 10
make II appear that fines paid were larger than
The record showed. According to Mr. Whitestde'
Mr. Fuller has made frequent statements 10 the
District Attorneys office since the investigation
began aud admitted that he knew the expense ac~
counts had been padded
Mr. Fuller who is acting Chief clerk. made the
following comment the report yesterday:
The justices of this court are honorable gentle
men of trained judicial minds. The fact that am
permitted to remain in charge of the immense vol
ume Of business i'm this clerks office for one H.
stant not mention more than a week after this
report was handed them, speaks more strongly
in itself than any word ] could utter. This report
was given them 10 determine and adjudicate
upon. and they certainly capable or determln-
ing any issue of fact which may be presented 80
them There are certain degrees to which I would
not subject my personal dignity; that the last
item in this report is plain unvarnshed lie Of the
common or garden variety is all that care to say
the subject
The last item referred 20 by MI Fuller con-
tains the statements 10y Mr Mase.