The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-03-23
Chief of Special Sessions Staff
Held in Bail for Larceny
of 1898.
is MURPHYS PROTEGE.
Jerome Digs Up Alleged Loan
and Check Cashing Bureau,
With Fines Account.

Charles W. Culkin, Chief Clerk OF the
Court OF Special Sessions, was arrested
in the Criminal Courts Building this
afternoon charged with grand larceny.
Distrlct-Attorney Jerome accuses Culkn
OF the theft OF 81, 1888, the amount OF fines
collected In the court from March to
90, this year.
The arrest Of Culkin created sensa-
tlon, and the Tombs Court was soon
packed With spectators when he was ar.
raIgned for pleading. culkln Is Tam
many Hall leader OF the Fifth Assembly
District and one OF the bes,-known
younger Democratic politicians OF the
city. He was protege OF Charles F.
Murphy who was responsible, friends
declare. for his court appointment.
Mase Revealed Scandal.
The arrest o, Culkin is the outgrowth
OF the conviction OF Herbert y. Mlse
a former clerk OF Special Sessions who
was found guilty last Friday before
Judge Malone OF doctorng papers in a
case SO that It would appear on the
records that the charges had been dis
missed
That 1. has been general practice In
the office Of Special Sessions to cash ard
certified checks out o. the cash fine
funds was the evidence given before the
Grand Jury to-day. 1t was testified
that police CAPTAINS, saloon-keepers
ward heelers and almost any one could
find ready cash In exchange for checks
In this court Office.
Detectives Fitzsimmons and Raynes
OF Jerome's STAFF, arrested Culkin In
his office. He had just left the Grand
Jury room, where for ninety minutes
he was cross.examined about the funds
OF the court. He swore that Deputy
Chief Clerk William NJ. Fuller, Je-
rome favorite. was In charge OF the
fines and accounts OF the Office. Fuller
was then examined.
1t developed that the moneys OF
Special Sessions are kept at the Citi-
zens' Central National Bank aud that
it was required by law to turn over all
cash on hand to the City Chamberlain
at the end OF each month.
Assistant Distrlct-Attorney Murphy
visited the bank and looked over the
books.
Culhin's personal bank account Is a
the Gansevoort Bank, and the District
Attorneys Office sent men hurriedly t,
look into his deposits.
Loan" to Police Captain.
That Culkin had ordered Deputy Fil
Ter to make out a $3.50 check in favor o.
police captain and that the none,
came out OF the cash fine fund was N,
testimony offered TO the Grand Jury II
the course OF the investigation. The s25
was paid more than year ago, and
according to witnesses, the loan" ha!
never been made good.
Following the hearing District.Attor
ney Jerome said that the police cap
| tain refererd to as having borrowed s?5
from CulkIn was Cottrell. OF the Leon
ard street station. This Is a matte
OF record" Mr.. Jerome said, land Sc,
no improperly In divulging the identity
OF Culkins borrower"
The Commissioners OF Accounts ofFc,
J was notified by Mr., Jerome and an I'm
mediate examination Of bank accounts
books and other papers wac begun.
The first intlmation that trouble wa
brewing In the department OF whicl
Culkin ls chief came to-day when Nj
jerome appeared before Justices Dim
sted. 'Deull and Hoyt in Special SEES
s!ons, and exhibited a 1900 chez
which, he declared. had been cashe,
with city funds, He said In open cour
Tint an investigation was under wa
and that unusual disclosures had beo
| made.
Culkin was represented by former A.
sistant District-AttOrney McClellant
Magistrate Crane then adjourned tn
hearing until March 20 and held the prls
oner In sl.500 bail, which was furnishe
by Sherlr Tom Foley.
col. McClelland said. after his ellen
had been admitted 10 hail, that tn
funds nov missing were collected b
Deputy Clerk Fuller IN tho absence O
lCuikin, who went TO Palm Beach. Fla
rsb. !. and returned only last week.