New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-05
FOSD|CK CHARGES GRAFT
Reports Transaction in Queens
Sewer Bureau to Mayor.
MATHEW J. GOLDNER NAMED
Alleged to Have Received Cheek
for $3.50 in 1905 Which
City Never Got.

In his investigation of the administration
of the Borough of Queens. past and pres
ent Commissioner of Accounts FoSdlCk had
his attention Tcaled to an apparent msap-
preparation of $3.50 of city money in the
Queens Sewer Department in 1905. He re
ported it to the Mayor. who said he would
send the report and the testimony to the
District Attorney If Queens for actiOn-l
The report says:
On September 25 1905, Gustaye X:
Mathews president of the Mathews Really
and Construction Company, made appHcds
ton to the Sewer Bureau of the Borough y.
Queens for a permit to connect twenty
houses which were being erected by MS
company on the north side of BleecKef
street near Cypress avenue, with the eX
listing sewer. This application was made in
accordance with the sections OF the ordl-
nances which prescribe the manner III
which such connections shall be made
Mr.. Mathews testified under oath tnat
al the time he made application for the
permit in question he handed to Mathew
j. Goldner, Superintendent of Sewers
check for $3.50 in accordance with Section
1853 of the ordinances, which hXeS the
amount to be charged by the Borough
Presidents office for making such connec-
lions. According to Mr.. MatheWss teStl-
mony the check for $3.50 was made payable
to himself at the request of Mr. Goldner
and indorsed by himself before pelng
handed TO the superintendent A care1uI
Borough President and the Chamberlain re-
veals the fact that this amount never
reached the city treasury
The check in question, which was drawn
on the Peoples Bank of Brooklyn was
offered in evidence. 1t bears the indorSe.
ment of G.. y. Mathews and ne recel5t
stamp of the Queens County branch or
the Corn Exchange Bank dated Septem-
Der % 1905. in which latter bank Mr. Gold
ner kept his private account The Initials,
M. ]. c." apparently In the handwriting
of Mr. Goldner. are on the upper corner OF
the check over Mr.. Mathews's indorse-
ment.
The officials of the Corn Exchange Bank
were subpCenaed and testified under oath
The paying teller, George MilIar 1den-
tilted the check as one that s.rt was
Der %. 1906. The fact that it bore
no Endorsement other than that of G. y;
Mathews, with whom Mr. Millar IS not
acquainted seemed to him to indicate
either that Goldner had cashed the check
through the identification of a dummy or
that, through some oversight on his part,
quired when Mr.. Goldner presented the
check
ner for September 2S 1905. the date on
which the check was cashed- This slip
was in Mr.. Goidner's own handwriting. 1T 1t
showed a deposit of the even sum of $50
in cash
Mr.. Gdfdner saio last night that ne did
not know anything ABOUT Ile ITdHsdCtlOi
referred to by Commissioner Fosdick. My
books don't show anything of that kind"
he declared.
For twenty years. until President Gresser
became the head of the government in
Queens. Mr.. Go1dner held public office. He
has been under sheriff. Sheriff. City Clerk
of Long Island City, head Of the Sewer
Bureau under President Cassidy. and of
the Bureau OF Public Buildings and Offices
under President Bermel.
Commissioner Fcsdick spent part of
yesterday in preparing a report on another
phase of the Queens situation with which
President Gresser is connected. This report
will be hanued in to-day Another report
later will be for the purpose of adding fur
Their testimony regarding the charges that
the Borough President ordered the collec-
ton of campaign contributions.