New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-19
NOW A FORGERY CHARGE
Mayor Takes Prompt Action on
New Queens Disclosure.
BRIBERY ATTEMPT FAILS
Fosdick Reports That SIS Re
ceipts for Postage Stamps
Were Raised to $50.

Postage stamp accounts form the basis
of the latest alleged irregularity in the Of
flee of the Borough President of Queens
unearthed by Commissioner of Accounts
Fosdick. From the report it would appear
that receipts for stamps were forged by
changing s. to $50 and that tWenty-one of
such receipts were used in the monthly ex-
pense account Of John NJ Cragen, former
~ private secretary to President Gresser,
but now municipal court justice by cleo
ton on the Independence League ticket last
fall.
The report of Commissioner Fosdick was
sent by Mayor Gaynor last night to Dis
trict Attorney Dewitt with a personal let
ter. in which he says:
MAY I ask that this matter be laid before
the grand jury at once? have heretofore
informed YOU that the Attorney General
has called on me and desires to intervene
in the county Of Queens IN these criminal
matters against public officials unless you
are entirely confident that you can cause
their indictment and conviction It Is 70
little purpose that these officials derelic-
tions are found out and exposed by the
present city government unless the parCes
are prosecuted vigorously and convicted.
If any evidence be lacking ii will no doubt
be found by due diligence
The attention of Commissioner Fosdick
was called to the forged receipts sooner
than it might otherwise have been by an
attempt on the part Of some one to bride
clerk IN Mr.. Fosdick's office TO get GER
tain receipts attached to city vouchers In
the possession of the Commissioner of Ac-
counts. Examination showed that the
vouchers were attached to monthly ex-
pense accounts of Mr.. Cragen, which were
certified by David ". Murphy, bookkeePer
and Borough President Gresser
In common with many public offices.
postage stamps for the Borough President
of Queens are botght out of $500 petty
cash fund, which is replenished by tHe
Controller on receipt of vouchers to indi-
cate that it has been expended. In 1908
and 1909 this fund was in charge of Mr.
Cragen. The report says:
It seems that it has been the custom for
some years in the Borough Presidents Of
fee to purchase stamps in s. lots. A close
examination of the poStmasters receipts
attached to the vouchers above mentioned
shows that beginning with January. 1893.
and extending through the entire year,
series of forgeries were perpetrated where
nv fTyen+v-one REGENTS for the purchase of
stamps in s. lots were subsequently altered
to $50 the latter amounts being paid by
the Controllers office upon the certihcatlon
of Mr. Crsgen These forgeries were
proved not only by physical examina ton
Of the receipts themselves. but by the testi-
monv of Miss Mathilde Ryan. the stamp
clerk in the postoffice at Long Island City,
who identified her handwriting on the re-
ceipts and stated positively that the 50
amounts had been changed to $50 after her
initial had been attached
Miss Ryan wrote in each case $50 DC
stamps. $500" The forgery consisted of
the insertion of an extra cipher after the
go and after the mineral IS. The inser-
tons were made for the most part in
differently shaded ink and in so clumsy
fashion that Mr.. Fosdick expresses surprise
that they passed scrutiny in the Control
lers office.
When Justice Cragen was placed under
oath he acknowledged that he had certi-
fed the twenty-one payments of $50 each
as part of his own expense account.
He could not explain says the report
why the expenditure for stamps had in
creased so materially in the year 1909
Aside from stating that his clerk or office
boy had actually purchased the stamps and
had always made up the expense vouchers
for him to sign and that he had never
taken the trouble TO look over their details
except in cursory manner, he was I'M
able to give any explanation whatever Of
the forgertes. although he readily ad-
nitted that they were evident"