New-York tribune., 1910-06-27
IS ANGRY AT DISMISSAL
Aitken Says Prendergast Made
Him Hide a $1,000 Theft.
TRIES TO CLEAR SKIRTS
Dismissed Official Discusses
Rents and Interest-Denies
He Is Incompetent.

ne is incompetent.
Peter Aitken, the Collector of City Reve-
nue. and Superintendent of Markets, who
was dismissed by Controller William A.
Prendergast on Saturday. made state
ment yesterday, in which he told of an
embezzlement in the city's Department of
Finance which had been covered rp for
two months. The money was taken by
one of Mr.. Athens clerks and amounted
to $4,000, he said. and the police are after
the man. Mr.. Prendergast. he said. did
not permit the matter to become public,
because he thought that It would hurt his
administration. Mr.. Aitken was compelled
to report each day that the clerk was "ab-
sent without leave" The clerk. he de-
cIared, aided one of the older collectors
and changed his accounts His failure to
appear one morning after Joy ride led
TO an investigation and the discovery.
He declared also that he considered he
had been dismissed to make way for a
friend OF the Controller who coveted his
salary of $4,000 year, and also because
he and the Controller have not been on
the best of terms. The taking of the
money by one of his clerks, he says, was
only seized on as an excuse. He said that
he had served three years under Mr. Grout
and four years under Mr. Metz and is more
competent to-day than ever, although he
was dismissed as incompetent" Charges
were preferred against him after he had
refused to resign, Mr.. Aitken said, and he
was found guilty, though given no oppor-
tunity to reply. He promises to make his
reply in a few days and give the details
of his disputes with the Controller and
details of the embezzlement OF the $4,000
Matter of Rental Values.
One dispute occurred recently, Mr.. Aitken
said, when he rescinded the contract of the
American Billposting Company to use
fences around lots owned by the city, be-
cause of non-payment of rent. The COM
pany's representative saw the Controller
Mr.. Aitken said, and offered to pay the
back rent and to pay rent as large as any
one else would offer in the future, but in
spite OF Mr.. Aitken's proposal that the
value Of the fences for advertising pur-
poses be investigated and g specific amount
charged. the Controller ordered him TO per-
init the American Billposting Company to
have the fences again, without such an IN
Vestigation.
AT another time the Ninth avenue rail-
road had run behind $4,000 in the payment
came with the money Mr. Aitken said in
terest should b paid on the money that
was overdue. The treasurer went TO the
Controller, said Mr. Aitken and Mr.
Prendergast asked if there was anything in
the franchise that provided for the pay
ment of interest on overdue percentages
Mr.. Aitken said that there were only gen.
erl provisions. Mr.. Prendergast said that
h. II
visions. and waived the interest Later, Mr.
Aitken said, he looked the franchise up and
found that the percentages should have
been paid quarterly, and demanded and Sc
cured interest for the part of the $4,000
to $500 There we're many other points on
which he and the Controller did not think
the same, and he maintained his views,
which, he said, angered the Controller and
led to his dismissal.
Douglas Mathewson, Deputy Controller
said last night that he was not altogether
acquainted with the facts regarding the re-
moval of Peter Aitken. He said, however,
that he knew all about the defalcation He
added that the theft was discovered some
time after the Controller had left the
Office, about six weeks ago. Mr.. Mathew
son added he Immediately had number of
expert accountants on the books.
Mr.. Mathewson said that the accountants
remained in the office until II o'clock and
until they were satisfied that they had dis
covered where the shortage was. Accom-
panied by Aftken, Mr.. Mathewson said he
went to Police Headquarters and reported
the matter, and the following day had
warrant sworn out for the clerks arrest
He said that, SO far as he knew the war
rant was still out, and that every effort
had been made to capture the man ac-
cused
AS to the statement of Mr. Aitken that
he was compelled to report each day that
the clerk was absent without leave" Mr.
Mathewson said that was true. He said
that under those circumstances a man does
not receive compensation, and It was
thought this would be the best course to
adopt until the affair was finally settled
He added that the work of the accountants
showed the theft had been going on since
1908, and that very little had been stolen
this year.
Controller Prendergast is expected back
in the city to-day and will doubtless speak
for himself.