New-York tribune., 1911-12-28
POTTER TELLS OF CHECK
Never Got 1t, He Says, and Calls
"InsinuatiOnS" GroundIeSS.
REPLY TO Mr.. PRENDERGAST
President of Ambulance Board
Complains That He Got No
Chance to Explain.

pr d. c. Potter. president OF the amou-
,once board made a long reply yesterday
40 what he termed "the insinuations OF
controller Prendergast that he ODr. Potter
was guilty OF bad relationship with chari-
liable institutions" The insnuations were
eroundless. he said, and as for the SVV
check which the Controller showed 20
Navor Gaynor as evidence of wrongdolng
on the part Of DR.. Potter, the latter de-
clared he never knew Of its existence until
rnrre than three years after IT Was drawn
"One of Mr. Prendergasts temporary en-
Moves. to whom he gave letter as his
representative. by promising position IN
u,e Department OF Finance at better sal
sry than he was then getting, got book
kecper 90 60 into the safe OF corpora
,lon TO which the city pays no money ana
thus secured the $500 check, photographed
u and printed it in the papers, says Dr.
Potter. His statement continues as follows;
That check was not made to my order or
Endorsed by me and / never knew OF lts eA-
t.toDce unfl over three years after il was
drawn As matter OF fact the prlnteu laC
simile of 10 is as near as i ever came 10
seeing it Pinned TO that check was d mem
orau0um made by third party 10 tHe
eject that the proceeds of IL We're TO go
10 me Anybody could attach any klnd OF
paper 90 anybody's check and make such
'evidcuCC.
Dd Controller Prendergast send for me,
confront me with that check and demand
an explanation? He did not. He ran with
Il 10 the Mayor and announced ne had as
covered proof of my wronCdOing and de-
uauded that I be deprived Of my place in
the board of ambulance service Jl1Ollu-
uately for me / had been appointed on
verbal agreement before the authorization
ri frfT 10
Service CommiSs ion. The board of ambu-
lance service on learning OF the action or
the Controller withdrew my appointment
and the Commissioner OF Accounts was IN
structed 10 investigate the matter. Was |
then summoned to appear and give teSu-
mony on that check matter? | was not.
never have been given an opportunity even
20 this day.
Not content with his public insinuatons
he has addressed himself 10 individuals
He also went to the Bedford Council Of
the Knights Of Columbus. He first swore
them 10 secrecy then talked over three
hours. pouring out similar stories. He
said he had the checks, ne said he had
the proof lie waved the papers. But Mr.
PTenderSast In this matter has not made
an open charge against me. He has sought
10 damn me by throwing much dirt in the
evident hope that some Of fl would stick.
Referring to another feature Of the con-
troversy, Dr. Potter says:
I'm his lengthy statement Controller Prem
dergast lays great stress upon -'rtaln tes-
timony given by the Rev. Father Fitz-
patrick but he does not quote the thing
that is germane TO the question as 10
whether he had any knowledge Of my re-
CciyinC that money He does not publish
that under oath Father Fitzpatrick said he
lad never talked with me personally about
this matter or mentioned my financial cir
,umstauces, or had ever discussed in any
way. shape or manner. directly or indi-
rectly. the question Of this present TO me.
Afrs "a Ina gI 81 "a to e
patrick testified under oath that he never
handed the money TO me, but gave il 10
MonSiEnOr Mcmahon who. il seems. was
committee Of one TO receive the cOntribu-
ton.
At the time of these hearings MonsigrOr
Mcmahon was in Europe. According To the
press. 10 was at the time darllv hinted b.
Mr. Prendergast that Dr. McMahon had
lSft the country 10 avoid the necessity OF
Offering explanations The truth was. and
this Mr. Prendergast might easily have as
,ertaincd. that Monssnor Mcmahon had
zone abroad on sick leave some time before
Tho finding of the check