New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-18
Former er-Sheriff Johnson,
Named by Police Captain
Reith, Denounces Him
and Waldo.
TO GO ON RECORD TO-DAY
Secretary of State Engineer
Also in Document-Mayor At.
tacks Buckner's Probing
Method-Curran Seeks
100000 Damages.


The $4,000 graft affidavit of police
captain, which will be subject OF In
quiry before the aldermanic committee
to-day, when Police Commissioners
Waldo will be called as witnes
again at the resumption OF the hear
ings in the City Hall. was made b.
Police Captain John T. Reith, OF tho
Eacdougal street station, It developed
yesterday. Mr.. Waldo is expected Ia
produce the original affidavit under
subpoena by the committee at the hear
Ing to-day, and Emory r. Duckner.
counsel for the committee, said last
night that he would see that II got into
the record Of the investigation.
Commissioner Waldo casually men
toned that he had the affidavit when
he was witness before the commit
tee at the last session. The affidavit
refers to events alleged to have oc-
Cured four years ago, when George
Mcclellan was Mayor and General
Theodore A. Bingham was Police Com
missioner.
Reith, at that time lieutenant
sworc in the affidavit that he was tod
by certain politicians, whom he names.
that he would have 10 psy $4,000 10
get his promotion 10 a captaincy and,
falling TO furnish the money, he was
passed over in the Civil Service list.
He was appointed captain BY Com
missioner Waldo on May %, 1911. few
days after the present Commissioner
took Office, from batch Of lieutenants
WHO were advanced to the rank OF
captain on their civil service records
Ut that time
The men referred 10 In the AFFIDAVIT
BY Reith are said to be Alfred j. john
son, former under sheriff, and
Thomas 0. Hassett, a former secretary
Of the Board Of Water Supply, who is
now private secretary TO state En-
gineer John A. Bensel.
Threatens Libel Suit.
Mr.. johnson and Mr.. lIassett both
made emphatic deDials Of any Illicit
connection with the former police lieu
tenant following the publication Of the
purport Of the affidavit in an evening
pape~ Yesterday. Mr.. Johnson threat
enad a libel suit against the police cap
tain.
According TO the printed summary Of
the affidavit yesterday, Reith charges
that he went 20 the Office of Under
Sheriff AT Johnson. at No. 300 Broad
way. and there discussed with him the
possibilities Of his being promoted from
lieutenant to captain. Reith is said 10
have sworn that he was taken by John
son to the office Of the secretary OF the
Board OF Water Supply, in the same
building. and that Hassett esked him a
lot OF questions as TO how long he had
been on the force and about his gen
eral experience.
A week later, II 10 said, Reith was
sent for and called at the residence Of
that johnson Informed him that the
people having the power to promots
him wanted $4,000. Reith is said 70
swear that shortly after that he laid
General Bingham, who. he said, was
greatly excited 10 learn Of IL. Reith
refused 10 pay any money, according
to the summary OF the AFFIDAVIT, ard
was passed on the civil service list
when the appointments were made.
Those who were familiar with the
regime at Police Headquarters at that
time said yesterday that General
Bingham had sufficient reason OF
his own TO pass Reith on the list, ire
spectiye Of his experience with the
$4,000 incident.
Affidavit to Be Probed.
Reith is said to have kept his ex-
perience to himself. for unexplained
reasons, until he became q captain,
and then 10 have laid the alleged facts
before Commissioner Waldo out q
gratitude for his promotion and .
assist the Commissioner TO Get -
rank and file Of the force to believe
that the days Of paying for promo
tions were over How Reith came To
make the affidavit will be subject OF
inquiry by the aldermanic committee.
MIR. Buckner expects TO call Captain
Reith and those whom he mentions
in the affidavit as witnesses
When Mr.. Johnson was seen at mis-
home, at No. 5l5 Park avenue, yes
terday he issued the following state
ment in regard TO the Reith AFFIDAVIT:
I never saw Reith but a few times In
my life and never OF my own seeking
My recollection OF him is that he came
70 see me. using the name OF some one /
knew, asking me 10 help him TO be pro-
NOTED IN the Police Department. lie
seemed 10 be afraid tha. his record WAS
against him and wanted 10 know II there
was not some one who could have him
promoted for the payment Of $4,000 or
SIS, 900. told him straight OF that he
WAS a fool 10 think tina, money could
help him, because no one who had ary-
real influence with Commissioner Ring
ham would take dollar of dirty r,ouoY
He came 70 see me several times sftor
ward bagytnQ me 70 holm Rim, ,,us:,r