The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-08-28
Charges That Payment Was
for Putting Through a Claim
Against the state.
ECHO OF sKENE SCANDAL
Levy Says Twas a Proper Legal
Fee-ArnOld Spends Hours
With Whitman.


who has been In New York since last
placing before District Attorney Whitman
evidence on which. said Mr. Arnold. men
high in the councils Of Tammany Hall
would be indicted. met Mr. whitman yes-
terday afternoon.
The two men were together In Mr..
whitmans home all the afternoon. At the
conclusion Of the conference Judge Whit
man refused to say what they had dis
cusssd or what evidence Mr.. Arnold had
given him.
Mr.. Arnold. however. was willing to tell
something Of what had gone on. In the
course Of an unsatisfactory interview with
the newspaper men. during which Mr. Ar
mold frequently refused TO give details Of
his evidence. ne said that ne had presented
proof to Mr.. whitman that Aaron ].
Levy. majority leader In the Assembly. the
man who moved for the impeachment Of
Gov. Sulxer. had wrongfully accepted IS. 900,
Mr.. Levy said In Albany last night that
he had received the $1,000 referred to by
Mr.. Arnold. but that II was given to him
for his services a. lawyer and was a
legitimate fee fer legitimate services. Mr.
Levy also said that Judge Arnold's story
was not a true presentation and that
Judge Herrick had advised GOV. Sulker
tina, the transaction was perfectly iegiti-
mate.
Uasspperted AlleSatious.
Mr.. ArnOld's story TO the newspaper
men. which covered his talk with Mr.
Whitman. was more IN the nature OF D
statement taat certain allegations which
he made were true. than an attempt to
produce proof Of them. When questioned
on some points Of his st"iS he frequently
said. you'll have 20 ind that out for
and at the end OF the inter-
view his charges had not been backed up
by any tangible evidence.
Mr.. Arnold >aii ,ha' the transaction
rev ont Of the attempt Of Frederick
Skene. who was State Engineer under
he had spent In defending himself against
criminal charges.
Skene was charged In June. 1910. with
having added $1,000 10 bid for construct
ng state road In Nassau county. The
bid was made ny tho T.usseil Contracting
Company and II vas charged that Skene
had arranged to accept their raised bid
that he was to get $4,000 Of the Increase.
and the contracting company the other
5000 for permitting him to do II.
Skene was put on trial In September,
1910 on one Of seventeen indictments
" hich had been found against him. Will
am Travers Jerome defended him. and
he was acquitted. Tn, other indictments
we're not pressed. These statements are
facts.
Judge Arnold said that the 5000 which
Levy received grew out Of an attempt
made BY Skene to get the State to re-
mburse him for his costs In proving him
'elf innocent Of the charge. Skene. said
Arnold, had spent $1,000 on his trial
He tried to have the Legislature pay this
back to him.
The state Pays $4,000.
He tried In 1911 and 1912. but couldn't
induce the State TO pay him. Then he
vent to Assemblyman Levy. says Judge
Arnold. and the Assemblyman agreed to
,ave the money paid to skene. hut wanted
5000 for his influence.
skene felt that was too much. said
Arnold. and when he protested Levy said
,Ouiu NC h"Ou oit iIBht tUcy WOuiu
make the State pay Skene $4,000 for his
lain and Skene would get $1,000 and
levy 5000. The charge was put In the
uppiy bill and late In May or early In
une the bill was passed. The State paid
1000 to Skene. and Skene turned over
5000 to Levy.
Judge Arnold said that he had turned
ver to Mr.. whitman a Certified copy Of
check" He said this check was made
" A. j. Bernstein. New York lawyer.
nd WAS payable to Skene. Arnold thinks
was on the National Nassau Bank.
THIS check. said Arnold. was indorsed
" Skene over to Aaron ]. Levy, and
here was also this note:
This 10 In full payment OF services In |
everal actions In the Supreme Court In |
albany"
Judge Arnold added ct this point that
was his theory mat this check for 5000 !
'as skene's payment to Levy for illegal
imposes.
Newspaper Rec0vAs.
Newspaper clippings show that Aaron
. Levy appeared In the Supreme Court on
iarch .. 1919. as counsel for Skene and |
sked Justice Chester to Quash the sixteen |
indictments against him. At
Orney General Carmody told the court !
hat II was his belief that convictions
ould not be obtained and Justice Chester
ismissed the indictments.
Abraham J. Bernstein. an attorney Of
02 Broadway. where Aaron Ievy's once
located, lives at 1875 Van Buren, street,
|rookiyn. II was said at his home last
ight that II was his birthday and he had
one to Coney Island to celebrate.
District Attorney Whitman would not
iscuss last night the evidence" sub
lifted by Judge Arnold. He said that
Ir. Arnold would sse him again to-day,
nd had promised to bring several wit
esses for examination In the District
ttornsy's Offices.
Are the Arnold disclosures likely 70
feet your attitude toward the Tam
amy nomination." Judge Whitman was
liked. He replied. mot Mt ALL"
ALBANY. Aug. 27.---Assemblyman Aaron
Levy declared tonight that the Arnold
ory Of his receipt Of $500 from skene
not true Interpretation Of the trans
,tion. Levy stated that he tried 70 Get
70 Attorney General TO dismiss seventeen
dictments against Skene for acts com.
lifted while he was State Engineer
tier Skens had been tried upon one
the indictments and there was q fall
70 Of conviction.