New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-27


lister. whose wire was tapped by the
police in Mayor Mitchel's efforts to run
down what he believed was conspir-
acy against his administration, was on
tho stand before the Thompson com
mittoe again Yesterday.
Again he devoted most Of his time
to attacking the Mayor, and denied that
n fund of $4,000. or any other sum, had
been raised by the Catholic charitable
institutions for him while he was SUI
pervisor of Charities in the Gaynor
administration. As such, he had the
disbursing of public moneys to private
charitable institutions practically II
mis- hands
Mayor Mitchell replied TO DR.. Potter's
denial by issuing a copy Of a letter he
sent to Mayor Gaynor on November 80,
1910. summarizing Mr.. MitchePs inves-
tigation Of this phase OF the charities
question which agitated the town at
that time. Mayor Mitchell was then
Commissioner OF Accounts.
Says Mcmahon Collected.
Mayor Mitchell testified that the late
Monsignor Dennis J. Mcmahon, Super
visor Of Catholic Charities, collected
the fund.
DR.. Potter, who was on his feet most
Of the time he testified, dramatically
charged that the Mayor had slsndered
Monsignor Mcmahon and said that
there was not a scintilla Of evidence to
show he had ever received a cent from
Catholic institutions.
"No orr ever doubted that the late
Mayor Gaynor knew what evidence was
when he saw it," said DR.. Potter, "and
he patiently heard and rejected that
whole story"
DR.. Potter then had spread on The
records an affidavit DR.. Mcmahon made
while in Austria, at the time OF the
investigation. TO the
effect that the only money he ever gave
Or. Potter was 81 1000 TO cover the
actual cost Of some illustrated albums
sent to Europe. The monsignor swore
that while IL was intended by the Cath
olics to present an honorarium to Dr.
Potter, the plan was not carried out.
The letter Mayor Mitchell made pub
lie last night reads:
Says Check Was Found.
Hon William j. Gaynor,
Mayor.
"Sir:
"In the matter OF Dr.. Potter.
Early in June, 1910, Controller
Prendergast asked me to assist him in
an examination of the accounts and
methods of his bureau Of charitable in
stitutions. lie stated that his eXamin-
ers had discovered check for $500
dated January p, 1907, and signed by
Mission Of the Immaculate Virgin, and
payable 70 his order.
THE voucher accompanying this
check was Endorsed as follows:
This amt. was our share (Mission)
of a fund amt. q understand TO S.
600 which was to be raised by institu
tions to take the Rev. DR.. Potter out OF
his financial troubles. This check was
cashed and amount given 10 the Rev.
Father Fitzpatrick, who saw that it
reached the person for whom it was
intended
Signed OWN. A. c. DOUGHERTY"
The DR.. Potter named in the in
dorsement was evidently the man who
at that time and until recently had
been chief examiner Of the Bureau of
Charitable Institutions of the Depart
ment of Finance.
"iis duties as chief examiner con-
sisted Of auditing claims and accounts
of charitable institutions receiving city
funds and of preparing for the Board
of Estimate the appropriations to be
made to the separate institutions in
the annual budget.
Took Up Investigation.
Controller Prendergast advised me
at the same time that it had been re-
ported 10 him that Mallick J. Fitzpat-
rick, above named, had purchased with
the funds of his institution a judg-
ment which Austin, Nichols & Co,
grocers, had secured personally against
Dr. Potter. II was proposed at the
time by the Controller TO investigate
these two matters and any other mat
tiers which might relate 10 the man
agement OF the Bureau of Charitable
Institutions.
81 Immediately reported these cir
cumstances TO you, and in pursuance of
instructions received from you, pro-
ceeded at once to summon witnesses.
William A. {. Dougherty. bookkeep-
er OF the Mission of the Immaculate
Virgin, testified that he had made the
entry on the voucher as above quoted:
that he had done so under instructions
received from Father Fitzpatrick: and
that he had written on the voucher.
prior TO its delivery to Father Fitz-
patrick, that the payment was for 'spe-
eial counsel fees He explained that
he did not know what he meant bv the
words special counsel fees, unless it
was bluff When pressed for a more
definite answer, he replied that he
supposed il was TO avoid people know
ing it,
"The Rev. Father Malick J. Fitz-
patrick was subpGnaed, and testified
as follows:
1.-THE Rev. DR.. Mcmahon had notified
me that there was a movement on foot
among the institution people TO form a
fund to defray the expense of the
supervisor of charities and any other
expenses that might be incidental to it
lie also later on notified me that he
would like to make a present to d..
Potter. as he was in financial straits
at the time
Admitted Giving Cash.
"Dr. Fitzpatrick admitted that he de
lyered the cash realized from the
above mentioned check 10 Father Nc
Mahon. with the understanding that he
Father McMahonl was to turn IL over
70 DR.. Potter, the chief examiner of the
Bureau OF Charitable Institutions. Dr.
Potter, he stated. was in bankruptcy,
or something like that there was
general feeling that he was in financial