The New York herald., 1921-06-27
MEYER CITY inquiry
USED AN EX-CONVICT
O'MALLEY CHARGES
Says Man With Criminal
Record in Four States Had
Important Job.
PLANT rs SUSPECTED
Asserts He Got Employee
Highly Recommended;
Dismissed Him Later.
FEARS WORK OF ENEMIES
Besides Market Department,
Accused Delved Into Police
Records Here.
PLANT rs SUSPECTED
FEARS WORK OF ENEMIES

Edwin ]. O'Malley. Commissioner of
the Department of Markets, now un-
der investigation by the Meyer legis-
Native committee, protested yesterday
to Senator Schuyler M. Meyer that a
man with a criminal record in four
States and involved in ten criminal
cases over money affairs had been en-
ployed by the committee to inquire
into the affairs Of city departments
under fire.
The committee has shown "out-
rageous disregard" for city employees
who are charged with responsibility in
handling public funds by turning
loose" a man with such a record and
giving TO him the authority of the
State to search through city offices. the
Commissioner said. O'Malley's depart
ment is being scrutinized by the ex-
aminers with the greatest care. and
this protest is his first answer to at
tacks made on him.
Senator Meyer in answer said that
Commissioner O'Malley's charge was
In part true, but explained that the
man against whom complaint wa.
made had been employed merely as a
subpoena server. He first learned of
the suspects record three days ago
the Senator said, called upon him for
explanation and when the man ad-
mitted having bcen convicted of shop
lifting he was dismissed from the com
mittee's employ. Senator Meyer an
nounced that the employee dismissed
was Karl Sohr, Hungarian, 81 years
OF age. Meyer suspects a plant" was
laid for the committee.
Meyer in Search for Plot.
The Senator directed immediately tb. A.,
an investigation be made TO determ,ne
now Sohr came to be EMPLOYED nv the
committee. The Senator learned that
Sohr went to member Of the commit
Tee bearing the strong Endorsement Of the
head detective in a big department store
That was sufficient to assure EMPLOY
ment as a process server at s25 a weel.
and he held the Job for several weeks
Sohr was questioned at the time of his
employment. Meyer said. and there was
no intimation of his having a record
that untitled him for work with a COM
mittee hunting municipal waste and
crime
What the committee now seeks "a
learn Is whether the person who gave the
high recommendation knew about the
record and whether Sohr was sent 10
the committee with the express purpose
of embarra ssing the investigators.
Senator Meyer said that the member
Of the committee to whom the recon-
mendation was sent accepted II In good
faith and did not think of going back of
II for such a relatively small matter.
The committee will endeavor TO learn
whether the employers knew that their
head detective sent Sohr 10 the commit
tee.
Letter Sent by O'Malley.
In his letter to Senator Meyer. Com
missioner O'Malley wrote that two ex-
ominers from the committee appeared at
his office and asked for a room where
they could examine records.
Shortly afterward one examiner con-
Quoted himself In manner which
aroused my suspicion as to the safety of
having him In contact with any en-
ployees of the department or having ac-
cess to rooms where large sums OF
money were being handled in connec-
ton with license fees. for the safety
of which I am responsible" the Commits
sioner stated. During the period Of this
mans stay In the office some $50, 900
was taken in and he had access to the
room where the money was kept.
MY inquiries regarding this man have
brought to light an astounding situa-
ton. You have wantonly turned loose in
my department. and teopardized me per-
sonally with respect to funds In my Gus
tody, n man with a record OF activities
involving felonles extending over four
States. He has been the defendant IN
criminal proceedings Involving money on
at least ten occasions. His prison record
extends back to March. 1913.
"If the committee Is seeking 10 revise
the charter. that Is not to be accom-
plished by sending out criminals as in
vestigators," O'Maliey continued. Every
thing In his department is open to in
spection," he added. but inspection
! should be made by men and women pos
sessing a reasonable degree Of honesty,
rot by jailbirds who are not even clti-
zens." the Commissioner protested. He
said further:
"If you did not know OF this mans
criminal record. you and your committee
have shown an outrageous disregard OF
| al. nf
attach itself to the selection OF your
| aides. No man should be empowered
with the tremendous powers OF your
committee who himself has not been
properly accredited to you or investi-
gated.
Dug Into Police Records Too.
IL have since learned that this par
| ticular individual was given access 10
the records In the Police Department.
Would IT strike you as a serious or a