New-York tribune., 1921-11-23
Patrolman SaysHeC Collect
ed Sum and Gave 1t to
Saloon Man Who Prom
ised Them Promotions
Man With 'SP1ll"
Goes to Ireland
Complaint of Failure To
Be Made S Serge ants
Brings Board Inquiry

Eighteen patrolman paid $1,000 each
in the belief that they would be sure
of promotion to the rank of sergeant
on the police force in the civil service
examinations held August last, ac-
cording to the story told yesterday
by Patrolman Joseph Twomey, at
pached to the East 136th Street station,
as witness at an investigation con-
Quoted by David Hirshfeld, Commits
sioner Of Accounts.
Patrolman Twomey testified that he
collected the money from his brother
patrolmen and paid it to a saloon
keeper, known to him as Michael J.
Burke, who had saloon at 123d
Street and Lexington Avenue, on the
strength of Burke's promise that
through his acquaintance with mem
bcrs of the Civil Service Commission
he would have any patrolman who
came up with 81, 800 placed among the
first 100 on the eligible list for SER
geant. Twomey said he had learned
recently that Burke had gone to Ire
land never to RETURN" and that he
became worried about the money his
friends had intrusted to him and he
in turn had intrusted to Burke, and
decided to make a complaint to the
Civil Service Commission.
Commissioner Hirshfield and former
Senator Abram Kaplan, president of
the Civil Service Commission, both an
nounced at the hearing that every eff
Tort would be made to run down pos
11r / I.
examination papers which might lead
to possible corruption on the part of
some one connected with the Civil
Service Commission. Burke. accord
ing to some of his acquaintances, was
known to be a political power in his
district
Examination Was Guarded
Commissioner Kaplan said last night
tlon had been taken to guard the civil
service examinations.
PatrOlman Twomey, in his testi-
mony, said that Burke told him he was
personally acquainted with Charles I.
Stengle, secretary of the Civil Service
Commission; Patrick Ryan, finger
print expert of the commission; Miss
Barbara Widder, a civil service exam
iner, and Fred II. Menke, an attendant
in the medical and physical bureau of
the commission. 1t was through these
acquaintance, Twomey said. thar
Burke told him he would make the pa
trolmen sergeants.
The investigation was begun bv
Commits sioner Hirshfield at the request
Of Mayor Hylan and on complaint of
Secretary Stengle. Mr.. Stengle said
that Twomey had called on Mr.. Ryan,
the finger print expert, and demanded
to know when he and the other patrol.
men who had paid over the money were
going to be made sergeants Mr.. RYAN
took the matter to Mr.. Stengle, who
thereupon complained personally to the
Mayor of the accusations made by Pa
trolman Twomey
Iwomey was reluctant witness
missioner Hirshfeld yesterday. At
first he denied he ever had made anv
such charges to Mr.. Stengle, or that he
knew Burke or ever had paid anv
money to him. Commissioner Hirsh-
held adjourned the hearing for an hour
to permit Twomey to think over the
matter. Twomey returned with mis-
counsel, former Assemblyman Freder-
lex l.. Hackenburg. Mr.. Hackenburp
asked for an adjournment of the ex.
animation to consult with his client.
inns was refused. Commissioners
Hlrshfeld declared that Twomey would
have to tell the story. When Hacken-
burg started to make further obiec-
tons Commissioner Hirshfeld orderei
hlm removed from the room by na-
trolman. ="
Promised Clean Breast
Iwomey then took off his coat and
Sala ne was going to make a clean
breast of it and tell the truth CON
cerning the transaction. The testimony
from this point follows:
Il will come clean; l will tell YOU
the whole story from the beginning. !"
said Twomey. "On August ii | met
Mnise Burke through man named White.
White came to my house, 329 East
Elghty-thlrd Street, and told me what
influence Burke had. 1t sounded so
good to ME that I thought I would
interest my friends, and l did. | spoke
to them"
nat was your conversation with
Continued on page four)
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