New-York tribune., 1921-12-01
lwomey, Under
Pressure, Tells
OF Police Graft
Witness at Inquiry Bcgs
Hirshfield to s'Settie the
Whole Thing and Not to
Torture and Frighten Him
Patrolmen Deny Charge
Accuser Declares He Is
Sane While Describing
Promotion Contributions

Joseph Twomey, the policeman who
gave to David Hirshfeld, Commits
sioner Of Accounts, the information
from eighteen patrolmen and had
given it to saloon keeper named
Burke upon assurances from Burke
that he could get the policemen pro-
noted to sergeants at the civil service
examinations last August, spent an un-
comfortable hour on the witness stand,
yesterday, at the resumption of the
investigation by Commissioner Hirsh-
field.
Three of the patrolmen who,
Twomey said, had paid him $780,
preceded him on the witness stand and
denied that they had paid any money
to Twomcy. When Twomey came to
testify he showed a loss of memory
and could not be certain that he had
collected money from tho policemen,
though he insisted that he "believed"
he had and turned it all over to
Burke, who afterwards went to Ire
land. Threatened with prosecution for
perjury by Commissioner Hirshfield,
Twomey finally said that he did get the
money.
Commissioner Hirshf1eld a SIX d
Twomey if anybody had threatened
him.
Witness Begs for Mercy
what good would that do?" replied
Twomey. "They couldn't do any more
to me me than they. have already DONE"
The witness admitted, however, that
he had not been handled roughly by
anyone. He begged Commissioner
Hirshiield to "settle the whole thing"
and not torture and frighten him.
Il am inclined to turn you over to
the District Attorney and let you get
what is coming to you for the way you
have testified" threatened the Com
missioner.
"All right" said Twomey, "I don't
care what becomes of myself, but
don't want to harm anybody else"
Iwomey had made out slips, he said,
at the time he collected the money
from the policemen, on which he put
the mans name, the number of his
shield and the index number and seat
number at the civil service examina-
ton. Commissioner Hirshfield had
these slips. When ordered to identity
the individual policeman from the slips,
and asked whether he got the informa-
ton and money from each one, Twomey
hedged for long time, saying he
couldn't be sure, but believed he did.
why don't you know" asked Com
missioner Hirshfield.
II have met some of these men
whose slips you have produced" replied
the witness, "and they tell me / am
crazy"
Are you crazy?" asked the Com
missioner.
''I don't think so," said Twomey.
"Are you trying to play the Tighe
game and go to the hospital and claim
you are crazy?" asked the Commits
sioner.
Pm not trying to play any game"
Twomey replied.
Admits Collecting Money
The witness appeared nervous and
worried as he was pressed for direct
answers to the questions. 1t was at
the close of an hours examination
that he finally admitted directly that he
had collected the $1,000 from each of
the patrolmen named on his slips,
Michael O'Keefe, of 1923 Park Ave
nue, the Bronx, attached to the 3sth
Precinct, one of the patrolmen men
toned by Twomey, denied that he paid
any money. A handbook belonging to
OKeefe was introduced in evidence
when showed that on August 3. 1921,
O'keefe had drawn 1900 from the
bank. The civil service examinations
for sergeant were held on August g.
O'Keefe produced note. dated August
13, 1921, made by J. 7. Wickes, for ST.
o00 payable twelve months after date
O'Keefe said that he had lent the
money to Wickes for building propo-
sition.
Commissioner Hirshield asked the
witness if he was sure the note was
drawn on August 49, When O'Keefe
replied that it was, the Commissioner
wanted to know if O'Keefe knew the
law in regard to perjury. The witness
said he did, but was not inclined to
change his testimony.
Benjamin F. Foster, of 261 Madison
Street, Brooklyn, and George Merz. of
1770 Grand Concourse, the Bronx, two
other policemen originally mentioned
by Twomey as having paid him $1,50o
each, were called as witnesses and de-