New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-25
147 Pieces i'm Detectives
Present to Backer of
Higher Pay Bill, Says
Sergeant ]. ]. Gegan
Purchase Made
I'm Maiden Lane
Bought With Endowment
Dinner Surplus, Ex-
planation of Mystery

TIE mystery of the chest of silver
ahich Mrs. Clayton r. Lusk received
ss,er her husband had introduced in
The State Senate a bill to give detec-
tves permanent rank was solved last
risat by statement given out by the
law firm of Rorke & Kane, counsel for
Detective Sergeant James J.. Gegan.
There were lat pieces and silver
service. The cost was $1,031 and the
purchase was made from surplus
which the Detectives Endowment AS
sociation had remaining after paying
.he expenses Of the annual dinner. The
silver was bought in Maiden Lane and
not at Titfany's. The statement of the
attorneys follows:
an view of the fact that a number
sf misleading statements have recently
appeared in the public press regarding
the silverware presented by the De-
tectiyes Endowment Association to
Mrs. Clayton r. Lusk, we believe it is
necessary TO make a statement con-
cerring it in order that there may be
no misapprehension.
"Mrs. Edwin C. Burns, wife Of the
president Of the association, who at
one time was employed in Maiden Lane
and was engaged in the buying and
selling Of silverware, got in touch with
Albert Disbrow. of Is Maiden Lane.
Mr.. Disbrow, in turn, communicated
with the Alvin Silver Company, of 20
Maiden Lane.
Silver Gift Elaborate
Mrs. Burns selected the silverware
ard a chest. There were about lat
pieces, consisting of knives, forks,
spoons etc, and silver service. The
cost of the silverware and the chest
was sl,G31. 1t was purchased by Mr..
and Mrs. Burns, Charles j. Newman
and Sergeant James j. Gegan, &ssd pay
ment for the silver was made from the
surplus remaining from the amount
subscribed for the annual dinner of the
association, which was held on June 8,
1921, at which more than 1000 men
were present.
THE day following, June 10, the
ehest OF sllyerware was presented to
Mrs. Lusk at the Murray Hill Hotel.
The presentation was made by Edwin
Burns, president of the association;
Mrs. Burns, Philip Hoerter, financial
secretary of the association, and Ser
geant James J. Gegan."
David Hirshfeld. Commissioner of
Accounts, who made the discovery that
MIS- Lusk had received a present of
silver frnY-, bo -
hoped to finish that phase of the in
guiry promptly, before he knew that
Gegans attorneys intended to make the
details Of the presentation public. The
program was to call Gegan as wit
ness to-day.
Sensation Is Promised
Hirshfeld, who has been at work for
nearly two weeks trying to develop
facts in connection with the auge
slush fund raised by the detectives to
loooy their bill through at Albany,
Shen ne has finished with the silver
service phase of the investigation will
take up new angle of the case.
The new line, which HirshfieId
says Will be more sensational than any
which has as yet developed, like the
silver service, is described as leading
INTO the joint legislative graft investi-
eating committee Of which Senator
Lusk is member and Senator Schuy-
Ter M. Meyer chairman.
10 date Hirshfeld says he has been
handicapped by the unwillingness Of
certain detectives called on as wit
ssesses to tell all they know. 1t is now
declared that the testimony of at least
one of the men who gathered the slush
iund for the Lusk bill will be sub
mltted to the District Attorney of New
York County to determine if there Is
ground for prosecution for perjury.
!. The attitude of some of the detec-
yves on the witness stand has given
rise to the belief that they have reason
70 Ieel confident that nothing serious
VIII happen to them. But, beginning
Today, the Commissioner of Accounts
wishes 1T to be understood that he will
Continued or next paee)