The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-20

geant, testified he went to Albany at
the request Of the Detectives Endow-
ment Association to look after the bill
creating a detective bureau cementing
into office all who had served five years
as detectives and giving them big pay
increases. Brown said there were two
bills pending and he saw Senator Lusk
and explained the measures.
"Lusk said we could not get anywhere
with two bills; we would have to gum
them together and make one" Brown
said. 1--WE did Detectives Gegan.
Burns and l called on Senator Lusk on
April and he told us he was going to
put the bill through for u.s."
Amy one else there?'
1--WE called in Detectives Conkling and
.Devaney."
Other witnesses have testified that
Conkling and Devaney carried $4,000 to
Albany.
Brown testified that he saw Devaney
and Conkling in the State Capitol, where
they told him money was needed to get
the bills through. They were with
Kleist. Brown substantiated the testi-
mony Of other witnesses who have testi-
fled that Devaney and Conkling were or
dered to stop talking money and leave
Albany or they would be arrested.
II told Senator Lusk what had hap
pened and told him we did not want his
name stained by any connection with
our BILL" Brown said.
Inspector Lahey made an investiga-
ton of the detectives fund on July 10.
he testified, as result of which three
detectives were denoted. The results
of his inquiry were turned over to
Deputy Commissioner Leach, who re-
turned yesterday from his vacation, and
= - kol H.
matter at once.
HirshfieId Tells of Promise.
In his letter to Senator Meyer. Com
missioner Hirshfield recalled a promise
given by the Meyer committee that no
attempt would be made to supersede
the Commissioner of Accounts investi-
cation.
mot only have you broken your
pledge. but Senator LusK mas used
extra ordinary procedure to set his case
before the public In favorable light.
Lusk came to my Office and agreed to
appear as a witness Wednesday fore
noon. Then he went to your office and
Immediately issued subp9nas for friend
ly detectives and had himself ques-
toned as witness in his own behalf
Senator Lusk was one of the prime
movers in the adoption of the resolu-
ton creating the committee to get some
thing on Mayor Hylan. He is majority
leader and selected the members of that
committee, including yourself. and
counsel. One of the counsel Is his law
partner, Samuel Berger, and the other
is his friend Leonard Wallstein, both
dependent for their fees on the kindness
of Mr.. Lusk, who as chairman pro TEN
of the Senate will pass upon all bills
of the committee.
I'm the interest of public decency and
fair play / demand that you cease this
travesty upon justice and abide by your
original statement. The people will not
be bunlted by any quasi superficial or
withdrawing investigation of an ex-
tremely serious matter which, besides
it's criminal aspect, would have involved
an additional expenditure of $750,OOo
annually In increased detectives salaries
had not Mayor Hylan vetoed that bill.
Under the circumstances l shall de-
cline to examine Senator Lusk at the
appointed hour tomorrow morning and
shall postpone his examination to q
future date. My investigation will con-
tinue and the result, IL warranted, will
be submitted to the Dstrict-Attorneys
Senator Meyer gave out this state
ment in answer to Hirshfield:
THE sole interest of this committee
at this time in the alleged slush fund
| Is to ascertain whether there is any
basis for the innuendo put out by Com
missioner Hirshfield to the effect that q
member of this committee was con
cerned. While Commissioner Hirshfield's
investigation is pending we shall moi
duplicate 1t. This committee would have
taken no testimony upon this subject al
| this time II Commissioner Hirshfield hat
not published an incomplete statement
In an attempt to reflect upon member
of this committee. The only witnesses
Sergeants Gegan and Brown. who could
testify as to the part played by Senator
Lusk In the passage of the bill were
not called by Commissioner Hirshfield
Whether or not this committee will take
any further action must depend upon
the thoroughness of Commissioners
Hirshfeld's investigation"