New-York tribune., 1921-11-24
PoliceEnnployee
Suspended in
Graft Inquiry
Action Taken Against Pat
rick Ryan, Fingerprint
) Expert, at Investigation of
Civil Service Board
Bank Accounts Examined
White Testifies Burke Had
Influence; Tells of Gift
Of a Case of Whisky

Patrick Ryan, finger-print expert for
tbs Municipal Civil Service Commits
sion, was suspended last night by Com
missioner of Accounts David Hirshfield,
following Ryan's testimony at the re-
sumption of the hearing in regard to
the payment by patroImen of S26,50o
for the alleged purpose Of obtaining
preference in the civil service examina-
ton for promotion from patrolman to
sergeant. William brennan, Civil
Service Commissioner, was directed to
formulate charges against Ryan. a
heasing en- which was set for No
venaber %.
Ryan was one of the employees of the
Civil Service Commission mentioned in
the testimony OF Patrolnan Joseuh
Twomey at Tuesdays hearing, through
whom the eighteen policemen who put
up s1.5oo were led TO believe they
would receive promotion. Twomey col
lected the money rom the policemen
ani turned 1t over to a saioonkeeuer
named Burke, he said, who was sun
posed to use his influence with RYAN
and other employees Nf the commission.
Burke later went to Ireland
Ryan was examined in regard to his
bank accounts. He Produced four saw
ing bank books. and deposit book on
the Corn Exchange Bank, Washington
branch. He also produced the kew to
the house which he purchased last
September Commissioner Hirshfield
called Ryan,s attention to a deposit OF
$500, made last July in the Corn Ex-
same bank made August 13 last of
$500.
Borrowed $4,000
Ryan testified that the Sc, 500 deposit
represented Withdrawals from savings
banks and that the $500 deposit rep
resented in part payment of a loan of
$1,000 which he obtained from the Corn
Exchange Bank some time previous to
July last. Questioned further by the
commissioner, Ryan testified that the
$4,000 ne borrowed he loaned to his
wife. he said he did not know what she
did with the money, but she had told
him she wanted to lend it to q friend
He insisted on cross-examination that
he had not pressed his wife for infor-
nation concerning this loan. He said
that ne had given her the money in
cash and she had returned it in cash.
Ryan's salary as hnger-prlnt expert
Is S2,OS6. Commissioner Hirshfield
asked Ryan how much he was worth.
end the witness replied that if all his
possessions were turned into cash, in
Guiding his hnger-print patents, he
would be worth from $50 900 to $780,
00o
George Henry White, of 116 Third
Street, Long Island City, who Twomey
testified introduced him to Burke and
was with the latter when Twomey
turned over the see, 500, was another
witness examined at yesterdays hear
ing. White said that he was not en-
ployed at present, but had been in the
saloon business in Long Island Cit un-
ti last June. He testified that he had
known Michael Burke, the Manhattan
saloonkeeper, for more than ten years,
and had known of his influence with
evil service officials for more than five
years. He testified that he introduced
rstroiman Twomey to Burke, but de-
niea ne had received any of the money
Which Twomey turned over to Burke
He admitted, however that Burke had
leaned him S3O0.
1ook Men before Board
White told of several men who want
% to become policemen whom he had
mken to Burke, and the latter, he said.
mad taken them down to the Civil Serv-
zee Commission for examination. In
sne case OF a man named James N.
armstrong, the physical test showed
shat he was six pounds under weight.
aId White said Burke told Armstrong
% 60 home and drink water and eat
bananas and come back again.
Several days later White again met
burke, and the latter told him to re-
u mlnd ARM strong that his (Burke'sl eff
iol.s iul, 70 have Armstrong pass the phys
Msa examination had cost him a case
q u whisky, which, according to White.
burke sent down to the Civil Service
commission. White said he told Arm
whisky. u
commissioner Hirshfeld asked RYAN
ssseseerday If he had seen anything Of .
'ne case Of whisky Burke sent to the
csommlssion. Ryan said he had not. |
commissioner Hirshfeld introduced in |
ssiaence Armstrong; physical exami- |
sa saoion card, which showed that he was +
sa .1sI examined on January 10, 1921, and /
soand to weigh IA pounds, while the i
ssau'red weight was 1471s. Armstrong
Vas re-examined on March /, 1921, and +
"slgned IN at 148 pounds, meeting the
.,s;sauifement. ~ Ryan was unable to iden-
wy hgures or writing on the Arm
ssfong card as his own. Ryan said that /
ns aiu not know White by name, but s
.aishl have seen him. White testified
No ,aas ne was at the Civil Service Com
passion p.ssslon Offices several times with
Ss.I. Saane and saw Burke talk to Ryan.
Nans@ry Charles /. Stengle and Fred
Asnke' c' another employee.
tbs commissioner Hirshfeld adjourned
"e nearing until Tuesday at 10 40 a. m.
~