The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-11-04
BUS INSURANCE MAN SAYS
OWNERS PAID $500 AND UP


Foxs testimony.
Louis Karsch Of 1877 East Third street,
Mount Vernon, silk salesman, with an
office at 149 Madison avenue. this city,
was the days first witness. Ferdinand
w Frankenberg. president of the West
Farms Bus Corporation (Which Commits
sioner McAneny now has dubbed the
O'Neil- Murphy Corporation"). testified
last Wednesday that karsch was the
secretary of that extraordinary organ
ization and that he visited Its office
three or four times a week.
7 Under examination by George o.
Redngton, counsel to the commission.
Mr. karsch, who has been called one of
the dummies" for Under Sheriff Tom
O'Neil and the late Arthur Murphy. told
how he came to be placed in that role.
The witness, who formerly lived in The
Bronx, said he had u slight Blowing
acquaintance" with Mr.. Murphy. At the
request of Mr.. Murphy-he thought it
was about year ago--he had signed a
paper the true purport of which he did
not actually know. He realized now
that was a foolish thing to do, but he
was willing 10 oblige Murphy, who was
a big man in The Bronx.
4 Mr. Karsch said his impression at the
time was that 1t was some business
I
garage. HE said he did not want his
name to appear" the witness testified.
HE gave me the impression he did not
want anybody implicated who lived In
the neigtlborhood.'
The witness said no signed without
having read the paper. The transaction
slipped his mind until two dys ago.
when friend called his attention to the
newspaper notoriety he had attained in
connection with the West Farms Bus
Corporation. He swore he never had
heard of that corporation and never had
been in its office In West Farms. which.
according to Frankenberg's testimony.
he visited as secretary three or four
times q week"
Mr.. karsch said he never saw or
heard of Mr. Frankenberg until Thurs
day afternoon. when the latter called
upon him at his city office
What did he say to YOU asked
Mr.. Redington.
HE began to talk" said Karsch "but
| told him there was no use of his talk
ing. that my name had been used
wrongly and l was going to set 1t right
was going to testify TO the whole truth
Of the matter"
when Frankenberg testified you were
a friend of his he swore falsely, then,
did he?"
Yes, sir" replied Karsch.
Forgery Proof.
The examiner here introduced records
showing that Karschs name had been
forged to the Incorporation papers be-
fore h. h. huntington. notary public OF
Bronx county. and that in the so-calleG
minute book of the corporation karsch
had been fraudulently recorded as hav-
ing been present az q meeting OF the
directorate of which he never had heard
Mr.. Shearn called the commissions
attention TO the fact that It Is a crime
10 make Fraudulent entries In the books
OF corporation and Chairman Nc
Aneny said that this evidence. along
with that involving Frankenberg In a
charge OF perjury, would be referred to
District Attorney Banton.
The examination was Interrupted while
Mr.. Shearn read into the record evil
dence Of the forfeiture OF the city Island
Bus Lines franchise and the previous
organization of the West Farm Com
rany. At q Board of Estimate hearing
April !, 1921, the franchise of the
original company was forfeited. Grover
A. whalen Commissioner OF Plant and
Structures. appeared in favor of forfeit
ing the franchise. and nobody else APP
feared" said Mr.. Shearn. you will
note that this so-called Frankenberg
company, which a day or two after this
franchise was forfeited. got the right
to operate over this West Tarms-City
Island route. and which since that time
Las been making "a profit OF 205 per
cent. per annum on its Investment"
Commissioner Hardness interrupted
with. THAI Is eos per cent. on rs per
cent. OF the gross revenues"
Yes. continued Judge Shearn. land
this corporation had been organized and
was in existence and was lying In the
offing waiting for this thing to happen
from December, 1921, until April 1922.
when. on the personal application and
appearance Of the Commissioner OF
Plant and Structures. who gave the
Frankenberg concern tho right to charge
"A % cent fare. the franchise was for
/ feited.
The investigation was adjourned until
next Wednesday AT 2 80 =. NJ. which. as
Mr.. Shearn remarked, will be the day
after the election"