New-York tribune., 1922-11-04
Louis karsch, Secretary
Of West Farms Co., Saws
He Signed Paper With
out Knowing Its Contents
$500 Paid to Get
On Good Streets
Seeks to Have WhaIen and
Estimate Board Make
Good Alleged Losses

1FanslC commission, went right ahead
with his quest for information as to
the seamy side of the bus business yes
terday, while his disgruntled and pug
nacious witness of two days before,
Grover A. Whalen, Commissioner of
Piant and Structures. was being hailed
as hero by the Board of Estimate
for his temerity in calling names at
the attorney.
Members Of the Board of Estimate
acclaimed the robust Mr.. Whalen as
Fighting Kid Whalen" and the ssNew
White Hope" and told him he should
have gone even farther than Mayor
Hyl0n advised and instead of merely
twisting the nose" of Mr.. Shearn
should have "knocked his block off,"
Nevertheless, they thought he did
pretty well for young fellow to call
him liar and rat.
Shearn Nibbling Away
Mr.. Shearn mean time was pursuing
his Joffre-like tactics and nibbling
away. He uncovered number of fra
NoSect aIlloHS LUeIu tH4t Louis
karsch, silk salesman, wes so perfect
in the art Of dummydom that until he
saw it published recently in the course
Of the investigation he didn't know
that he was secretary of the West
Farms Bus Company, organized anony-
mously by Arthur H., Murphy, Tam
many boss in the Bronx, and Under
Sheriff Tom O'Neill.
From Austin P. Fox. of the insurance
firm of Fox & Fox. Mr.. Shearn learned
that several bus operators who attend
ed an indignation meeting that the De-
partment Of Plant and Structures vain
it cost them from 5000 to $500 apiece to
ret on the favorite bus lines. MIR.
Fox's firm specialized in bus insurance
until it was crowded out by the Hylan
laddies, Sinnott and Canty.
Mr.. Shearn said there was no doubt
in his mind that an action to compel
Commissioner Whalen and members of
1.-THE Board Of Estimate to make good
the losses suffered by the city through
maladministration Of the bus lines
would be warranted in law.
Karsch First Witness
Mr.. Karsch was the first witness yes
terday, and he started off by saying
that he became acquainted slightly
with Arthur H. Murphy by playing the
piano at smokers ct the Murphy politi-
cal headquarters. He never was paid
for his work. Karsch said sone one at
the club asked him to sign his name to
paper Incorporating a garage busi-
ness, in order that Mr.. Murphy's name
might not appear in the transaction.
He did not read the paper. He never
had heard of the West Farms Bus Cor
n%Ad bnxy nj n he Yfr
Arthur H. Murphy and Under Sheriff
O'Neil until this week, following
the disclosures, when friend
fhowed him his name as secretary OF
the corporation. He never was in the
office of the corporation In the Bronx
and never met Frankenberg. who swore
that Karsch was in the habit of coma
ing to the business three or four times
a week to attend to his duties as sec
retary. Karsch said that Frankenberg
called on him Thursday at his
(Karsch's) Office.
Q.-What did Frankenberg say to
YOU, and what did you say to him yes
terday when he called to see you? A..
u didn't give him very much oppor-
tunity to say anything. told him,
when he had seated himself, that there
wasn't much to say; that was going
to testify; that my name had been
used wrongly and that was going to
set it right, and there was no further
use for conversation.
Q.-Did he say something to you
about being a member of this corpora
tion. A.--He didn't say anything. I
simply told him / was very much
obliged for the honor he had bestowed
upon me in electing me secretary.
Frankenberg Firm Fictitious
After fully ventilating the fictitious
character Of the Frankenberg company.
owned by Frankenberg, estate of Ar
thur III. Murphy and Under Sheriff
O'Neil, Mr.. Shearn said:
II would like to put in evidence and
call to your attention the record Of
the minutes of the Board Of Estimate
Of April l., 1921, appearing in The City
Record pare 1906, which shows that
(CenflRnod on page thrse)