Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-20
BRANDS MURPHY
ASIAN "|MPOSTOR'
Fish Tells House Colleagues
Why He Had Foch Memorial
Mass Cancelled.

Branding Kenneth D. Murphy, chair
man of the Marshal Ferdinand Foch
Memorial Committee as an 'impostor,"
Representative Hamilton Fish OF New
York yesterday told his colleagues IN
the House why he brought about can
collation. by Archbishop Michael J: Cur
lev of plans for holding at st. Matthew's
Church here a memorial mass for Mar
shall Foch on the first anniversary OF
the death of the generaliSsimo OF the
allied armies in the World War.
Marshal Foch would have turned
over in his grave If he had known Ken
meth D. Murphy was chairman Of the
Marshal Ferdinand Foch Memorial Com
mittee that arranged the ceremony in
his honor" Representative Fish de-
clared.
He added that: "of course, the
Catholic Church Is not to blame IN
the matter. When they saw an Or
ganization on paper, including the
names of Senators and Representatives
and cabinet officers there is no reason
why they should not have authorized
the holding of the proposed mass In
Washington" He put into the Record
a copy Of the letter he received from
Archbishop Curley.
Aims to Protect Veterans.
Speaking "as a veteran of the World
War, who desires to help protect the in
terests of the disabled veterarS and to
prevent public opinion from being alien
ated by these imposters, frauds and
swindlers like Murphy" Mr.. Fish ex-
pressed the hope that Gin the future
members of the House and Senate who
permit the use Of their names for these
fake organizations will take the trouble
to find out something about them.
He put into the Record a detailed
statement of the record Of Murphy and
explained that five years ago the House
of Representatives authorized an inves-
tigation Of the National Disabled Sol
diers' League, Inc, and the Speaker APP
pointed a committee, of which I had
the honor of being chairman. to inves-
tigate this organization. The commit
tee found that the so-called National
Disabled Soldiers League was not ma
ttonal in any sense. 1t had only about
four or five members. but had raised
$295. 900 through a pencil-selling cam
paign, which funds we located in vari-
Gus banks of the country. of which only
about $4,000 went to aid the disabled
veterans.
I'VE helped to secure a fraud order
against the National Disabled Soldiers
League, Inc, from the Post once De-
partment.
THE commander Of the organizati ton
John T. Nolan, is now in jail in the
District of Columbia for passing fraud
ulent checks. The secretary or adtutant
OF that organization was one Kenneth D.
Murphy.
Under the bylaws Of the said or
ganization the membership was con-
fined to disabled veterans of the World
War. Mr.. Murphy was not a veteran
Of the World War. He never served in
any capacity In the World War. He en-
listed in the National Guard of the
State OF New York O few years after
the war and fell of q horse and broke
his leg. Nevertheless, he posed as q
veteran Of the World War and was ad-
Jutant Of the National Disabled Sol
diers' League, which raised $295 ,0o0."
Brands Murphy "SwindIer."
That Murphy's "swindlinz" escapades
should be clearly distinguished from the
work Of honorable organizations was
stressed by Representative Fish, who
said:
1T is only fair to the bona fide or.
ganization in New York to have it &C
in the Record that Mr.. Murphy has nc
connection at all with the ,Foch Ma.
tional Memorial Inc.) in New York
City, which is about to raise money fol-
that purpose. Kenneth D. Murphy, In
my opinion, was an imposter and a
swtndler when he was connected with
the National Disabled Soldiers League
and has since then been connected with
other fraudulent activities. From copies
Of contracts I have in my possession
he worked his racket on basis of so pei
cent, taking SO per cent of all the
money raised for his associate or friend
Mr.. Stewart Kelly, whose ONCE is in
New York
THE Disabled American Veterans, OF
which Maj. Thomas Kirby is legislative
chairman, has done excellent work in
following up the record and activities
Of such men as John T. Nolan and
Kenneth D. Murphy. Maj. Kirby has
rendered great public service in pro-
tecting the public from such imposters
as Kenneth D. Murphy"