Frederick Skene
Encyclopedia
Frederick Skene was an American civil engineer
and politician from New York
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
from 1907 to 1908.
He lived in Long Island City, Queens
.
He graduated from New York University
.
He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1907 to 1908, elected on the Democratic Party/Independence League fusion ticket in 1906.
During and after his tenure, suspicions of graft
and fraudulent contracts for roadworks came up. In 1910, he was indicted on 17 counts of grand larceny
in office. At his trial for one of the indictments he was defended by William Travers Jerome
. Skene was acquitted by the jury, and his accuser Charles H. O'Neil, who had been his Confidential Assistant, was arrested on charges of perjury
. The other 16 indictments were quashed in 1912.
He was Dean of the School of Technology of City College of New York
until January 1940 when he retired.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
from 1907 to 1908.
Life
He was the son of Thomas Skene and Marry (Parry) Skene.He lived in Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City is the westernmost neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. L.I.C. is notable for its rapid and ongoing gentrification, its waterfront parks, and its thriving arts community. L.I.C. has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio...
.
He graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1907 to 1908, elected on the Democratic Party/Independence League fusion ticket in 1906.
During and after his tenure, suspicions of graft
Graft (politics)
In general graft is an unscrupulous use of one’s authority for personal gain. However, the gain may also end up in party coffers...
and fraudulent contracts for roadworks came up. In 1910, he was indicted on 17 counts of grand larceny
Grand Larceny
Grand Larceny is a 1987 thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Marilu Henner, Ian McShane, Omar Sharif and Louis Jourdan.-Plot summary:...
in office. At his trial for one of the indictments he was defended by William Travers Jerome
William Travers Jerome
William Travers Jerome was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Biography:He was the son of Lawrence Jerome and Kate Jerome. He attended Amherst College but left in 1881 without graduation...
. Skene was acquitted by the jury, and his accuser Charles H. O'Neil, who had been his Confidential Assistant, was arrested on charges of perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
. The other 16 indictments were quashed in 1912.
He was Dean of the School of Technology of City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
until January 1940 when he retired.
Sources
- Political Graveyard
- His appointments, in NYT on December 30, 1906
- The trial begins, in NYT on September 3, 1910
- The trial continues, in NYT on September 6, 1910
- Skene testifies, in NYT on September 8, 1910
- Skene acquitted, in NYT on September 9, 1910
- Further developments of the trial and indictments, in NYT on August 29, 1913
- Obit in NYT on August 23, 1943 (subscription required)