Frederick Skene

Frederick Skene
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
In office 1907–1908
Governor	Charles Evans Hughes
Preceded by	Henry Arthur Van Alstyne
Succeeded by	Frank Martin Williams
Dean of School of Technology of City College of New York
In office 1940–1943
Personal details
Born	(1874-07-25)July 25, 1874 Garrison, New York
Died	August 22, 1943(1943-08-22) (aged 69) Queens, New York
Children	Dorothy Margaret Skene Page [1]
Residence(s)	Astoria, Queens, New York East Chop, Massachusetts

Frederick Skene (July 25, 1874 – August 22, 1943) was an American civil engineer and politician from New York. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1907 to 1908.[2] He was dean of the school of technology at City College of New York from 1940 to 1943.[3]

Life

He was born on July 25, 1874, in Garrison, New York, the son of Thomas Skene and Marry (Parry) Skene.[3] He lived in Long Island City, Queens.[2]

He graduated from New York University.

He was New York 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.[4] 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.[3]

He died on August 22, 1943, in Queens, New York, at age 69. His funeral was held in Astoria, New York, and the bell at City College of New York was rung in his honor at noon.[3]

References

1. "Dorothy Skene A Bride. Married in Garden of Summer Home to Dr. James Page". New York Times. September 4, 1938. Retrieved 2012-10-16. Miss Dorothy Margaret Skene, daughter of Dean and Mrs. Frederick Skene of New York and East Chop, near here, was married to Dr. James D. Page of the University of Rochester at the Summer home of the bride's parents in the East Chop Summer colony this afternoon. (subscription required)
2. "Frederick Skene". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2012-10-16. Skene, Frederick — of Long Island City, Queens, Queens County, N.Y. New York state engineer and surveyor, 1907-08
3. "City College Bells Toll For Dean Skene. Ring 69 for Years of Lage Aide. Funeral Held in Astoria". New York Times. August 23, 1943. Retrieved 2012-10-09. Tower bells tolled sixty-nine times at City College yesterday noon, once for each year in the life of Dr. Frederick Skene, former dean of the School of Technology, ... (subscription required)
4. "Accuser Of Skene Called A Perjurer. Jerome Seeks Warrant for Charles H. O'Neil, Chief Witness for the Prosecution". New York Times. September 6, 1910. Retrieved 2012-10-16. A dramatic climax came to-day in the trial of former State Engineer Frederick Skene on charges of grand larceny in connection with the award of good road contracts, when William T. Jerome, chief counsel for the defense, asked Justice Coman for a warrant for the arrest of Charles H. O'Neil for perjury.

Further reading

• 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

Political offices
Preceded by Henry A. Van Alstyne	New York State Engineer and Surveyor 1907 – 1908	Succeeded by Frank M. Williams