New-York tribune., 1872-03-27
CRUSHING THE EIIASES.
TIE GENEVA WATCH COMPANY EXPOSED
In COURT


, Albert G.. Sniffn appeared, yesterday, tor
examination before Judge Ledwth, at the Jefferson
Market Police Court on the charges OF swindng pre-
ferred against him by Wayne Iitzenberg and Edward g
Newell who bought two watches, represented ~ so'd
silver Of the defendant IN the store OF the u4eu'
Geneva Watch Company" at No 76a Brcadway Ai'er
the complaInants, the U. g. Assayer and lhn ,
porter had given their testimony e""s ~
fraudulent nature Of the concern and the
,,orthlessness OF the watches. Mr. Howe,
the defendants attorney, began 10 arrange MS
papers with view 10 calling his witnesses foF inc uo-
feuse when Assistant District Attorney sullivan WHO
was conducting the prosecution, suddenly ststeu Inns
Mr. Howe and the entire audience. by calling as VIII
ness Ellis IL. Elias" This was movement eViueh'y
unexpected by the defendants attorney, VINO s'ucu "
HIS feet as suddenly as II mine had been sprung be-
meath his chair while Elias who sat at bis SIDE thea
male and red nv turns In a few minutes however, Mf.
Howe remembering that snien and not Elias was 'ne
defendant endeay0red TO prevent Elias rom 'ebtyhs'
adducng as that the latter was the real deieo
ant" even II not the individual specified In the warrant
and could not be compelled TO give "eVidenee
which would crimnate himself" Judge Ledwitb'
however, who when issuing the warrant aeains'
snn stated that he could not according to the statute
issue it otherwise promptly told Mr. Howe that liias
must testify wnereupon the latter took tho Witness
stand The first questions OF Mr.. Sullivan TO Inc Wiless
were answered promptly and without opecuon' pu'
when Elias was asked concerning his relation 10 the
"Geneya watch Company the ownership OF The con-
Germ. the fictitious names signed 10 the CIR
cplars, aud his connection with the drafting
of the circulars Mr.. Howe objected at every point
Elias while on the stand restless and uneasy,
wrthod in his chair and quite unable TO concea his
an xcty and when Mr.. Howe heard him admit that he
knew of no Great Geneva Watch Company" and no
such bankruptcy advertised, he deemed IL wise "
secure an Adjournment of the ease until next Monday
q fl.uN 14u eg TAX
day:
Edward g Newell testified: am matchmaker Tor
Howard Coz at No. sG5 Broadway; on mo 2sth oi rem
last went to No. 1853 Broadway, then occupied by
the Geneva Watch Company, and bought a watch at at
ease No asked the clerk II they kept good une, anu
he answered that they would keep good time A. any
watch could buy elsewhere on Broadway; did not
make inquiry in respect to the fuaiy OF tne Waon
but [ got a guarantee from the clerk that ~ VA VA
solid silver the watch movement was marked "JOnh
Eery, Boston, Mass" and paid $40 80 ior M tne entlIc
machine afCerward gave the wach 10 Mr.. hoWaIru
nv employer and have not seen II since; the waeh
houe ht had what should call lever movement N mi.
tation OF one OF the American brands; dont thinh II
was made in America. nor tat 10 could ever have been
made TO keep time in my oMsinGs; % experience never
| Crossexamiued-I am matchmaker OF y years, ex,
perenee and know god TadGn ta wtn zee c ca"sder
paid s. for the watch bought than II wSs
the watch; purchased it ON purpose 10 make COM
plant 10 help Howard Co in their civil suit AGAINST
Waltham watch; the Elias watch case can bo bought
anywhere for 81 so, and should think . very good
nhn PrrsC II testified am the matchmaker for Rail-.
BIck CO.. and been In the business FOR 20 years
have Xanined watch movement No. $685. and aln oI
be opinion that IL il Swiss imitation OF an American
%at,,r; the movement most imperfect, in fact per
fecy worthless would not grade T.. i so very iadi
1t wOnld be utterly Impossible to make II fo2d as tine
kecpcr il j. worth about much as - much bras
Cross-examned-Gho works are 10 yery bad thai inc
vorkIncn making them would only receive about - a
c il il inpo,sbl for rue tell the value Of the cas-;
| the manufacturers make them for y and Saplece
Joseph c. Wmtehouse testified: reside AT No il
Willoughby-ave. Brooklyn. and have claIgo Of tho
watch department for Tiffany Coz on Tie ls'h day OF
March received watch movement no 55557, from Allen
Let TRIBUNE reporter, who asked me To examine
the movement carefully; Inspected the movement, aud
found it to tie very, CON non one OF tho
watch; the movement is of swiss mannlac-
urre cipher we should have to rchuld thc entire watch
to make II T9rth anythng ne movement Is made as a
extreme; since the birth Of the Great Geneva Watch
these worthless watches, who mostly complained that
they would not 20 at al and few tha their watches
almost every day from AGENTS, Offering TO SOL god
watches o Swiss Manufacture, for 81 50. aud alleged
silver Watches as low as - J9 they are oi very low
Isah W. Sylvester Of the United States Assay Office
IN f1is CITY, testified that tWo Wdchcascs were given 10
him By Mr. Graham, the mead of the Office. aud That upon
assaying them lie found that thcy were composed of
silver iron, and copper; aDd that t1eir agegatc valLo
was 8 e2.
gallon n. Leet testified lam TRmUsE Tcportey, en-
Gagged in the Investigation Of the Great Geneva Wa"
Cos" nave visited the Of tine Messrs Las, AZ 80.
7Gi BrOadway tho door there is inscribed IN large
within upon the walls, saw large placdr's, assort
ing that all the watches sold Oy tic Company
customers to take watches they might purchase TO 1
fany Co. 10 satisfy themselves as to their intrinsic
value picked up from The counters several advertising
circulars of the concern in which 1t announced that
the agents for thc Geneva Watch Company were Brown,
STANLEY Coz Lee Bradley Brother, and }. Il. Eikcrt
H. 'i d,nrt"rY: saw snn,n the dcendant there, and
also the sitting tIec, Who am fcld, Is Ellis II.
Elias; / talked VIII several OF the salesmen,
NJ
were made by the Geneva Watch Company, which had
become bankrupt and transmitted ie goods here to be
odd at haf price TOOK the OF the watches bought
by LitzeDbefg and Newell TO the United siaos Assay
1if' 3nH "I Hack a0 God the w"chmaiS that tGey ley
were moyemeni,s, wm;h d To,dd NE mem 40 20
not tell them that they would over have 20 ave their
opinion in Police Court on the following day a-i.ed
them to give me teir 0h IA writing as 10 The value
of the moyeinene, which they did know that there is
the United states Consul at Geneva Charles H. L UpOn.
Crossexamined-I never saw Mr. Howard until the
the Mesers. Elias strOyo 70 advertise this business Dy
alleging that they had brought libel suit against Tue
Dstrict-Attorney sullvan-For my next witness
will call Ellis II. Elias TO the stand
Mr.. Howell strongly o.JecC; tell lm not testify.
nj Elias is the real defendant in THO case and any
tmOny that he might give that wOud tend to Criunate
himself should not be allowed under any circumstances
Dstrict-AttorIIey Suily aBThe only person AGAINST
through the examination OF witnesses this the
singular anomaly has been presented Of onGen main
and Elias counseed together.
Justice LedViLh--Nr. Howe, The name Of Eiids is moi
this complaint, an4 think II entirely allowable FOR
him be called a witness.
Mr. HOwe-I most solenInly protest. II is "a parody Of
Justice; advise client hot 70 Say a WOId waive
examination send tne case to tho higher Court.
Ellis III. Elias Lad taken The Witness s al M tho
tlBo and testified: stop at the Metropolitan lI0to and
do In this city; am Ia the lcwc!fy business
No Ga broadwaS with my brother, William n. Elias;
do not carry busIncs at No 1Gj Broadway.
DstrictAttOrEcy Suillvan-AlC you Interested III the
business OF the Geneva Watch Company
UOWc-I 10
crimiuate you in tlIs
Eias-I have no interest whatever III the establish
L [ In