The New York herald., 1879-03-08
Men Banded Together to Swear Away
Life and Property.
BLACKMAILING 5 AS AN ART.
Innocent Citizens Arrested on
Trumped Up Charges.

club whose object s the giving of evidence occa
sion for money consideration will prove startling
information to many. but not so TO the police au-
thorites the criminal prosecuting officers of the
city.
DEVELOPMENTS IN PoIIcE COURT.
The existence of such organization that refer
red to developed in hearing had before Justice
Murray at Essex Mrket Police Court on Thursday.
The that of an alleged assault preferred by
one Samuel Edgart of No. 80 Orchard street. against
Henry NJ. Greenberg. q merchant. doing business at
Nos 2l2 and 2l4 Church street. Tho assault
was alleged to have been committed at Jew
ish synagogue at No.. 81 Orchard street. Edgart
that he was kicked to insensibty
by tho accused and part of his testimony was cor
roborated by three Polish Hebrews, named Samuel
Bernstein, Solomon Geist and Jacob Fenpennineer.
On his crossexamination Edgart compelled to
reluctantly acknowledge that ho had had areenbcrg
arrested six different occasions; and further, that
he (Edgart) belongs q club that meets in saloon
in Orchard street, Rivington. the men,
bers of which are leagued together to
.put up jobs" as the slang phrase goes.
and procure mock witnesses whenever called upon.
One Of the witnesses Fcnpenfinger) when called to
the stand turned around If to sgnalize to his
federates but Justice Murray anticipating the charac
ter of the witness and his testimony. had ordered
their removal from the court Then 1t was de-
veloped that the witness had civil suit against
railroad company and that Egart and Bernstein were
among his witnesses.
A CONSPIRACY PROVED.
On the defence 1t was shown that Mr.. Greenberg
was in the synagogue when Edgart thrust his head
within the door. and ordered away by the former
No assault was committed or even attempted. This
was most positively testified by three or four per-
sons who were in the synagogue we'll as by the
accused. Mr. Aaron Noah. of No. 218 East
Broadway. professor of the Hebrew language.
testified to his knowledge of Edgarts bad character
generally and to the fact that he belonged to club
composed OF twenty-five members, who sworn to
Morris Grossman testified that Edgart had boasted to
him that he belonged to club that could send any
man to prison. Justice Murray ordered Mr.. Green
bergs honorable acquittal and told Edgart that his
proper place was in the State Prison.
WHAT JUSTICE MURRAY SAYS
In Investigating this subject yesterday HERALD
reporter called upon Justice Murray, who said -
This Edgart came here and swore out
rant for Mr. TRa 1s r..
arraigned Edgart swore that he was so badly in
jVred by Greenberg that he had to be attended by
for lfe and that these injuries inflicted at the
synagogue. Greenberg denied the assault. He swore
that Edgart came there and. knowing the the charac-
saying that he had no business in such place. He
positive that Edgart only thrust his head within
Adam Noah gave Edgart q very bad character. He
said that he belonged to club of twenty five men
who were banded together to swear In courts OF JUS
tce to each other swear for each other
in any case where money was at hazard. Then 1 ad-
journed the to Thursday to get at the bot
tom OF the matter"
DAMAGING CONTRADICTIONS.
when the matter came up on that day told the
witnesses to stand up and the sergeant took them to
another room. Edgart swore that the assault was
Just outside of the door of the synagogue and that
il was of the most aggravated character; that two
witnesses carried him down stairs. and that it oc-
Cured the 24th OF February. The next
witness swore that 1t occurred on the Sd OF
March, and as he did no looked around
so as that the other witnesses might hear him and
note the date testified to- but my precautions had
moved them beyond sight and hearing. In his testi-
mony Edgart said ne belonged to the perjury club,
and two of his witnesses admitted their membership
in the same. None of his witnesses. however. claim
that they the assault. Tie accused (dreenbergl
testified that Edgart only opened the door of
the synagogue. aud whom told to go away Edgart
threatened to be revenged. This the whole Of
the occurrence according to Mr.. Greenberg. No
assault was shown in thorough cross-cxaminstion
OF all the witnesses who were called to tho stand
Three four were in the church at the time
who corroborated Greenberg.'
THE CLUBS BOAST.
Mr.. Noah testified that Edgart had introduced him.
self to him by means of manufactured story, and
that he had heard Edgart boast that he belonged
in New York Moreover. that he aEdrart, could 90
into court and swear any man into out of trouble
no matter what its nature might be. Another one
told that he had been asked to join the club
On one occasion Edgart in a street with this
person, when Edgart threw himself down aud ex-
e 10 reg 10
the lie. Edgart was after damages. He said.
"If you don't shall have you arrested" He kept
his word and had the man arrested and brought be-
fore Civil Justice Dnklc for alleged irregular
ity in a note money transaction. When on the
stand Edgart swore that he had been in Court
but it shown that he had had several persons
brought up in the Marine Court orders Of arrest
In these damages sought to be obtaihed.,
PREVALENT CRIME fTf
There Is, no doubt" he continued, ''an immense
amount of false swearing nmong this class of people
recognize their faces in court every day. In this
Edrart matter thought the best way would be to
venate the whole subject, to get at the bottom
OF what believe Is a prevalent crime. Had held
Edgart he would have had fifty witnesses to swear rs
he wished. That's my experience in dealing with
this class They are mostly natives of Poland. They
have q system of telegraphing their thoughts ev
dencc by movements OF the lips and fingers and even
by the Struggling Of shoulders, and these signs
to be generally understood"
PROFESSOR NoAHs STORY.
At No. 21S East Broadway, the reporter found Mr..
Nathan Noah. He is most respectable and vencr-
able looking gentleman and told his story with great
caution. He said:-''l am o professor. used to
dine at No. 80 Essex street. uamed Samuel
me that he from Godiner. In Russo-Po-
land, which Is my native place. He said
he belonged to one of the best families
schoolmate. lie answered ma that he was cloth
cutter and made S125 month. saw him repeatedly
and noticed that he not at work. This first
had lent Mr.. Levy $500 aud took note. That note
he deposited with MIR. Grecnbcrg for safe keeping
Greenberg, he said, gave the note back to Levy. I
asked him what he going to do about II. He said
he did want to 90 to court but would 90 before
q rabbi. and asked me to be one of the arbiratOrs.
After somc persuasion agreed.
zone night tho arbiirators met at Rabbi Asch's
house in suffolk street. We did nothing that night
tnat IL could get $50 from Greenberg he would bc
satisfied. That made suspicious Of him.
When Rabbi Asch asked me how came to know Ed
CART, the Rabbits manner made me feel that was in
bad company and withdrew from the case. A