New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-24
BEDELL PLEADS GUILTY.
ADMITTING AT LAST THAT HE IS A FORGER.
THE TRUSTED CLERK OF sHIPMAN, BARLOW
LARoCoUE CHOATE TEsTIFYlNG
AGAINST THE POLICY DEALERS WHO,


rARocoUE CHoATE TEsTIFYING
AGAINST THE POLICY DEALERS WHO
HE SAYS, TOOK HIS MONEY
James E. Bedell, in his double capacity OF de-
fendant and witness, was prominent hgure yes
terday in Recorder Smyth's courtroom In the Oen-
eral Sessions building. From the time OF MS ar
rest for forging many mortgages while employed
bv the law firm of Shpman, Barlow, Larocque d
Choatc, he has refused TO make any pubhc s'a'e-
ments and has been SO self-contained and lmpas-
sive at all his appearances in court that his dohgS
Yesterday were a surprise to every one except ohe
prosecuting officials
The case of Herman j. Emerson and Philip
Goss. who are accused of keeping policy shop
at No $50 Broadway, where Bedell lost large
share of his plunder was the first on Recorder
Smyths calendar, and when the court opened
Bedell was in the room talking to Assistant DIS
trict-Attorney Jerome
BEDELL CALLED TO THE BAR
An Indictment was handed to Clerk Moser, and
he called out in loud voice, James f. Bedeli
to the bar" Bedel came forward to the clerks
desk He had no counsel TO assist him. MIR. Moser
said
James f. Bedel the Grand Jury have indicted you
FOR the crime Of forgery in the first degree Are you
guilty not guilty
Bedell was silent for moment looked TO the
right and then to the left. as if thinking that a
plea which would send him TO the State frisoh
for at least twenty years were worth minute
consideration. and then he said, in quiet voice,
plead guilty. The Indictment TO which Bedell
pleaded was founded on the complaint OF j. T..
Schermerhorn. who was the only one of the many
persons whose property was affected py
Bedelrs forgeries who appeared against him.
The case Of Herman J. Emerson was then called
Ilo &c n1 of
lottery policies and of keeping room to be used
for gambling purposes. Emerson is stout, grey
eyed and brown-haired man, well dressed, and
with the air of the ordinary spccuator' of his
class He was undisturbed. even when at the
close cf the DAVIS session Recorder SDyth ordered
that he be confined in the Tombs between the
several sessions of the court, while his trlai COIL
Times The prosecution Of Emerson was con-
ducted bv Mr. Jerome, though District-Attorney
Fellows was present the greater part oi the day
Four hours were spent in obtaining satlslac-
tory iurv and L. was late in the afternoon before
the Jurors sworn.
THE FoRGER AS WITNESS
The forper took his place in the witness-chair
with no sign Of embarrassment. The kindly
face of his former employer, ex-Judge Shipmah'
looked up at him from place near 'ne proSe-
cutor but Bedell did not glance to"aru MN
FIX Surrogate Rollins. who is lnterested III 'nc "
- go recover from Emerson & Goss some
of the money lost by Bedeh' was aiSo VIM"
tho railing facing the witness. The Recorder
.onoa his minute-bool< to take the careful notes
which he always retains OF every 'rah ins
,.d,ness answered the inquiries in low. but dls
tinct voice He never spoke hurrledlv anu oltI
waited some time before he answefsea 'hg ppwe, p0s,,
cutors questions. III ahS"'i w "
questions, ne s4ld , a.. .,or .,
c.,oan NARROW IArocque & Choate. At No 20 william
ST. 1 have known Emerson the de'enaai1 " ",, c.
have seen him frequently rom tha' ''"o UNI" wv
tember II, last 49,. v s.r
Bedel identified, after some hesitation pan
~ tho rooms of Emerson d Goss at the rear OF
tho second floor of No $50 Broadway. lie sau
that at the end OF the hail nhere was an W
started To describe how this opening WIS used by
q watcher who pulled wire so that the door
would open when known customer approached
but he was stopped by an objection from Mr.
Howe Inside, the office was divided by par
tition and there were two desks.
Mr. Jerome-Ilow often have you gone to those rooms
since the first OF January;
The witness-Almost daily
o-uaye you seen Emerson theref Ayes. almost
daily.
o.-who else have you seen there A.-pbnlp Goss
and clerk named Hunting.
REFRESHING HIS MEMORY FROM BOOK.
Bedell said that he had been there with his
brother Charles several times and had seen Emer-
son there. lie hesitated in trying to give the
dates.
o-Is there any way IN which you tx dates 7
Ayes SIR did have pocket diary which would have
| refreshed my memory
| Mr. Jerome handed to the witness little book
not more than two or three inches long, bound in
| red morocco Bcdell identified IL and from the
| time OF receiving it answered few qustions with
| out consulting the book
o-That volume eontns entries Of transactions ffom
| January To September ~. does IL mott A-Yes sir
o.-Whss were your transactions with Emsrson1 A.
hsd one On Apsil 81. bstwssa II snA ~ VslsSk !