Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-24

The trial of Alderman W. II. Porter an6
his three constahles, Thomas Packer, Elijah
Sheppard and Tom Carney. was taken uI
before Judge Slagle in the Criminal Couri
yesterday. Thomas NJ Marshall, William
Reardon, james E. o'Donnell and William
Bremen represented the defendants. District
Attorney Porter and Clarence Burleigh,
ESQ.,, appeared for the prosecution. Mr..
Burleigh represented the Department Oi
Public Safety. The entire forenoon was
taken up in the selection Of jury, which
was finally made mp as follows:
Levi Gregg. James Newell, Joseph Berkbile,
Michael OfWay Gottlieb KollingeT. John Field
ing. John Dold, Thomas s. Maple, George
Glass, Jacob Beckert Scott Dibert and Will
Attorney Burleigh made the opening sd-
dress, in which he briefly outlined the case
Hugh DAILY was the first witness called he testl-
fed that he knew all the defendants, and that he
had formerly been employed by the Porter De-
tective Agency. Alderman W. h. Porter was
the general manager and Elijah Sheppard
secretary. All court cases were sent In with
Constable Packers name. Henry krusa and
Perry Bailey were also employed by the agency.
The witness knew of assault and battery suits
TO have been discharged, owing to lack of eVi-
dence. The witness did not receive any wages;
all he got was his costs in cases. In all cases
settled the money was collected by Constable
Sheppard. Cards were sent out by the agency,
but they were legltimatelJ soliciting business
HOW ONE WAS SETTLED.
Mabel Gilbert testified that she lived at No.
~ Second avenue. She was prosecuted before
Alderman Porter last spring. Constable Shep-
parj with three others came to her house to ar
rest her. The charges against her were for
keeping disorderly house. selling liquor with
had four girls in her house, and Constable Shep-
pard informed her that forfeit of SO each for
the girls and 500 for herself could be put up.
Witness put up $40 for her girls and then en-
tered bail for her appearance before Alderman
Cassidy. The hearing was set for the following
week. The case was afterward dismissed. She
never heard who the prosecutor was. A friend
of hers named Max Friedman went with her.
Max Friedman testified that be went to the
Alderman's Office with Mabel Gilbert. He
spoke TO the Squire about the case. he said
the prosecutor was NOT present and everything
would be all right. The hearing was set for the
following week, and then he was informed that
the prosecutor was not present, but it wo uld
cpst him s65 One of the constables told the
witness to put the money in drawer in q desk
that was in the back room. This be did. Al
derman Porter was in the front Office at the
time. The witness had two bundles of money
in his pocket and put the wrong bundle in the
drawer, which contained $50 He afterwards
returned 70 the Office and the Alderman gave
him back the SI5.
IN THE 'SQUIRE's POCKET.
L0ttie Brown, of No. IS First avenue, was
prosecuted before Alderman Porter for keep
ing disorderly house and selling liquor W ith
ont license. She was arrested by Constables
Sheppard and Henry Krusa. The hearing was
fixed for Friday. A man named Casper Left
had tbs case fixed for her. Witness gave Left
SIS which he put in an envelope and placed In
the 'SqOire's pocket. She went to the Office on
Friday but the prosecutor did not appear and
she was dismissed. Henry Krusa was the
prosecutor in the case.
Clara Meyers. of No. IS Third avenue, was
prosecuted last winter for selling liquor with
out license, and was arrested by Constable
Packer She put SS5 in an envelope and gave
II to Alderman Porter. Henry Krusa was the
prosecutor, and as he did not appear she was
discharged.
Maud Ryan testified to having been with Miss
Meyers and saw her give the envelope to the
Squire. She did not know what it contained.
Lou Arthur, of No. LIS Second avenue. was
prosecuted before Alderman Porter, and was
arrested on the Sth of last February by Perry
Bailey. She was sued for being disorderly
person. keeping disOrderly house and selling
hquoE without license She gave bail for
hearing, the bail being entered before Alder |
man Cassidy. On Tuesday, the day of the |
hearing. she went to the 'Squire's office and on |
Alderman Pottef's advice pleaded guilty and |
was fined $40 and costs in one case.
SETTLED FOR THIRTY-FIvE.
The hearings in the other two cases were
postponed for a week Meanwhile Constable |
Sheppard wanted her 60 settle for $50 Wit
ness refused to give that much, but offered |
SIS She was told that she could settle
for that sum at the 'Squire's Office. |
She went to the office and handed the |
money to Constable Sheppard. Alderman /
Porter afterward discharged her telling Perry |
Bailey, who was the prosecutor, that the wit |
LESS had been out three times and he had not i
anneCre0. thing tn ha raor
OF persecution than a prosecution he would |
have nothing more to do with it. The witness /
never heard anything more about the suits
Mrs. Mary McMinntman testified to having |
been prosecuted three times before Alderman /
Porter for iOrtune-telling. The first was entered /
by Henry Krusa. and she gave an attorney $40 /
TO have it settled up. The second suit was en-. /
tered by Perry Bailey and never came TO a
hearing The third suit was entered AGAINST
witness and her husband by Richard Layine |
This suit was tried in court, The witness was
fined Sl70 and her husband sent to the work /
house.
edr. Marshall conducted the eross-examiua-
tion, and some laughable testimony was pro- /
duced The witness stated that she handled /
the cards
Mr. Marshall-What kind OF cards; visiting
Mrs. McMinniman-why, cards, cards that Won
can play euchre with; 1 read them for the |
people.
MI. Marshall-Do you receive pay for thatP
Mrs. McMinniman-Of course. When people /
rap at my door and want advice charge them for Il
There are 81 cards in the pack and s. weeks IN the
year. read them by the week. charge rich /
people q and poor people 50 cents. Ny house was
90 well watched by the police that 1 had to nut /
cotton and cayenne pepper In the keyholes to
keep them from spying in.
After hearing this witness court adjourned
until this morning.
FOR THEIR CHARTER