Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-03
DALEY'S CASE ENDED.
One of Alderman POrter's COnstables
Secures an Acquittal.
NO EVIDENCE FOUND AGAINST HIN.
Two Attorneys Implicated by the Stories of
Witnesses.
THE SETTLEMENT OF CRIMINAL CASES

A large concourse Of people gathered YES
ternoon at the Nineteenth ward station
house, anticipating startling disclosures in
the now famous conspiracy cases against
Alderman Porter, his constables and de-
tectives. Squire Porter and the Bailey
brothers waived hearing few days ago,
and gave bail for court trial.
The other constables and detectives ar
raigned in the indictment are Thomas
Packer, Daley and Lige Shepard. These
men were on hand to answer to the charges
brought against them. BY some misunder-
standing, however, Packer and Shepard
came in after Attorney Reardon, who repre-
sented the defense, had waived hearing for
them. When Packer found how matters
had gone, he vigorously protested against
the course adopted bv his lawyer, and de-
manded hearing. He STAGED that Captain
Brophy, the srresting officer, had distinctly
stated to him that the time of hearing was
between and o'clock, whereas it was an
hour earlier.
Daley had hearing. The evidence pro-
dueed did not implicate him in extortion,
and, therefore, be was discharged. His
friends, after the close of the trial, sur
rounded him and offered congratulations on
the vindicstion he had received.
A FORTUNE TELLER'S STORY.
Mrs. Ida Curry, of Thirty-ninth street,
was the first witness for the prosecution.
She said:
'I was sued before Alderman Porter for
fortune telling, this being the only time
have ever been sued. Daley came to my
house and told me that was under arrest.
He read warrant to me, but the warrant
was not of the usual size. The hearing was
A. a. ool-a anti
nv bail. l employed Mr.. o. D. Thompson
as my attorney. When the constable az
rested me he told me that Coroner Nc
Dowell was the plaintiff Before the hear
ing, however, nv lawyer advised me to set
tie the case for $50. The money was paid to
nv LAWYER, but 1 cannot tell how it was
divided. Daley, however, admitted to me
sfterward that he received 81. 1t may have
been for work done in arresting me-"
Mrs. Curry said, in answer to a question
bv the Inspector, that there were Two wit
nesses, both ladies, brought up against her
at the 'Squire's Office.
Mrs. Mary McMinnon was the only other
witness. She swore as follows:
81 was sued before Squire Porter three
times. 1 was arrested first by old Kreuzer,'
then BY Packer and Daley, and the last
time by the Bailey brothers. The last time
l.,
Judge White inflicted a penalty of $170.
The first time 1 had a hearing my case was
settled for $40, which 1 paid to Lawyer Col
den. The second case was disposed of for
$50. This time Mr.. Sullivan was my law
yer, and the money was paid to him"
ATTORNEY REARDoN OBJECTS.
Mr.. Reardon remarked at this stage of the
proceedings that she had better not impli-
cate him. He vehemently protested against
the trend OF the evidence. He said it was
unprecedented to accuse gentlemen at pre-
liminary hearing, without their being able
TO offer any defense.
Mrs. McMinnOn proceeded as follows:
Alderman Porter suggested to me, the
second time L was sued, the advisability of
engaging Attorney Sullivan. He said that
Mr.. Sullivan was a nice man, and that he
was his lawyer. 1 engaged him. When 1
went to his Office to consult about the case
be said to me: 4 must have SO before get
Of my chair 1 paid him the money. He
then saw Squire Porter and my case was
settled for $40, and paid him the balance
of the money In my dining room. Squire
Porter and the others would have taken
every dollar 1 owned. They thought l was
8 gold bank. They would even have
struck match and set fire to my clothes if
they could have done no more. As it is,
they have ruined me. 1 have not got a
dollar
When asked why the Alderman sent the
last case to court, she replied that it was
spite work. When the Magistrate asked
her if Daley had ever taken any money
from her, she said that he had not, and that
be had treated her in a gentlemanlY and
courteous manner. She did not believe that
Daley had defrauded her of one penny.
DALEY DISCHARGED.
This concluded the evidence of the
prosecution. Alderman Hyndman said
that there was no evidence against Daley,
and discharged him,
Tom Packer was seen after the hearing.
He said: "My attorney should not have
waived hearing for me. 1t was not nv
fault about being late. Had the officer |
been particular in notifying me of the |
time of the hearing, 1 certainly should have
been present. However, things have gone
differently. In the end it will be the same. |
/ have not had any association with any |
gang whose object has been to defraud peo-
pie, and I feel consequently happy. My |
release is merely delayed until the court
can investigate the charges"