Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-27

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day. The arbitrators in the case of Mar
garet Schwab VS. Evan Jones award the
! plaintiff $3.50 damages.
The conspiracy case against Alderman
Porter and his three constables was again
resumed before Judge Slagle in Criminal
Court yesterday. Attorney w. J. Jordan
was again on the stand, this time for cross
examination BY Mr.. O'Donnell. The wit
ness said that he had said in Hogan's saloon
that Porter would be sent to the peniten-
tlary. The witness admitted having been
indicted by the grand jury for false pre-
tense.
james Taggart, of 251 Second avenue,
testified that he had been prosecuted before
Alderman Porter. Tom Carney was the
arresting officer He gave bail for a hearing
in the case. Carney afterward came to his
house and wanted to settle the case tor
money.
Miily Washington, colored, of High
street, and Gertrude Benz had both been
sued before Alderman Porter. The former
for selling liquor without license and the
latter for fortune telling. Both cases were
settled for money consideration.
INsTIGATED BY THE ALDERMAN.
Hugh DAILY was recalled and testified that
he had entered suit against Mrs. Kippler
for fortune telling at the instigation of Al
derman Porter. The case was afterward
settled for money.
At this point the Commonwealth rested,
and Attorney james E. O'Donnell opened
f0H of " do a
very clever opening, in which he outlined
the things that the defense expected to prove.
First, that there was no conspiracy. Second,
that the Commonwealth witnesses were
in the main disreputable people, who would
swear to almost anything, and third, that
the witnesses did not tell the truth, but told
stories manufactured by detectives, who
coerced the witnesses into telling what was
not true
The first witness called by the defense was
james M. Nellis, a newspaper reporter, who
testified that he was in Alderman Porter's
Office on official business on the day that
Mrs. Curry was there, and was in position
to hear all that was said. Alderman Porter
did not tell anybody to put money away as
a reporter was present and would see them.
The Alderman did not tell Mrs. Curry to go
home and tell fortunes for 81, but he did tell
her to quit the business, or he would send
her to court. The Squire had informed the
witness at that time that the case against
Mrs. Curry had been dismissed, ss she was
a poor woman with large family to sup
port,
MONEY WAS OFFERED.
James h. McCurdy was called and testi-
fed that during last January he had entered
suit against Maud Campbell and Charles
Huff, before Alderman Porter, making four
separate charges against them. At the first |
hearing both defendants were held for court, |
but that rehearing was had. and, on the |
testimony OF Miss Campbell and three other |
witnesses, that Miss Campbell was not a |
proprietress Of the house, but en- i
gagged there under salary. The case
against her was dismissed. Huff |
was convicted and sent to the workhouse, |
Attorney Jordan, who represented Miss |
Campbell, sent the witness notice of the |
rehearing, also some letters asking him to
withdraw the suit. The witness stated that
he never got any money to settle the case,
but that Attorney Jordan had offered him
which he refused.
Mrs. Ida McCurdy, wife of the former
witness, corroborated the testimony of her
husband, and stated that Miss Campbell and |
others had offered her money to induce her i
husband to not prosecute the case, but she
refused it.
After hearing this witness court ad-
journed until this morning. The case will
likely be concluded TODAY