New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-21
FI,ACK'S OWN STATEMENT.
WHAT HE TOLD THE GRAND JURY ABOUT
THE DIVORCE.

CONSPIRACY CAsE-THE SHERIFF FOUND 1T
IMPOssI BILE TO LIVE WITH HIS WIFE
The prosecution in the Flack conspiracy case
aad closed its side when the court adjourned
Yesterday afternoon, and this morning the de-
fence will begin the work of keeping those under
indictment from conviction If that is within their
power Ex-Judge Fullerton will make the open
ing speech for the defence. He will probably
he followed by eX-Judge Horace Russell John
IL Bird may have few words TO say on behalf
of his client, Meeks-" Our joe" as he calls him
before any witnesses are sworn. The prosecution
took the wind out OF the sails of the defence
by admitting as evidence the testimony which
Sheriff Flack gave before the Grand jury last
September. In it were many damaging admissions.
The first witness called for the prosecution
Yesterday morning was Samuel II. Smith, clerk
at No 1852 Broadway. lie the husband of
Mrs Margaret Smith, in whose clearinghouse
Sheriff Flack and Mrs Reynolds lived under the
name of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Raymond. The
witness knew the Sheriff as Flack when flack was
living in his wifcs clearinghouse as James A.
Raymond. No objection raised to this state
of affairs until after the exposure of the case
was made in the newspapers. Then, on account
of the notOrety of the case, both he and his wife
GOT mad He went down TO the Waywayanda
Fishing Club, at South Bay, where the Sheriff
was staying, and told him that Mrs. Raymond
must leave his house. At the same time he re-
marked that he and his wife going away on
q vacation. and that Mrs. Raymond might take
the boy Eddie" and 60 with them To TINS the
Sheriff asscnted. and gave Smith Sl95 TO pay all
the expenses. The party started for Saratoga I'M
mediatcly, and remained away for four or I'VE
weeks in and around Saratoga.
Gus" c. Roeder, the reporter who had an
interview with Mrs Flack at Little Britain
told of his trip to Lemburg and his oVerhcarhS
what he supposed was conversation between
Mrs Flack and her son will" He was IN
room adjoining theirs in the hotel, taking nap,
when his wife called him. He heard loud voices,
those of a woman and of a man. lie woman
voice was that of Mrs. Flack, and he Thought
that the mans voice that of her son. lie
heard Mrs Flack say: What are you doing
here? You ought to 90 back TO New-l OK. lAeh
he heard her say You know | only wanted a
separation" After this there was silence for a
few minutes before he heard the man say; " Well.
j know that, but you know father was after me
all tie time" There was controversy between
Colonel Fellows and eX-Judge Russell as TO
whether Rocdvrs statement that the mans voice
which he heard in his best Judgment that
of Will should be admitted as testimony 1t
was not admitted, because Roeder had not heard
youns Flacks voice previous to hearing the CON
veIsatIon.
Lx-Judee Fullerton took the witness in hand
TO c1oss-cy anime him on behalf OF the prisoners.
hoeucr piainIy cohtTadicted the testimony given
BY Mrs Flack Tuesday, when size SAID That
lot TO her knowledge mad she seen reporter
since tile exposure oi the divorce was made. Mr..
kOcder testified that lie met her several times.
tooK her TO Little Britain, and Oh his Trip there
ior MS paper she revised and corrected an IN
lerview with her which he telesraphed TO his
newspaper.
James j. Donnelly, a young clerk in Mr..
Wright's Office. followed. lie knows Joseph
Meeks well. He often saw him in the County
Clerks Office and also in Mr. Wright Office
lie told of a conversation with MeekS III the
County Clerks office, which created more or less
CONSERVATION in the ranks of the defence Meeks
called him 10 his desk and asked him where NJ
Wright was When he told Meeks that he was
out Of town, Mceks said We'll, keep him out
Of town. He doesn't know anyt thing about this
Fack lie was merely set down as the
attorney of record. | vas appointed referee. and
] took testimony, and the case has been settled.
These reporters might just we'll have the papers
in the if they want them. Mr. wright Is
all right He had authority from Mcneil 10 act
! will see that this matter Is hushed up.
Jerome Brady, the stenographer who took the
testimony given in the Grand jury room, was
called 10 identify the notes which he took at That
time The defence would not allow the type
written extracts Of the proceedings Of the Grand
jury room TO be admitted untu they were com
pared with the stcnocaphers notes. \ recess
was taken before this was begun, Tor II meant
several hours of dry and unintercstng proceed
ings.
Before the afternoon session began, eA-Judec
Horace Russell held long private consultation
with Judge Barrett. after which the lawyers for
the defence consulted with one another for some
time Mr.. Brady. the sicnographer. read the
notes which he took during the examination OF
Flaclx before the Grand Jury. Much Of this tesil-
mony has already been made public bat some OF
it, relating the selection OF tie referee ana 10
the testimony of those vino swOrc to hls lnDdehty,
was revelation and il had marked effect upon
the members of the jury. In his testimony be-
fore the Grand jury Flack admitted the rutn
of the evidence obtained from Mrs. smith ana
Mary Cannon regarding the methods used IN get
ting their testimony Mrs. Raymond took charge
of that He was led TO obtain the divorce through
the actions Of his wife. who, since her mother 5
death had sunk lower and lower until living with
her WIS impossible Both We're happier apart
She WAS in such condition that II sometime
took several weeks to get her well enough 10
write her name. lie would not send her to an
institution as her physician advised bli rs she
vented 10 be away from him, he Thought 'hat "A
divorce would be Just the thing. lie got the
divorce in the Wy that he did because. as ne
said. in looking around ] found out from me
Judge Morell that this had been done ID que,
way many times. and by prominent men: an" )
did rot want any publicity about IT. because J.
VS. in pnhlic life and held an official position.
This ended the case for the prosecution