New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-11
FINN GUILTY, BECKER NOT
MR.. JEROME'S CHARGES AGAINST HE
POLICE.
QUESTIONS WHICH he PUT TO INSPECTOR WILL
IAMs-THE DEFENDANTS AGENTS OF


IAMs-THE DEFENDANTS AGENTS OF
MR.. GERRY's SOCIETY.
The Jury in the case OF Ehwaru peoA'i .1
William A. FiCn found Finn guilty ana "cqui'o'u
Becker In Part II OF the Court OF GeheiAi oeSsioo
last night The Jury came to conclusion al 80
O'Clock after being out an hour and hail.
pocker and Finn were agents the Society for the
Prevention OF Cruelty TO Children. 1t is charged .ha
they extorted $500 from Mrs.. Sophia Martens whom
BECKER had arrested ON charge Of keeping dsordery
house at No. So Alen-st. The woman said snc eS'e
them the money to escape prosecution Incy ~eie
arrested on April "a near Twenty fourh-s ahd second
v att.r thew had an inervew with the woman
detective testified that he found roll OF bs TOW
IN all pear the spot where the two agents were taih
Ing with the woman. a,
The feature Of the proceedings yesterday was 'he
lively attack which william Travers Jerome made on
Al. police His theory that the police officials con
sp,red against bis clients. Mr.. Jerome has been con-
sncuous In previous trials when he was an assistant
district Attorney on account OF his denunciations
of the police. He subjected Inspector Williams to
scorohing cross-examination, but Judge Fitzgerald
ruled out many of his questions
The first witness In the morning was Finn he
said he was twenty years old. and lived AT NO
los East Eighty sixth-st. He was an agent OF
the society for eight years. hut had recently been
discharged He said that Mrs. Martens told him that
she would make him a nice present II he would
get her off when she was arrested. He denied that
he had ever called on her to arrange for the pay
ment Of any money to him. On the morning OF
April % he received a letter from the woman,
asking him TO meet her that evening at Twenty
fourth-st and second-ave. ne had promised to meet
her the night before, simply to get rid Of Her. but
had not gone to the place appointed. The woman had
told him that when Cassidy was police captain
In the precinct, she always got along WELL but when
Mclaughlin came he raised the devil She had to
pay him $780, she SAID that raid should be made
on her house, and she then paid him $50 a month.
Finn had torn up the letter which Mrs. Martens
wrote him. lie finally made UP his mind to meet the
woman, aud Becker went with him. She pleaded
with him to "let up" on her. AS he walked away
pistol fired and he naturally ran. He was ar
rested and searched. Finn declared HIS belief that
Inspector Williams at the bottom Of a conspiracy
against him.
Becker was recalled and asked about his bank
account, the prosecution trying show that lie had
more money than his salary would give him.
Then Police Inspector Alexander s. Williams took
the stand to deny Firms charge that he conspired
against the agent. The Inspector said that he hap
pened TO be in the Eleventh Precinct Police station
after Becker and Finn were brought there. Finn
appealed him to get him out VI the difficulty, saying
that he would be ruined If the charge were pressed.
The Inspector denied positively that he concerned
in any plot to njure the two agents.
Mr.. jerome then threw back his shoulders and began
the REORGANIZATION "Were you not at one time
In charge Of the acknowledgements ~ he asked.
YES" replied the inspector, with a SMILE a. gave
1t that name myself"
Did you know that Phil DAILY had kept
gambling house In that precinctP'
NO. l never did"
what, do you mean to tell this Judge and jury
that you did not know what common talk and
hus been published in the newspapers - asked Mr.
Jerome In surprised tones
"NO.'
Did you know as Inspector that Daily kept
gambling house In that precinct"
Ibid you know that man canseld xept GAM
bling. house there {"
Did you allow Georgana Hastings okeep
disorderly house in your precinctf"
"Or a woman called Lang to kcek disordery
house at Nos. 1O2 lO4 and LOG East Eieventi-st
That woman was arrested twice." replied the IN
spector. - .,.,,.. u,u. ~, >,
Won The agents Of Mr. Gerry society did H. what
salary do you get p asked MIR. jerome, gently.
Assistant District Attorney Barlow p weeks jumped
up with an objection. Judge Fitzgerald ruled the
= iIaev YOU yacht ~ asked Mr.. Jerome, pursuing
the attack in another quarter 49,, -,
Again there objection, whlch was again
sustained. Mr. Jerome and Mr. Weeks were botI eS
ously that this Is living above his salary that
his salary wouldn't pay his expenses
The Judge however. would not let MI jerome con-
tnue in that line Of questions. 49, A.. ,..
should read Uetween the lines. 1T must not be
possible" he asserted for the police to drive man
10 disgrace because their tribute from disordery houses
has been cut on . =, ---.,e. ,.,
Mr.. Weeks then summed up Tor the prosecution anu
Judge Fitzgerald charged the jury.