Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
THE ALDERMAN DEFENDS HIS SAFE
Cnly Five or Six Law and Order League
Fines Collected BY Him.
DEEP MYSTERY STILL UNSoLVED

AAo
man, it seems, has been thoughtful
enough to inform him. While he has
assumed to sit in judgement on cases
brought by the Law and Order League as
represented by Houston, Leggate and Nc
Crory, under the old statute of 1894, and
while he has, according to his own state
| ment, imposed the usual fine of S25 on a
number of unfortunate victims, he states in
all seriousness that he doesn't know who is
the proper person to receive money due the
State
From the publication in THE DISPATCH
yesterday morning. he stated yesterday that
he supposed Attorney Frazer had authority
to receive the money, but outside of infor-
nation received in this way, Mr.. Robes s
knowledge on the subject is as bright as
Darkest Africa"
Justics Hidden in a Cellar.
Mr.. Rohe, as has been stated before, is
an Alderman. Proof of this fact can be
found in the county records He has an
Office on Wylie avenue, above kirkpatrick
street. The temple of justice in which he
sits is in the basement of private house.
A balf-dozen narrow steps lead to the en-
trance. The room is about 16 feet square. 1t
is isolated from public view, and on this ac-
count is especially adapted for Law
and Order League hearings. When re-
porter called on the Squire yesterday it
was found that his greatest grievance was
the insinuation in yesterdays DISPATCH
that the safe in which he keeps Law and
Order documents was old and possibly rusty.
Mr.. Rohe wanted it understood that his
safe is a new one, and, in justice to him, 1t
should be stated that it is either new or
painted over. Although not large, il is
respectable e-looking safe and should be pro-
vided with better home. 1t is brightly
vanished and on account of its brightness
forms a striking contrast to everything
else in the room. The other most conspicu-
Gus pice of furniture is printed piece of
cardboard, on which are conveniently ar
ranged the fees which Aldermen are allowed
to charge in certain cases. 1t is within the
Courts domain, shut off from the rest of
the room by an iron railing.
Throneroom of the Law and Order League.
In one corner OF this quarter a high
platform has been placed, on which
His Honor can separate himself from the
common herd while hearing Law and Order
cases. The room is lighted with two kero-
sene lamps that burn as dimly as tallow
candles. Alongside of them on mantel
are placed two glass limitations of the statue
Liberty Enlightening the World" In
Justice to the French Republic, however, it
should be stated that there is no accom-
panving diagram making a claim that the
Law and Order Society enlightens any
thing.
Alderman Robe was at supper when his
Office was visited Yesterday. He came into
The room shortly afterwards and when asked
why he had not paid over the fines due the
State he replied:
81 did not know who to pay them to- No
person ever called upon me for them I
lave the money and will pay it over as soon
as it is demanded.
Glow much do the fines amount TOP"
81 do not know the exact amount"
''Can't You give an estimate?"
81 have fined five or six persons" Mr..
Rohe replied.
"What was the fine in each case?"
twenty-five dollars"
':How long have you been trying Law
and Order cases?'
"Since last April.A
Convictions in Only Five or Six Cases.
"And you have only had five or six cases
since then?"
"Oh, yes, have had far more hearings,
but some of them were discharged and in
other cases fines were suspended"
'Who paid the costso''
''The defendant some times and In other
cases where there was no evidence against
the accused, did not receive any costs -
could you not have compelled the prose-
cutor to pay them?'
81 could"
"And of course you did?"
81 did not"
"Why not?"
The question was not answered. The op-
presslve silence was broken bv Mr. Rohe |
calling attention to his new safe. When
asked if he did not think 81, 900 was a small
amount 10 represent fines collected in Law
and Order cases in the last five years. the |
Alderman replied that he knew nothing
about Law and Order business previous to |
the time he commenced taking their cases.
Attorneys who were spoken to Yesterday
thought that Mr.. Frazer could go into court |
and compel the Aldermen who have handled |
Law ana Order business to show their books |
and prove that they turned in all money |
Inc 1act tnat CarlySle, Bell and |
Brinker had only turned in about 81 900 |
was surprising to all who have watched the |
societys actions If they imposed the reg
ular fine of s25 it would only require 40 |
cases to reach that amount.
Tho 40 Convictions Statement Doubted.
1t is admitted that the society, since its |
has dwindled down to three,
has been pretty big buffer, but even the |
most imaginative did not believe that out of |
the thousands of informations which have |
been made, only 40 we're on sufficient evi- |
dence to convict. The plea that all the rest |
were discharged opens question Of law |
that is interesting.
A question was raised some time ago |
with the Aldermen in Philadelphia who |
were doing the business for branch of the |
Law and Order League in that CITY.
The Aldermen are not doing business now.
Agent Mcclure, accompanied by three
detectives. swooped down on Oakdale last
night and captured DR.. Say, the alleged
proprietor of a speak-easy. The fact that
the Law and and Order people were coming
reached Oakdae in advance and when they |
arrived they found the greater part of the
town out to receive them. DR.. Say was
caught on the street. He offered no resist
ance The oil drillers made Rome howl
with their yells, but we're wise enough not
TO interfere.
Not the Law and Order League.
The citizens of Oakdale claim that it is