Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-25
AN EASILY MADE FEE.

b. M. Levi Gets S20O From Abram Kat
kisky by Representing Himself as an
Attorney and Promising to Get Young
Kstkisky Out OF Jaf.
Abram Katkisky, of 10 Colwell street,
terday afternoon and swore out an informa-
ton against B. M. Levi, of 1873 Wylie ave-
nue., charging him with obtaining money
under false pretensea On July % young
Hebrew lady committed suicide on Penn
avenue. The facts in the ease were not al
together elear and an investigation led to
the arrest Of Max Katkisky, son of
Abram Katkisky, on the suspicion OF his
having something to do with the young
woman's death. The arrest of his son
grieved the old man and he
tried to conceive some way to get the boy
out of Jail A short time after he was ap-
preached by r. M. Levi who said he was q
son of j. X. L. Duff. He said his father
was we'll versed in criminal law, having
been District Attorney three times, and
that for compensation they would unite
their efforts to get his son out of Jail The
old man was delighted with the prospect
and at once asked the man what his charge
would be. The supposed lawyer said he
would have to examine the information be-
fore he could set his price.
Katkisky asked him to come Immediately
to examine the document, and the two men
left for the Alderman's office. Passing
down the street Levi pointed out man
standing in the doorway of house, saying
that was his father. After they returned
to the house, Lew said: "After duly con-
sidering the matter, my preliminary charge
will be $50"
time after this Max Katkiski was released
on bail through the efforts of Hunter, Ivory
& Beatty, the attorneys who will defend
him on his trial After Max's release,
Levi again visited the old man and called
his attention to the manner in which he
had his son released, ending with request
of $3.50 more to pay for services rendered.
Katkiski refused to do this, telling the man
that his charge was outrageous. Levi then
pretended to be angry and said he did not
have much time to fool with him. 81 want
money right now, " he continued, ''and unless
you give me $50 before leave the house,
Will have you and your wife and your son
put back in Jail This frightened the old
man, and his wife, who had just come in the
room, burst into tears. In his terror
S146, all the money he had, and
drawing the amount from his pocket, handed
it to him. With this his wife broke out
anew, saying: you are taking the last
cent we have, and are leaving US no money
with which to buy bread" This did not
seem to affect Levi, for he placed the money
in his pocket and left the house. Katkisky
told his story to friend, who took him to
the Office of Hunter, Ivory & Beatty, where
he stated his case. Information was made
against Levi yesterday afternoon.
Another peculiar feature of the case is
that Katkisk " received another bill of $126
for services rendered from Caspar Left, who
for some years past has acted as Hebrew
interpreter in the Criminal Court as we'll as
keeping billiard hall on Wylie avenue.
When Left came to collect the money, Kat
kisky refused to pay, saying he did not
know what it was for.
Left informed him it was for services
rendered in getting his son out of Jail
Upon Katkisky refusing to recognize the
bill Left went before Alderman Richards
and entered suit for the amount.
The case was referred to the lawyers
who are attending to the other
case and MI. Ivory called upon Left
and asked him what the service was he
charged S126 for. Left turned to him and
said: "No matter what the service was, 1t
was in connection with getting his boy out
OF Jail and that's enough" Mr. Ivory not
withstanding all his questioning could not
get any information out of Leff regarding
the affair.