Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-06
RAMBLING EVIDENCE
On the Part of the Law and
Order Society Agents
Results in the
COLLAPSE OF FIVE CASES.
One Detective Who Has Lived in Pitts
burg for a Whole Week.
MANY QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED.
Mcclure Undertakes the Work Usually Left
to Attorney Yost.
COLLAPSE OF FIVE CASES.
MANY QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED.
Mcclure Undertakes the Work Usually Left
to Attorney Yost.
ALDERMAN P0HES LATEST DECISIONS

tectives and general manager of the Law
and Order organization, yesterday morning
disposed Of another batch of cases brought
against Pittsburg newsdealers, in which
they were charged with selling papers on
Sunday. Theo Supert, Adam Walters and
John Benham were found guilty" by the
Squire. Joseph Diener. c. w. Wade,
Joseph Beck, Charles +. Smith and John
Schafer were declared not guilty" and
were discharged at the cost of the mysteri-
Gus prosecutors Jack Hummel and Charles
Budd, also charged with the same offense,
did not appear for hearing. Their cases
were continued. The net result must have
been rather discouraging for the L. & o.
attack on the newsdealers Thus far with
all the flourish of trumpets they have only
secured judgments in five cases, and of these
fewer will be left when it comes to the
sitting in court.
The cases are heard in Alderman Rohe's
little business Office. The dingy place was
crowded beyond comfort with Law and
Order detectives and curious people, both
black and white. Attorney w. b. Rodgers
appeared for the defendant, while Agent
Mcclure stood as attorney, prosecutor and
coacher for his rusty looking detectives
Lawyer Yost, attorney for the Law and
Order people, was not present. He sent no
excuse for his absence, but his peculiar
legal tactics and methods were there in fine
form in the person of Mr. Mcclure.
The Agent Had Learned His Lesson.
Agent Mcclure knew when to object Just
ra11 ag h.
pulling the string on him, and Alderman
Robe knew when to sustain the objection as
well as though Nost had been present TO in
dicate. The little Squire broke all former
records during the hearings yesterday, and
for the first time in his rather extensive ex-
perience in Law and Order cases he refused
to sustain an objection raised bv the prose-
cution. 1t is not vet definitely known
whether the Squire considered the obiec-
tion immateriaI to the case or whether he
made the ruling in a fit of absent-minded-
ness. To be certain in the premises, how
ever, Mr. Mcclure called the attention of
the Alderman to his heretofore unheard of
decisions. but the Alderman only looked
confused and said nothing. Two new Law
and Order detectives appeared at the hear
ing.
Theodore Supert, of No. 3515 Butler
|
Detective" Lewis appeared as prosecutor
He did not allow Mr.. Mcclure, acting as
attorney for him, TO raise objections to
questions. He did the objecting on his own
account and on several occasions he ex-
planned to ". b. Rodgers exactly what |
was and what was not pertinent to the case
Detective Lewis swore that he had pur-
chased q paper from Theodore Supert on
Sunday, December 13. He had not, he said,
bought it at Surert's Butler street store,
bat from Supert, whom he met Oh Penn |
avenue near the Forks of the Road
Where do you live?" asked w. B. |
Rodgers.
His Residence State Secret
''That has nothing to do with this CASE
Detective Lewis answered.
Where could you be found if wanted?'
Mr. Rodgers asked.
."Now, Squire, object to that question. |
1t has nothing to do with this case the |
mysterious detective again said.
Mr.. Rodgers insisted that his question be |
answered. He appealed to the Alderman,
and explained that in Pittsburg, with pop
ulation of 240,0e people, it would be diff
cult to find Detective Lewis He was
present as the prosecutor, and the prose-
cuted had right to know where to find him |
in case they wanted him.
aswered when the Alderman refused to con-
slider Mr.. Rodgers appeal. "and that's all
1t has to do with this case. -
How long have you lived in Pittsburgh"
Mr.. Rodgers asked.
Il have lived in Pittsburg for a week"
the detective answered. This answer pro-
voked an uproar among the spectators and
Mcclure objected vigorously to the noise
Before last week the detective admitted
that he had lived in CHARTERS borough.
where he resided when the information
against Supert was made. He refused to
tell what business he was in before he be-
come a detective. He had not been en-
ployed by Mcclure for any particular time.
Were you employed by Mr.. MeClue BY
the day or by the month";" was asked by
Mr.. Rodgers.
An Answer Amuses the Alderman.
''That is my business was the detec-
tIve's prompt reply. This amused the
Alderman, and for the first time during the
hearing his calm judicial features relaxed
in smile. In conclusion, the witness
identified Supert and said he had purchased
a paper from him between and 9 o'clock
Dn Sunday, December il. The case was
closed and the defendant was fined So and !
costs An appeal was taken.
Supert was not called in his own defense.
To The DISPATCH reporter Mr.. Supert
said positively that he had never been at
he Point on Penn avenue, where the paper
IS alleged TO have been sold, at the hour
given on Sunday morning.
Joseph Deiner, the news agent at The
and Lake Erie depot, could not
De identified and his case was discharged.
Charles W. Wade, of The DISPATCH |
business Office, was the next culprit called
Lewis was also called, but his evidence was
lot clear, and General Manager Mcclure
vent to the stand in behalf of his organiza-
ion. Lewis identified Mr. Wade from
whom he said he bought paper on SUNDAY,
December %, 1891. Lewis swore he bought | ,
he paper from Mr. Wade at l o'clock on |
sunday afternoon.
''How did you know it was 1 o'clock in
he afternoon" Mr.. Rodgers asked.
u had seen the time just before bought
he paper, the detective answered.
'How did you come to go to The DIS
'ATCH office?' Mr. Rogers asked.
Lewis objected. Rodgers appealed to the
Alderman. The Alderman seemed to
waken from revery and his expression
Indicated his intention to rule in favor of the ,
defendant, and Agent Mcclure evidencinr
larm also objected. His objection did not :
7eigh enough, however, and the Alderman I
battered all MS precedents by refusing to
ustain the objection, an6 the witness as
ounded those present by boldly asserting I
hat he had gone TO the Office to buy q
aper.
Did Sot Make Out a Case y
Agent Mcclure then took the stand and :
aid ne had made the information against 6
Ir. Wade on information furnished him by
,ewis. Mr. Wade was called in his own
stense lie testified that he had not sold | {