New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-04
GARDNER TELLS HIS STORY.
BE SAYS THERE is A CONSPIRACY /.
THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ACCU1Es lin OF
PRACTISING BLACKMAIL on HALE
4 DOZEN PERSONS

DOZEN PERSONS.
Serious as the evidence against Charles W. Cara
ner looked when Part 81 General sessions was al
iouruci on Thursday night. the case wore an Ell
tirey different aspect for lin last night Inc oe
PENDANT had explained All hi, actions In connection
with the charge Of cAtortion brought b LINE CHI
ton, and had undergone Assistant DISTRICT Mtorhe!
Wellmans cross-o Xaninaton remarkably well. IAo
prosecution Indicated tina, 1t meant 10 Introduce EVIL
dence 10 show that Gardner had levied b!ackmail OF
q number OF vioatOrs Of the law. tie. However de
MED all these accusations The people are unqnes
tionably hampercd by the fact that most OF th''i
witnesses have personal cnmity against the defend
ant.
W. Travers Jerome and John w. sol, counsel Ion
the defence protested most vigorously against 'h'
holding Of IA light session. and even declared tha'
they would absent themselves If one were held They
thought better this. aud did appear after dinner
but only 10 renew their assertion that they were
physically unable 10 "a on with the case. Recorder
smyth had desired 10 finish the trial last night a.
the term of the court ended then. but he finally con
scented TO an adjournment until IL a. III. on MONDAY
The will be resumed in Part ii of the court
Recorder Smyth opened court at 10 O'Clock 10 sen
teIce number OF prisoners The trial oil "archei
was rcstmcd until after II. as one oil the Jurors
was tardy. Mr. GoG handed TO the Recorder MS
authorities In support Of III, contention That the de-
cision compelling Gardner to arise on Thursday even
ms SO that witness might identify him, was illegal.
lie wanted the discharge Of the jury. Recorder
emyth overIued all tie objections, AMI Instructed
the defence 10 open its case. Nh jerome thereupon
told the Jury in conversational way. just what his
side would plove lie outlined the story that Gard
ner told in detail later the day. declaring that there
was police conspiracy 10 convict the prisoner
The first witness for the defence ". ii. Wood
hull, secretary OF the l. ID. X. or Don't Know Club.
This meets at No. lao Lexington ave, over the bar
room where u. c. Grant, witness for the prosecu-
lion. said he Gardner about the middle Of October
Thomas f.. Moore testified that he saw the two men
there while going TO the clubs quarters. Mr.. Wood
hull explained that The club met october and 20.
Moore attended the former meeting but not the latter.
4, Mr.. Jerome then sent for Edward T. Flynn. chief
clerk OF the District Attorneys Office lie said that
the record OF felonies showed that on March 80,
1875, Captain Devery had been indicted for assault
with intent kill. Mr.. Jerome unable TO ma
what had become of the Indictment Tho next
witness Edward J. Hail. who has been a deputy
clerk In the Court OF General Sessions for twenty
years also testified that the indictment had been
found.
Then Charles W. Gardner was told to take the wit
ness stand Mr.. Con conducted the examination OF
him. lie said he twenty-Seven years Old. For
a time he kept private detective agency at No. 2o7
Broadway. The society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
to Children employed him an agent for five years
Later he became chief detective Of the society Tor
the Prevention OF Crime. He declared that he had
had q quarrel with sergeant Crowley In the Tombs
several Years Captain Dcvey, lie said had tilcd
to get him not 10 bother the disOidcrly houses in
his precinct. lie had accused the captain OF warn
ing Mrs. Lena de Melville, who kept the house Nos.
JOG and los West Fiueth-st., that warrant FOR
the arrest herself and the inmates of her place had
been issued, thus enabling the women 10 escape
Captain Devery had threatened TO get him into
trouble.
The witnesses story of his meetings with the
Clifton woman was I'm substance as follows: &C. {.
i'm from O.
the society, tried 10 get 10 join lin In getting
money from women in West Fifty-thrdst. l refused,
but heard later that he had written TO Lille ChtOh
In reference 10 backmail. told DR.. Parkhurst and
Frank Mess. Counsel for the society. Of this, and
they told NE TO tint out all the facts. Louis Allen,
Of Howe ~ Eummel. had told me Ct the note l went
with him and Lille Clifton 10 barroom TO try 10 get
the two notes from her. She gave me one. III,
called at my house few da.s later and asked her
II she ready TO make affidavit against Grant
che said Size did want TO injure Grant. The
woman never gave me one dollar. On the night OF
December she drove my house. After while
she said she must have some whlskev, 50 We drove
to O barroom at Twenty fOurtlst and slxth'ave To-
ceuler. When got out OF the cab Crowley arrested
me and Captain Devery knocked something out OF
Cnftons hand"
Mr. Welman brought all the resources Of his
trained and active intellect TO bear on the cross
examination. His questions about where Gardner got
pecially searching. The witness twisted up bit
at times. but the whole did well. Nothing. BOW
ever could exceed the deftness. quicncs and force
OF Mr.. Wellmans examination The defendant sad
that in September 1891. he had sold two lots in
Westchcster County for 500. lie got 800 month
from the society and Lad earned various sums for
other detective work. lie admitted receiving 500
from Eugene Lee who was correspondent In the suit
for divorce witch he brought against his first VIE
Gardner had also borrowed $500 from his motherln-
law Mrs. Collins. In November he bought a house
In Rutherford. n. j.. paving $500 down. lie also
linen Nj. WellnIan called IN several harsh
featured women. He asked Gardner II one
Of them, Mls. Mary Miller %, %! Ma NO; { u.s.
protection. The witness said no. Had MIS-. Mary
r Montague of 80. Ill West Thirty -iirsst., given
linn $50 Mr.. Wellman wanted 70 know. "aidh'I
lie denied getting Il cent from Etr. hate duncan
az No III West Thirty -fist-st, was then called
Mr. Weman asked Gardner if ne had not tried TO
extort money from her. lie said he had not lie
had arrested Yer twice. o-
Holm b. Dolls. WI, keeps n museum at No. 351
Fighthave came into the courtroom. lhe witness
denied getting $50 from him under threat OF prose
cntnC Rim for allowing minors in lis place, Gardner
furtssr declared that he had not tried TO eXtort
money from John 4. BayncS. OF No. ~ haSl one.
hundred and thirtcttst; lie had arrested WI, Ha"
In 1as7. He had also arrested J'n'o o. ' 9i
who was also brought into court. Gardner dchicd
askinc Jordan 10 work off $50 In bills fer him, be-
cause he the witness. feared Cey We're marked. ne
said I'm reply 70 another question tmt ne hHd not
Rose Crox order, OF which he was master. The TWO
$500 bills found his person he got from savings
Then came The talk about the night session. Re
further discussion the adjournment was taken.