New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-26
CHARGES OF EXTORTION.
SUGAR REFINERY EMPLOYEES TELL A PITT
FUL STORY.
THEY SAY THAT THEY WE'RE COMPELLED TO
PAY $50 A MONTH FOR A CHANCE TO EARN

THEY SAY THAT THEY WE'RE COMPELLED To
PAY $50 A MONTH FOR A CHANCE TO EARN
Is CENTS AN HOUR AS LABORERs.
A case of alleged conspiracy and extorton, under
aggravating circumstances is presented by three
former workmen OF the Mollenhauer Sugar Rein
ing Company of South Eleventh-st. Brooklyn.
Their names are Joseph Knabel No. 81 Mckibbin-
st.; Louis Segel. No &c McKibbin-st, Brooklyn, ana
Morris Shnorgas. No. rs Hester-st of this city.
Shnorgas learned three months ago that work
could be obtained at the sugar refinery and made
anplicatIon to Superintendent Ritter. He was re-
ferred to Mrs Annie Cohen. of No. 80 South
Eleyenth-st Brooklyn Mrs. Cohen told him that
order the place 1t would be necessary
for him to deposit bonus Of 80 with her Shhor-
gas says that he succeeded In scraplng together
900 and received place in the refinery He was to
receive fifteen cents an hour for day varying from
eight to fifteen hours. Matters went on until the
end of the first month when, according to his story,
he was summarily discharged, and told that II ne
wished work there any more ne must see MI rs
Cohen again. His second Visit 10 ner resui'eu III mo
being told II he wished to get his job again ne
must depost another S25 AS this seemed the only
thing to do he paid another $40, which was salts
factory The way was then clear for announcer
months work, which was obtained
The man declares that at the expiratio" VI '"e
month he was again discharged. and referreo o.ee
more to the woman. Another $50 suffced 10 e"apie
was up he found himself out of a job again. he
had paid in 500 and had only about $50 to snow
for his three months of work. Meantime Knabel ana
Siegel, who had engaged work on similar cohu-
tons six weeks ago. were discharged ias' We"
Saturday. When they called upon MIS- Cone"
again. according to instructions, ana were 'o'u "
The three men compared notes concluded they
had been duped and called upon LOUIS So mn thew
presented the facts stated AS they were run, un
able to pay the expense of mo case before
District Attorney Ridgway. Mrs. Cohen told the
men that those whom she had obtained e M psr
charges and that she only reserved about % u III"
80 or s25 demanded for herself. ,., ,...o ,,,os
Tribune reporter saw Joseph knaDei' wiz hsco
at No 81 McKbbin-st with his wife ana TWO
young children The family is extremely poor anu
Yes" said Knabe Il gave Cohen and his wiie
Annie s25 to secure me position IN str weeks
ago At the time out OF employment, So men
came my house with his wife where ! paiu , n,,,
the money in the presence OF my co. w.
Louis Seibe. who gave him an additional 70 mo oe
find him employment also Mrs Gonen s rUra ,,s
because she had to give $50 of the amount 90 tne
of the Cohen sne me letter
TO Mr. Ritter and when | presented 1t l was tod
to to work the following night AZ o c'oc en-
sunday last Cohen told me IL mat s d by another
Thursday / was DISCHARGED" ~
When a reporter called at Seibers home, No, No
2f NcKbbin-st Seibe was not at home. His VIE
told story which corioborGted Knabers and
said that her husband was in New-York trying 10
H. F. Mollenhauer the owner OF the refinery
at South Eleventh-st. and Kent-ave.. was seen
al MS home No lS Ross-st.. and expressed much
surprise when informed OF the accusations MADE
by II @ three men. IF such methods as that exist
for men to find employment in my refinery. said
he Il will put stop TO IT. Under no CIR
is guilty of such actions | will surely dismiss
him | cannot believe 1t. though. as his sal
enough to stoop to such methods" Mr.. Molten
hauer accompanied the reporter to the refinery
not there. -,
II will look into this matter at once said ne,
.and slit II to tn. bottom Mr.. Ritter has been
in my employ for "A year mere. and came highly
recommended from the Havemeyer sugar rennery.
where he was employed for several years.