The morning call., 1893-05-16
Whitman Charged With
Taking Brides.
HIS STORY IS NOT HEARD.
Several Women Say That He
Blackmailed Them.
coNsCIENCE-sTRICKEN WITNESS.
Fallen Females Declare That Thew
Paid The Officer So Much Per
Month for Immunity.

velyet-trImmed uniform, Police Commits
sOners TObin and Alvord, Police Captain
Douglass and Police Captain Short. sew
eraI other members of the force, LAWYERS
politicians aud newspaper men met last
night in the room Of the Police Commits
siOners In the old City Hall TO hear the
trial OF the charge Of accepting bribes,
which had been made against Police
Sergeant George Whitman and Corporal
John Parrotte by Judge Conlan.
The Judge had declared while sitting
upon the bench that the two men accused
by him had taken tribute from certain
class OF men and women, and had in re-
turn exempted them from arrest when
ever they disobeyed the law. 1t was also
intimated by the court that Wittmaun had
1massed more wealth than his salary war
rants.
Commissioners Tobin and Alvord waited
until 7:30 o'clock, and as Colonel d. NJ.
Burns. their colaborer, had not appeared.
they put on their harness, so to speak, and
went TO work.
You have heard the charge made
against you," said Commissioner Tobin 10
Sergeant Wttmann. and then asked,
"What do you plead?'
mot guilty. sir" was the reply.
Wittmann was represented by two attor-
neys, one Of whom was ex-Prosecuting
Attorney Dunno.
Judge Conlan leaned upon the legal arm
of Attorney Sullivan.
Wittmann's counsel said that the charge
against his client was vague and iudef-
mite In that 1t contained no specifications
as 10 circumstances. place nor time. But
his client was willing that the trial should
proceed, as he did not care to gain any ad-
vantage by raising technical objection.
The first witness was Marie Lauth Of
Morton street. She had known Whitman
three years and had given him, so she said,
81 80 per month on condition that she
would not be arrested for pursuing heI
unlawful calling.
She said that Whitman had compelled
her to ray the money, and that she yielded
him the tribute for more than two years.
"Why did you DO that?" asked Mr..
Tobin
because he scared me, and wanted to
keep out of trouble. AS long as l gave
him the cash ne did not bother me. He
came regularly once month for the
money. He had been on the beat about
two months before he asked me for
money. No one was present when paid
him."
The witness knew John O'Hanlon, who
is a friend Of Judge Conlan and has been
also knew Louis lAnglais, who, like
UHanlon, is said to live upon the earnings
of these women. She testified that she
had seen Whitman going into many
houses on Morton street.
"What house?" Attorney Sullivan asked.
II refuse TO answer"
"We're satisfied with that answer" said
Lawyer Dunno.
Have you paid money to any other
policeman?' Chief Crowley asked.
II refuse to answer"
"You must answer" said Commissioner
Tobn wrathfully."
NO one, sir"
"Tell he witness to tell all she knows"
said Judge Conlan 10 his attorney"
That's gratuitous insult" remarked
Mr.. Tobin. "She is here to tell what she
knows. The woman said that she had
given no money to any policeman. with
The exception Of Sergeant Wittmann.
Celine R0sal Of Dupont street said that
she had known Wittmann three years. He
arrested her about two years ago, and she
auentiy arrested If she did not
pay MIN for immunity. So she
had paid him So month for ten months,
when the Chief drove her and other women
to the upper stories OF the building they
Inhabited.
Since that time she has paid Whitman
81 90 per month.
The witness was asked II she knew any
one else who had paid tribute to
Whitman and tartly replied, II have
nothing IN say" She continued: II
paid him $40 month at one time 20 allow
me TO keep up an awning under an electric
light which had been placed near my win
She, too, knew John OHanlon and
Louis LAnglais, but could say nothing
about them.
"Have you paid any other officers for
o'5 Mr. 'ruhiU
"Can't answer"
you must answer"
mo, sir"
Seuerai other women were examined,
but their testimony was like that given in
the foregoing.
the stand and confessed that he, james
Buchanan, was keeper of rooming house
al ZIG Ninth street.
He was the star witness OF the trial and
created a sensation. He. ike tho other
witnesses who preceded him, had been
summoned for the prosecution.
did you see any money paid TO Witt
mann 10 the Lsurel-place saloon within
the last TWO years?" asked Sullivan.
Don't wish 10 swear 10 nothing"
you must swear or be sent to prison."
said Mr. robin.
mo, sir" stammered the witness.
Sullvan's face flushed. ibid you not
tell Judge Conlan an hour ago that you
saw WIttmaDn paid $50 by Josie Mansfield
to square case?"
II was forced to say it." was the as
founding reply.
Il was forced to do 1T BY Andy
Briggs. Andy was dismissed from
the force, and told me that IL
be could get evidence that would cause
Whitman TO be dismissed he might be re-
appointed. l then agreed to tell the
story about the bribery OF Whitman
in the Lanrel Palace l was told
that woman would be on hand to
eorroborate my story, but was told that she
would not appear. Briggs said he would
Wonld give me $50 for doing the job.
did he," asked Judge Conlan's startled
attorney.
HE did," and the self-accused receiver
Of bIibes advanced 10 the table at which
the Commissioners were sitting and flung
down the piece of gold before them.
Ihe money was taken by the Commits
sioners, and the witness after confessing
that he had been arrested for vagrancy
departed, but carefully refrained from
passing through the ante-room through
which he had entered. and which was filled
win witnesses for the prosecution.
Dora Duran of Belden street swore that
she had paid Sergeant Wittmann 50 90 per
month for protection"
Laura Montessaye declared that on the
lZtn OF each month for two years the
thriity officer had collected SIS from her.
before she began to pay him tribute she
was frequently arrested, but since then
sbs had not been disturbed.
Blanche Comarine of Dupont street tes-
uaed that she paid Whitman So month
Alter she had been arrested several times
and had been warned that il she did not
pay tribute she would lie compelled to
leave the city.
ohe was subsequently arrested. and the
sssS against her WAS squared for $40.
mere was more testimony of the same
sort from unfortunate women, then Lonis
manel. gambler, was examined and