The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-28
ANTHONY COMSTOCK IN 1T
1t Is Alleged That He Accepted a
Donation" Of $1,000.
LEXON SESSIONS ARE LIVELY
Two Witnesses Testify That Mr.. Com
stock Secured the Dismissal of an In.
dictment Against Green Goods
Dealer-Lively Sensations.
BY the United Press.

OedieT-LlNciy ocusutiouSs
BY the United Press.
New York, Dec. 27.-When the ses-
sion of the committee opened this morn
ing, Police Captains Meakim, Wash
burn and Westervelt were called, but
none of them answered to their names
and they We're all reported to be sick.
Inspector Williams was then called
and put thi ough scathing ordeal by
Mr.. Goff. Mr.. Golf showed that Will
Jams had been charged with stealing
stockings from a woman; that he al
lowed disorderly houses to run un-
molested in the district in which he was
captain; that he was called a uniformed
bully, and the champion clubber of the
New York police force. Williams grew
excited several times while his record
was being mercilessly exposed, and de-
MED them vehemently or plausibly eS-
cused himself for most of the things
charged against him.
After recess, Louis s. Street was
sworn. He said he was indicted on
June 20, 1889, for a felony in cohnec-
ton with green goods.
There were two indictments found
against you?" asked Mr.. Goff.
Yes, sir" replied the witness.
Now, were you in the green goods
business?'
mo, SIR"
Had you any connection with the
case?"
mo, SIR
The witness then explained that
man of the name of Edward Beckthold
rented an office from him at &c Beck
man street. Anthony Comstock,"
said he, came to my Office a month
after and asked me to tell the name of
the man who rented the office. / re-
fused to tell, was brought to the Tombs,
and held in $1,000 bail for making green
goods"
The witness further said that Beck
thold gave $4,000 as bail for him. The
bail was finally reduced to $4,000 and
Street was released from the Tombs.
"Beckthold told me-" said the wit
ness, ''he gave $l,50O to Anthony Com
stock to square an indictment in the
United States court"
The witness also said that he went to
Europe and when he returned the state
court indictment was still hanging over
him.
A Donation for Comstock.
II went to see Anthony Comstock." !"
said he, land he said he was the only
man who could get the indictments dis
missed. 1 called to see Mr. Comstock
again in August, 1890, and / paid him
$1,000 in cash to get the state court in
dictments dismissed. He said when he
was taking the money: Remember
you are not giving me this $1,000 as a
bidbe, but as a donation to the society,"
This testimony created a sensation in
the court.
Now, are you sure you paid this
money to Anthony Comstock?'
II swear before God and man / paid
him $1,000 to have the indictments dis
missed and to secure my liberty"
Mr.. Goff offered in evidence the two
original indictments, which had been
dismissed, as the Endorsement showed.
How does this relate to our inquiry?''
asked Chairman Lexow.
1T is very MATERIAL" replied Mr..
Goff, "as / shall proceed ito show"
He showed that the indictments had
been dismissed on Sept. 80, 1890, by Re-
corder Smyth, whose initials We're
signed on the back, on the recommends
tion Of the district attorney.
who was THE district attorney
asked the chairman.
Colonel Fellows" replied Mr.. Goff
''at least his name appears on the pa
pers."
The witness said he had never been
tried on these indictments, but that
Comstock had subsequently had him
indicted ON the same charge and the
case was now pending on appeal to the
United States supreme court.
Comstock, the witness said, com.
PEELED him to swear to an affidavit
which he knew to be false on the threat
OF bringing up the United States court
indictment against him. The witness
told rambling story of his dealings
with Comstock and Beckthold, and fin.
ally stated Shat E;eckthold had in.
formed him that he had given $1,000
each to Comstock and Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Mott to get the origina
indictment dismissed.
Mr.. Goff stopped the witness here anC
moved that his testimony about wha
Beckthold had said to him touching tn,
payment of this money be stricker
from the record.
Wrote 10 Mr.. Cleveland.
Street went on to tell about his sec
ond indictment, but Mr.. Goff stoppe,
his, too. Then witness said he ha,
written to President Cleveland. con
Tossing all about his relations will
Comstock, and had received a letter 1,
reply.
He was again stopped, when he pro
duced the letter which he said was onl,
from the presidents private secretary
and was merely an acknowledgment
of the one he had sent.
Street tried to tell what Judge Bene
dict, of the United States circuit court
had done when he heard that he (Street
had written to President Cleveland. bu
he was shut off here, too, althougI
Senator Bradley wanted to see tn
letter.
Robert Street. hotel keeper of Tux
edo, and brother Of the last witnes.
was then called.
did you visit Anthony Comstock'
office with your brother in Angus
1902" asked Mr.. Goff.
"Yes SIR"
what did you see?"
II saw my brother pay $1,000 to Ar
thony Comstock. There was an agree
ment between them to get the indict
ments dismissed. I gave my brothe
5000"
Mr.. Goff then said that they had ev
dence that the police had protecte
green goods men long ago. I'VE hav
new evidence" said he, "if the test
mony is true, that Anthony Comstocl