The morning call., 1894-11-03
HEX ClOKY IOLD.
Mrs. Hermann Takes the
Stand.
VERY MUCH HELD BACK.
But She Has Also Revealed Very
Much.
ONEY PAID TO THE POLICE.
All She Had and All She Made
Went at Last for Pro.
lection.

NEwYoRK, Nov. 2.-Matilda Hermann
the keeper Of disorderly houses who was
run out of the city when the Lexow inves-
tigation began by the police, who feared
her revelations, and was brought back
from Chicago. being stopped by legal pro-
ceedings at jersey City for time-was on
the stand before the Lexow committee to-
day.
She said she had opened disorderly
houses in New York in 1892. Had twenty
odd girls then. She had 17-year-old
niece with her, whom the girls father
asked her to care for because he did not
wish her to fall into the hands Of his wife.
with whom he was a. outs.
She guarded the girl from contamination
by keeping her away from her house.
after while. however. the girls mother
got hold of her and put her In dIsorderly
house. Mrs. Hermann threatened to
make trouble for the mother, but Captain
Naughty told her she should not take the
girl away from her mother, that the
woman was paying for protection.
Mrs. Hermann offered to pay the
amount If the captain would take the girl
away. The captain threatened her with
five years Imprisonment if she did not let
the girl alone. Mrs. Hermann said she
would shoot the girl rather than see her
lead the life she was leading She had the
girls mothers house raided and when the
case came up the captain had her lawyer
and herself charged with conspiracy.
She paid from $25 TO 500 per month for
nrntarfinn SlVQFal
houses which she conducted. The police
man would stand in front OF her house till
given money to go away. In response to
a question Mrs. Hermann admitted that
there was one policeman whom she wanted
to protect, and no amount of questioning
would elicit his name. but she blushed
when Golf asked if she kissed 'Pretty
Boy" Cooney when she went away.
"You know there is bench warrant
out for you for contempt in going away
after you were served with subDe nap
asked Mr.. Golf.
Eyes. sir"
You know how to purge yourself of
contempt?"
''Yes. sir"
"You are not afraid that if a certain
political party gets into power you will be
sent to States PRISON."
81 am not afraid"
Now, when you were arrested, the po-
liceman told you to hire a certain lawyer?'
Eyes, sir; Officer Zimmerman told me
to take Stiner. now Judge. or be would
send me 10 States prison. / employed
Stiner and paid him $3.50 for the first
time and SITS for the second time. The
policeman swore he did not know l was
the woman and I was released"
ibid you have to pay the detectives?"
Eyes, from $3.50 TO $500 to fix it with the
detectives after | was arrested"
Glow about the captain feeling sore?
"WelI, the captain wanted $1,000. but 1
said $1,000 was enough, so I paid it on
opening up my house after L had been
arrested"
"Who was in command Of the precinct
when you paid the SCOOP"
Captain Brogan."
Glow did you come to forfeit your
bail?'
Lawyer Price advised me to skip. say
ing the police captain had told him
should forfeit my bail. as would De sent
to prison. / went to Europe, giving my
bondsmen S1100 When L returned L was
arrested by Detective Armstrong on a
bench warrant. l offered him $1,000 and
be said he must consult his partner before
deciding 10 let me 60. he afterward said
be could not"
you were constantly paying out
money!"
Eyes; paid ont over $1,000 month"
You paid the Police Court LAWYERS and
prison-keepers?"
TWENTY-FIVE Thousand dollars, / know
/ haven't 500 in the world now. Lawyer
Price got lot of money out of me. When
was brought before Recorder Smythe on
the charge of keeping disorderly house
Lawyer Price said that for $500 he could
get me off,"
The witness wept when she told of the
brutal treatment she had received from
the police. whenever I was brought
into court the lawyers wanted several
hundred dollars, saying they had to d.
vide it with the police"
ibid you ever see DR.. Parkhurst?"
eyes"
ibid the police warn you ?"
Eyes; 1 was sent away by the police"
"Was purse raised ?"
Yes; the police raised $1700 to send
me away"
"Who gave you the money!"
"A man I never saw BEFORE"
what did you ask him ?"
"If Captain Naughty contributed to the
purse when he said Yes 1 asked him if
Captain RYAN was in it and be said Yes
He said also that Captain Brogan and a
policeman had contributed"
"How did you come to leave New York ?'
"Why, one night the man 1 have men,
toned came to my house aid we went out
and met twelve men,"
"Were they connected with the police p"
Eyes, sir"
"And who were they"
"Oh, Mr. Golf, 1 cannot tell you."
"You wanted to open house in the
tenderloin district once?"
"Yes."
"The initiation fee there was thousand
dollars?"
81 believe So"
"When you were 10 Chicago you met
number Of former keepers Of disorderly