The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-04
EDWARDS RECALLED.
Sworn by the Defense in Police
Capt, Stephenson's Trial.
But His Testimony Proves to Be
Considerable Of a Boomerang.
sIerchants' Books and Additions
y Evidence Produced.

!, The trial of Police Capt. John Thomas
4 Stephenson, of the Mulberry street sta
ton. for alleged extortion from COM
mission merchants for unlawful use of
the sidewalks while he was In com
mand at the Leonard street station, was
resumed before the Police Commission
ers at Headquarters to-day.
Although the adjournment was to 10
o'clock, the Commissioners were not
ready to go on until after II.
There were still rumors about future
trials, but the Commissioners were not
communicative on that question. Mr.
Wellman said:
Whether any other Captain will be
brought to trial at the conclusion of this
one 10 a matter entirely in the hands OF
the Commissioners. Personally, l am of
opinion that trials before the Commits
sioners would clash with the proceedings
OF the Lexow Committee.
II was informed by Mr.. Goff some
days ago that the Committee would sit
Sept. 10, next Monday, and would ad-
journ only for few days at a time
Necessarily, we would sometimes want
the same witnesses desired by the
Iexow Committee. but I do not know
the feeling of the Commissioners.
I'VE have cases partially prepared
against four police captains, and
against several ward detectives, but l
cannot give the names of the accused"
At the adjournment Friday Mr.. Well
man had said that the case for the
prosecution against Capt. Stephenson
was closed, but this morning he offered
sion mere Merchant at SO WASHINGTON street.
in evidence. They showed these entries:
FEB. T. 1891 police captain, $50.
Lyons, testimony that he agreed to
pay and did pay to, Ordinance Man James
Supt. Byrnes was called to show that
James Kelly was a fugitive from JUS
-tfce. >fhe superintendent testified that
he gave a bench warrant to one of his
detectives the first week in July, last,
to serve upon the ex-ordinance man,
and that II was reported to him that
Kelly could not be found, and had fled
Ali this was put in evidence over the
objections and exceptions OF Ira Shafer
and John Vincent. counsel for Stephen
son.
That concluded the case for the prose-
cutiop,
dismissal and put In half the book of
Police Rules. giving the number of each
; sgction In argument on his motions, all
Of which were denied.
After Mr.. Shafer had finished reading
IBIS motions Mr.. Vincent got permission
y recall Merchant Martin NJ. Edwards,
The strongest of the accusers of Capt.
Stephenson.
MIR. Vincent ques toned Edwards about
conversation between him and Louis
Collier at 80 Harrison street on the
morning of last Thursday, the day he
appeared as a witness against Stephen
I ron.
MIR. Edwards said he did not tell Col
lier 7 am going to do Stephenson up"
has become OF Gus Thorne, who used to
be around here!'
Thorne is the policeman who, accord
. ing to Edwards, came to him and left
a card bearing Capt, Stephenson's name
and address on 1t in 1891, the day after
Edwards had been approached by him.
and told him the Captain must have
some fruit in lieu of money.
Collier replied that Thorne was dead
said Edwards.
7 Then the witness was asked to look
him in court. Edwards blushed and
said he had been told that this was Gus
! Thorne.
II called him Harry at that time
when he came to me in March, 1891.
didn't know his name" said Edwards.
II Thorne stood by during this converse
n 1tion with Collier, but Edwards did no
Y Stephenson had tried to breal
! Thorne' or have h him n, transferred to some
Edwards didn't remember. He though
he had said something like that TO som
one some time. He wasn't sure whethe
1t was at 81 Harrison street.
Didn't Thorne, who stood by, speal
up then and say, Why. Capt. Stephen
son never tried 40 break me?'"
Well, yes, j believe he did"
What else was said?' Mr. Wellmal
demanded. Lets have it all"
AS I went out, Thorne said: Don
sioners. / was sent down to your plac
&c order fruit, and that's all / knoN
, about it. Don't get me into this now
y Just leave my name out OF it, prompt
~ replied the merchant, thoroughly In
dignant that his veracity should be i'm
w. peached.
Ia, MIR. Shafer stormed and clustered hi
N, nh hnt hn n