Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-10-11
SINS PROTECTION.

Sensational Proceedings Before the Lex
ow Committee-Omcials Grow Rich by
Blackman While Their Victims, Bled to
the Last Extremity. Become Paupers-
The Gerry Society and Its Disreputabie
Methods Exposed.
NEW YORK. Oct. 6.-The session OF
the Lexow committee yesterday was
| marked by several sensational dis
closures. Commodore Gerry's society
again played prominent part in the
proceedings, and several of its officers
were charged by witnesses with asking
| and receiving money for protection.
Early in the day Commodore Gerry,
who was present. asked permission to
make statement of the facts in the
case of Mrs. Urchittel. Mr.. Goff OBJ
jected. saying he would not permit Mr..
Gerry or anyone else to make state
ment unless under oath. so that he
could have the right to cross-examine
him. The committee sustained Mr..
Golf, and as Mr.. Gerry did not wish to
submit to Mr.. COTS questions, the
matter was dropped.
The first sensation of the day &C.
CURED when E. J. Robus, the former
proprietor of Lyric hall, testified that he
present. Witness also testified that
he paid $500 to an excise inspector in
order to get a license. Several ward
men were mentioned by him as having
taken protection money.
Then Susanna Martin, a woman 60
years old, told a remarl1abl story of
the bleeding she received at the hands
| of the police and Gerry society men.
Before witness began Mr.. Golf said he
had been informed that as late as yes
terday morning the witness was Of
fered the means of transportation to
Europe.
She kept a cigar store at Sc Allen
street. when Capt. Allaire was in the
eleventh precinct and Frank Wilson
was his wardman. Wilson was indie
pendently rich, she said. and had re-
signed, and was now in Pennsylvania
with his mother. She gave Wilson
money, she said, and she cried as she
told it. She had helped to make him
rich man; she had given a great deal
of money in her time. She had given
him jewelry, and had furnished house
for him. she said. She kept disor-
derby house in the precinct, twelve
y y
protected her. She used to, give him
SD or $50 every month, and gave him
500 at Christmas time. He wanted
diamond rings for his wife and daugh-
ter, and she gave him the rings for
his wife and daughter. She also
bought silk for dresses for his wife.
She bought sill verware for his family
water pitcher, goblets and the like
and paid $1,000 for the furniture for
| his house. She was in his house very
often. His wife picked out a carpet
and the witness paid $500 for it.
did his wife know what kind of a
house you kept?" asked Senator Brad
ley, bluntly.
''She did" was the answer
She remembered, too, when Capt.
Mclaughlin took command of the pre-
! cinct. She said she had to pay Burns,
Capt. McLaughlin's wardman, $50 and
$40 month. Burns sent a man to her
with a diamond stud. Burns ordered
her to buy the stud from him. She
did SO, and paid S165 for it. She
pawned everything she had to buy the
stud.
Every house in the precinct paid
money to the Gerry men, Mrs. Martin
| said.
Mr.. Golf came down to the time
| when Capt Cross wardman, with
Agents Finn and Becker. then of the
Gerry society, raided the house
The trouble had been made for them
by woman named Schultze, who
kept house next door, who had given
Becker $500 not to be bothered. She
told Becker that Mrs. Martin had girls
in the store, and that perhaps he could
| make $500 out of her.
This morning. said the woman,
while l was on Grand-street car a
man named Bowling met me and said:
You are subpenaed to go before the
Lexow committee"
How do you know?" I asked.
Il know" he answered, and you go
right up to see Inspector Mclaughlin
at police headquarters and he will buy
you off. Don't 60 before the Lexow
committee"
/ refused his advice.
A murmur OF surprise ran around the
room.
''How much have you paid to the po-
lice in ALP
From $1,000 to $4,000
And you are now destitute?'
The woman sobbed, Il havn't cent
left"
An adjournment was then taken IN
til next Tuesday morning.