Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-02
A WOMAN'S STORY
Startling Testimony Before the
Lexow Committee Today.
MRS. HERMAN'S FIGHT TO SAVE A GIRL
Police Captain Threatened to Send
Her to Prison.
MONEY FOR PROTECTION

NEW YORK, November 2-Mrs. Matilda
Hermann, whose coming has been under
circumstances calculated to raise exuecta-
ton to a high pitch concerning the testi-
mony she was to lay before the Lexow
committee, was placed upon the witness
stand when the investigators of police
methods assembled today.
But before she was sworn Street Cleaning
Commissioner Andrews, who was accused
in testimony yesterday of receiving $500
bribe while an excise commissioners. de-
manded an examination. His demand was
noted on the record, but Mr.. Goff said he
was not prepared to so on with the exam
ination.
Then Mrs. Hermann was sworn. She
came to New York in 1882, she said, and
opened a disorderly house in West Sd
street
II had some twenty odd girls there" she
said. ~
did you have seventeen-year-old niece
whom you brought from France"
Yes; but she was a good girl, and tried
to keep her So kept her away from the
house Her parents were at odds, and the
girls father, not trusting the mother, sent
the girl to me. After while the mother
got her and took her to a disorderly house
she was keeping, where she was ruined. I
threatened to make trouble for her mother.
but Capt. Haughey told me could not take
the girl away from her mother. / begged
him to take her from her mothers house."
THE girls mother " as paying SIS a week
for protection, and / Offer ed to pay that SIS
IL the captain would take the girl away.
The captain abused me and threatened to
give me five years in states prison IL did
not leave the mother alone. i then threat
ened to shoot the girl rather than see her
live a life of shame"
The witness testified further that she had
had her sisters house raided, but when the
case came up before Judge Hogan, he
shielded the captain and had her lawyer
and herself charged with conspiracy. He
has never given a decision in the case.
who was captain when you were in the
precinct" Mr.. Goff asked.
Captain Brogan."
/ "Who was the wardman?"
Reynolds"
How much did you pay?"
Il paid So a month at first, and after
ward 500"
How much rent did you pay?"
''Seventy-fve dollars"
What was it worth as a residence?"
mot more than $25 a month"
The woman told how. she rented the five
houses at big rents, because she intended to
run them for immoral purposes. For one
house she paid $3.50 rental and was told
boush one house SO in for ,1 GOO and
sold 1t last August for S13. 100"
How much did you pay Wardman Rey-
nolds when you opened the first house?'
ITO open the house, $50, and $50 a month.
lady friend paid him for the first three
II onths. l gave her the money"
AFTER three months" she said, "he came
personally to me and 1 gave him $50 for
the captain and So for himself"
How much did you pay to open the sec
ond house?"
"Oh. $500. and s25 a month for protec-
ton"
The witness said she had paid almost
every policeman on the post. She termed
her payments presents"
Witness said policemen would stand be-
fore her door until they received a 3 bill
to move on. Men would not come in while
the officers stood outside.
Mr.. Goff made several efforts to induce
the witness to take certain direction in
her evidence, but she adroitly evaded his
questions.
At last Mr.. Goff said: Now, there is a
certain police captain whom You wish to
protect?
"Yes, SIR" was the frank answer.
'You might as well tell the truth. be-
cause we know all the police officials
Names" persuasively said Mr.. Goff.
The witness studied. was silent, but under
urgent questioning adopted the timeworn
excuse, II don't remember"
Did you know policeman called The
Pretty BoyT"
The woman smiled but did not answer.
Counsel Goff took up Tiffany's records
and showed the witness where a watch had
been bought and engraved with Policeman
Coony's name. The witness said she had
no remembrance of having made such pur-
chase.
did you kiss Coony at the Grand Central
depot few weeks ago?'
No" said the woman, blushing furiously.
Then she stamped her foot petulantly and
said: "Mr. Gofr, 1 don't want to tell any
thing"
"All right; we will take a recess" said Mr..