Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-08
As A LAWYER
Did Justice Roesch Receive Those Outrageous
"Fees."-A Fiimsy Defence.

New YORK. June The members OF
the Senate police investigating committee
had long consultation today before they
took their seats. Senator Roesch was the
first to take the witness stand. He said
Whatever Mrs. Thurow or her husband
said with regard to giving money to me for
protection from the police is false. Mr.
Thurow came to me at the club last even
ing and told me his wife wanted to see me
l told him to bring her down to my office in
the Stewart building. She came down s
day or two after and told me she was perse.
cuted by Capt. Doherty, who put the police
man to watch her place. She told him she
was running a quiet house and said
Mrs. Thurow, am lawyer, my fee is
$780," She produced the money and laid it
on the table.
I called in my brother Charles and told
him, "Charge Mrs. Thurow 800 for legal
services" l took the money and gave it
and charge slip to Henry M. Peterson Of
my office to enter in the ledger. Mrs.
Thurow never gave me any more money
no money was paid by the club" Then
Justice Roesch said few minutes after
last night he was called upon by two men
who gave the names of Julius Fleisch, East
Houston street, and Otto Weissberger, who
told him Mr.. Golf had subpGnaed Mrs.
Fischer to give evidence against him.
Weissberger told him the matter could
be squared and Mrs. Fischer bought off.
II told them,'' said Justice Roesch, II
would have nothing to do with them; if
they they had anyth ng to say to me would
be in court today"
In answer to questions by Mr.. Goff, the
witness said he had keepers of disorderly
houses for clients but never promised them
police protection; he never took money as
a Tammany leader to secure protection; as
a Tammany leader he could have nothing
to do with Mrs. Thurow, but as a lawyer he
accepted 800 from her. Mr.. Roesch be-
ing asked to name other keepers of dis
orderly houses whom he had as clients,
named Mrs. Fischer. She paid him $500.
The witness got very indignant when asked
if he had not been asking the people in his
district not to come before the committee,
and said the insinuation was infamous. He
admitted having had Sergeant Cheyer
because somebody else
wanted his place. He always helped his
political friends. Mr. Roesch also charac-
terized as infamous the insinuation by Mr..
Golf that the account book witness brought
to court for the purpose Of showing ac-
counts with Mrs. Thurow and others had
been prepared since the committee began
the investigation. He never received money
for having men appointed on the police
force or in the fire department. Lena
Cohn was called to the stand to identify
Capt Seibert and Detectives Farrell and
Brennan.
She identified the two detectives. Captain
Seibeit stood up and Mrs. Cohn Unidentified
him as the captain she talked to in the
station house.
Justice Roesch took the witness chair.
He said he received 5000 in ali from Mrs.
Fischer. He had never heard he was
called public nuisance because of his
frequent visits to the district attorneys Of
fice" He succeeded in getting license
for client named Butler who kept a con-
cert saloon on tie Bowery after the excise
refused to grant one. He was
unable to tell exactly what sum he received
for his speech before the execise commits
'ioners in Buffers interest; it was not as
much as S40c. He procured a license for
, man named Palmer for which he received
sI50.
Witness denied that he ever directly or
collected money for appointments
IN the police force. He denied that he re-
,eived money from man named Werner,
i saloon keeper, for protection. Witness
lenied that he paid any money, received
my money, or ever knew the police re-
,eived any money from keepers of dig
'rderly houses, except having read it in the
Amelia Lentz, who formerly kept a sa-
Don, testified she was obliged to pay the
'olice for the privilege of keeping her sa-
DON open Sundays. Charles Dazer testi. |
led to having supplied beer to disorderly
houses. He said a man named Rosenthal |
paid s35 mocth for protection. He knew