The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-28

to get the state court indictments dis
missed. He said when he was taking
the money; Remember. you are not Civ
ing me this $1,000 as a bribe, but as
Donation to the society"
This testimony created a sensation in
court.
Now, are you sure you paid this
money to Anthony Comstock?"
swear before God and man I paid
him $1,000 to have the indictments dis
missed and TO secure my liberty"
Mr.. Con offered in evidence the orig
inal indictments. which had been dis
missed, as the Endorsements showed.
How does this relate to oIr inquiry"
asked Chairman Lexow.
1T is very material" replied Mr.. Goff
"as shall proceed to show"
He showed that the indictments had
been dismissed on Sept. 80, 1890, by Re
corder Smyth, whose initials were signed
on the recommendation Of the district at
torney.
"who was the district Attorney" asked
the chairman
Col. Fellows" replied Mr.. Goff at
least, his name appears on the paper"
The witness said he had never been
tried on these indictments. but that RIr.
ComstOck had subsequently had him in
dicted on the same charge and the case
was. now proceeding on appeal to the
United States supreme court. Mr.. Com
stock, the witness said, compelled him
to swear TO an affidavit, which he knew
to be false, on the threat of bringing
up the United States court indictment
against him. The witness told rambling
story of his dealings with Mr.. Comstock
and Brethold, and finally stated that Bre-
thold had informed him that he had given
$1,000 each to Mr.. Comstock and Assistant
District Attorney Mott TO get the original
indictment dismissed.
Mr.. Con- stopped the witness here and
moved that his testimony, about what
Brethold had said to him touching the
payment of this msney. be stricken from
the record.
Street went on to tell about his second
Indictment but Mr.. Con- stopped this,
too Then the witness said he had writ
ten to President Cleveland confessing all
about his relations with Mr.. Comstock,
and had received letter in reply. He
was stopped again when he produced the
letter. which he said was only from the
| Presidents private secretary, and was
merely an acknowledgment of the one
he had sent.
Street tried to tell what Judge Benedict
of the United States court had done when
ne heard that he (StreeD had written to
President Cleveland, but he was shut off
here, too. although Senator Bradley want
/ ed to see the letter
Robert Street, a hotel keeper of Tuxedo,
and a brother of the last witness, was
| then called.
did you visit Anthony Comstocls Of
| fee with your brother in August, 1902
asked Mr. Gon.
| Yes, sir
What did you see?"
81 saw my brother pay 81. 900 to Anthony
| Comstock. There was an agreement be-
| tween them to get indictments dismissed.
l gave my brother $780,"
Mr. Goff then said that the police had
| protected green goods men long ago. 1--WE
| have now evidence" said he, "if the
testimony is true that Anthony Comstock
the president of private society has ac-
| cepted money for substantially the same
thing as the police"
That's a pretty heavy indictment
! against Mr.. ComstoclS, If 1t is true" said
| Chairman Lexow.
The last witness corroborated all his
brothers story as to the interviews with
! Mr.. Comstock.
The hearing was adjourned till to-mor-
! row morning.
Policeman Robert ]. Vail, formerly a
detective under Capt. Schmittberger in
| the steamboat squad, who gave such
! damaging evidence against Capt. Schmitt-
berger before the Lexow committee, has
| filed an application for retirement with the
| police commissioners. Vail was one ,oi
| the Lexow committees principal police
! witnesses. In a measure his testimony
| had something to do with bringing out the
| confession of Capt. Schmittberger. Val
told the committee that while he was a
! detective in the steamboat squad he col.
lected $1,000 blackmail for Capt. Schmitt.
berger. Vail also told his story to the
| grand jury. He has been on the force
since Aug. 9, 1873. His application will
come before the board at its meeting to-
| morrow