The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-27
fine Peace OFFICER this
Constable HOsie Tried to ExtOrt
Money from HOtelman Couch.
ASKED FOR SEVENTY DOLLARS
In Consideration of That Amount Of
Money lie Would Not Push the Prose-
cution Against Couch for the Al.
legged Selling Liquor on Sunday.

In effect, Constable James Hosie, of
Jermyn borough, was convicted in
quarter session court yesterday of us
ing his office to eXtort money from IL
quor sellers. Hosie was the prosecutor
in case against Hotelkeeper Michael
Couch, of Jermyn, and the jury re-
turned a verdict of not guilty, and
placed the costs on the constable.
Hosie alleged that Couch sold liquor
on April Il and q, those being Sundays.
TO substantiate his charge he put John
Walsh on the stand, who said he got a
pint of whiskey from Couch one Sunday
by representing that his wife was sick.
He paid 20 cents for It, He obtained
the liquor at the instance of Hosie,
who promised to divide with him what
ever was realized out of Couch Another
man named Walsh had beer in the
place one Sunday. but did not pay for
it.
Michael Dymond swore that he tried
number of times to get liquor from
Couch ON Sunday but was always un-
successful He knew Il number of other
persons who were treated in a similar
manner.
liOsie on the Stand.
Constable Hosle was then sworn and
denied making any promise to divide
money with Walsh. He also denied
that he had made any attempts to en-
tort money from Couch. The latter,
he said. had made overtures to him to
settle the case. One time he offered
Oft lat 40
the money he wanted"
The commonwealth rested and the
defense opened. Landlord Couch being
the first witness placed on the stand.
He said that he never sold liquor to any
one on Sunday. Some time before his
arrest Hosie came to him and demand
ed $50 or S6j. 1t was refused and soon
after the present prosecution was be-
gun. Since he was indicted Hosie on
ten or dozen occasions ca me to him
and offered to settle for money con-
sideraton.
The Interview at Caliahan's.
On one occasion Hosie induced him
to come to this city to see the district
attorney, but when they arrived in
Scranton the constable. knowing that
Mr.. Jones would not consent to a set
tlement, refused to go to him, and the
party adjourned to Callahan's hotel.
where Hosie demanded $40 of Couch to
settle the case. Payment of that amount
Of money was refused
p. F.. Callahan, proprietor of the ho-
tel, corroborated the testimony of
Couch about the amount of money
asked by Hose. Callahan told the con-
stable that was too much money to ask
for settling such a case and Hosie re-
piled that there We're others besides
himself who had to be provided for.
Philip Mcdonald. Of Jermyn, swore
that he had talk with Hosie in this
city on the day Couch was returned to
court. He asked him why he had
picked out Couch when there We're 9TH
ers who We're much greater violators.
Couch is too slow" was Hosie's re-
ply. He then told Mcdonald that It
would cost Couch $50 or $65 to settle
the case.
Could Not Buy Liquor.
Thomas Clark said that Hosie gave
him money to try and get whisky at
Couch's one Sunday, but Couch re-
fused to sell him anything. In charg-
Ing the jury Judge Edwards spoke Sc
verely Of constables who make a prac-
tice Of levylng blackmal.
There is general impression
abroad" he said, that many consta-
bles make living by levying q tax
on saloon-keepers and proprietors of
unlicensed places. From my expert
ence as district attorney and from that
OF other district attorneys l know that
1t Is a notorious fact that constables
collect what Is known among them as
the 'constable's license If evidence
can be secured against such officials we
will have every one Of them prosecut-
ed"
The Judge then instructed the Jury
that If they found the defendant not
guilty they would have the costs to dis
pose Of. Though the prosecutor was n
public officer, the costs could be placed
on him II 1t was the conclusion of the
jurors that the prosecution was not
brought in good faith.
Verdict in Ten Minutes.
After deliberating for ten minutes
the jury returned a verdict of not
guilty and placed the costs on Hosie-in
effect finding him guilty of an ATTEMPT
to extort money.
1t Is probable that his arrest will fol-
low