The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-25
GAVE CAPT. DEvERY 500.
BUILDER sEAGRIST RETELLs MS
TALE or BRIBERY.

The Jury Completed and the Trinl or tho
Accused Police Captnin Begun Yeater-
npdsy Before Justice Smyth- The Evidence
for che Prosecution IL Already In.
The trial Of Police Captain William s. Dew.
cry, who Is charged with extortion by Francis
w. SeaRrist, Jr., a builder, whose evidence
convicted ex-1nspector Mclaughlin OF n SINH
lnr charge, began In the criminal branch OF tho
Supreme Court before Justice Smyth ycster-
day morning. The jury, left incomplete by
the cxcusing on Monday of Juror Gray. was
speedily filed, the first talesman examined,
John F.. Lane, n telephone collector OF 100
West 134th street, pro wing satisfactory to
both sides.
Austin q. Fox opened the case for tho prose.
cution. lie said that he would. during the
course of the trial. chow the members OF the
Jury how II had been impossible for n reputa.
BILE business man to carry on business with
out paying tribute to the police. Then he told
Of the relations between the defendant and
Seagrist in 1903, while the former was In COM
mand OF the Old slip station. Mr.. Fox reviewed
Captain Devery's other and pointed
out to the jury as a significant point the fact
that ex-wardman Glennon had always been
his inseparable companion, and had consis-
tently followed him to each new command.
The charge OF extortlon," said Mr.. Fox,
docs not mean that the defendant went TO
business men and said to them, Pay me money
or l will stop your work. Police Captains did
not work in that way. They had men to do
that sort of thing for them. 1t was the Cap
tain's man who did this. and In this precinct he
was owned body and soul by the commander.
Seagrist was one of the early victims OF the
scheme. and great skill was shown in working
him by the police while he was tearing down
the buildings at Broadway and Pine street,
NhA attn ~ thA Af,nrinan Sn rntr (NpV1-
pany's building"
Mr.. Seagrist. Mr.. Fox wanted the fury to
understand, was an unwilling witness, mi
had brought the charges only because he had
to. He had made up his mind, though. TO tell
all he knew.
Police Clerk Delamater, who is invariably
the first witness in police cases, was then
called. He brought Capt. Devery's record in
the department, and also Wardman Glen
mons, and produced letters written by the de-
PENDANT to the Police Board each time he was
transferred requesting the transfer to his
command of lennon. Cross-examincd by Col.
James, who appears for Devery. he admitted
that 1t was customary for transferred Cap
tains to ask that certain men be transferred
with them. Sometimes these requests were
made verbally and at other times by letter, he
said.
ployed in seagrist's office In 1894, was called
ucAt. ~ ShNu lhdt ho nav u BoOu
Pine e street in May, 1861, His WORK, a. the
men. On the second day OF the job. he said.
a man in a policeman uniform came to him
and asked to see Mr. seagrisit. The latter tier was vas
officer so. The next day the man came again,
and II few days later he made another call: Mr..
Seagrist was not around then either, and wit
ness asked the policeman what he wanted. He
replied that there had been q number Of com
Ing down the building, and that Mr.. Seagrist
must call at the station house at once and see
d dsp.' R ister, W SG { n sh sa Ha''t the tGS or c thEes
again, and this time he saw Mr.. Seagrist.. They
Un5 IAN and , i stoSd toi X fr T,sT of that TT tha work Gh Wrnt
on without police interference, although not
the slightest change in the method of doing
Col. James wanted to suspend the cross ex;
animation OF Bissell on the ground that he had
fendaat W the crime ne aiiegeh in the in NJ
ment, but Justice Smyth would not permit 1t.
Co; James got the witness to say that h6 he has has
his lnndlady's name was. The witness said he
didn't know, although he had lodged IN her
been E b. before Q r Eioi rRsrt to Mr. Ns:,s ssagHr ri t.c he i" i'd
tell who had opened a certain package which
had come, 70 the office one day; He had been
Admitting that he knew the guilty person, he
was dismissed because he refused to name him.
The witness admitted that Mr.; seagrist had
ment three weeks ago. and that they had gone
to the District. Attorneys, office together. He
Seagrist's home, but said that he had not dis
cussed the case at all ut that time.
prosecution. He identified n contract which
was put in EVIDENCE and which had been made
by HIM I'm ia in inS which at o he E SSa 16s l6 to f Hraa down %Sn
and at l and 11a Pine street, in twelve days.
failing to do which he would forfeit 500 for
each additional day. In response to Mr.. FoX's
questions, he said that Bissell had reported to
him that a policeman had told him seagrlst
Just what did Bissell say?' asked Mr.. Fox.
why. he said. Mr., Seagrist. the Captains
man has v6 been AR Ground Rn s here r sevsra hn .imI IS ie ot6n
work unless you come right away and see
"Do you know who this man referred to as
the Captains man was?"
TT was a man named Glennon." replied the
James, all OF which were overruied by Justice
Smyth; ,u,.,, .,,.
Glennon and all that happened subsequently,"
We'll, y replied the witness. II was in the
building one day when Bissell came and told
mo that the same policeman was down, stairs
and wanted to see me-, went down. and there
the Captains man. and after ACKNOWLEDGING
the Introduction we left Bisscll and walked
e esE4sdi to 5n see s yoS Several %i't times. T Sat have never "%Sr
been able to find you. ! want 10 consult you
about this dust and dirt, There have, been
many complaints about It,, and you had better
g, o the station house and see the Captain.
He also said that unless saw the Captain
[ could not go on with the work. | replied that
l would 90 and see the. Captain, but that l
would have to take my time about IL, as ! was
very busy, lie could depend on my being there
sooner or later. I said. Two days later, Glen
non came around again and the Captain was
with him. This is Can't, Deverv,' he said. and
after | had bowed the Captain said: There
have been many complaints about the dust and
dirt kereabouts, and about blocking up the
street. and you had better come and see me
about the matter. / have here n letter from
Superintendent Byrnes touching it. and he
showed me n letter will Mr.. Byrnes's signature.
| did not read It.
Well, the next day ! went to the Park Bank
and drew n check for 500. The cashier gave
then / went to the station house. This was on
May o. The Captain was not In. and later the
same day ! went down again. This time |
found him on the front steps, and walking up
TO him | handed him the e%nvclope containing
the bill. lie took II, and ! said Il want you
10 treat me like a gentleman Then ] went