New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-28
A GREENGOODS KING on TRIAL
MICHAEL RYAN BEFORE THE BERGEN
COUNTY COURT.
ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE LYNpHuRsr AS
SAULT LAST MAYA WITNESS IDENTIFIED
THE DEFENDANT AS A MEMBER OF THE

mon w,s beeun this morning before Judge Van
Valen. Little time was wasted In opening '"e COS
most of the ground had already been gone over IA
the trials Of Frederick Ranges the convicted MOTEL
keeper OF Lvndhurst. Prosecutor Stage represented
the people, and Ernest Rooster and ex-Prosecutor
Campbell conducted the defence.
Ryan who Is a Incorporating man. ABOUT ior.y-
five wears old sat near his counsel. He resembles
an opulent business man more than swnoier' anu
Judging from the wealth OF jewelry and diamonds
with which he adorned. he has prospered IN MS
dealings with Jays and 'comc-ons. his ihtehi-
gent face wore a placid expression throughout inc
taking OF testimony, save when waiter SchaieI' "a
Passalc was on the stand Schafer has known Hya"
for a number Of years, and his dentihcatloh OF n'"
as one of the assaants of Mullins and Grahain' OH
Nav % last was so complete to make the defend-
ant vince and protest his counsel that the withes
mistaken.
The specific charge against Ryan Is oHerihs 70 sen
counterfeit money In violation OF statute Oh Ne"
Jersey which was passed for the purpose OIL aes'oy
ing the "greengoods' Industry which iormeriy
thrved in Hudson Bergen and Passac Counties Inc
casa ls n outgrowth OF an attack made by party VI
four "greengoods' men, on Hugh MuNins anu 'a,ie'
Graham in Ranges's Hotel in Lyndhurst' Mullins
had been defrauded by 'greengoods men SOME l,,'e
before, and ne and Graham went 10 LyHoh"'S' "'
the intention OF forcing the gang there 10 return
part of the plumber. In the guse OF Jays thes a
rived at Ranges's place, but Detore they oo''u
cute their purpose. which was TO snatch par W
good money the operators fell on them anu oea
Mullins with a blackjack. Graham escaped from TIC
room and moment later the crooks Ieit lhe hou'e
Jumped into a buggy and drove away Inc WV
"come -ons, were promptly arrested by Mars"ai
NcKenna of Lyndhurst who appears TO nave pee"
IN ,eaeue with the "greengoods' men, Ranges was
subsequently indicted for conducting disorueiS
house. was convicted and heavily fined.
The first witnesses called yesterday were Mui"s
and Graham who recounted the affair In when they
had been convinced that the greengoous men
knew how 10 fight we'll as sell bad money LOT soou
They acknowledged that on the day the troupie %
Cured they had been drinking considerao'y anu
they were so intent doing up the sharpers th~t
they failed TO recognize any OF them. Nei'he' VI
thom could identify Ryan member OF the gang
FREDERICK Ranges whose house was the headquar-
ters for the gang for three months was neat '"'
He appeared to be unwilling witness, anu l'S o'''y
way that anything tangible could De got OUT Vi
HIM was by the closest sort OF an examination Wy
prosecutor Stagg When he had retired smile
lowered about the lips of the prosecutor VINO clearly
saw that the web OF proof was winding ABOUT the
prisoner. 49,.
| Ranges declared that about ten weeks or 'hrss
months prior 10 the assault, three men, VINO alter
ward proved 10 be "greengoods' men, occupied t"o
| rooms on the second floor OF his hotel They were
| oulet Orderly people, and only used the rooms ior
| few hours each day. Strangers irequehty 'iS',eu
| them The men always drove TO the notel III naehS'
| While they occupied the rooms, Ryan called upon
| brief however. and ne seldom renaihed o'ei &c"
| minutes.
In an endeavor to jog the memory of the Witness
Prosecutor Stage asked: Who engaged these
rooms?"
IN explain that" rejolned Ranges i was IN
| / think one OF them Mr.. Ryan. but Will not
swear thar 1t he. AT any rate, ne asked "netei
| had room to rent. and / showed MN up1.a amid
! lie seemed satisfied, ana tod pe that man "oula
call next DAY and pay the rent IN pretty sure ma
! 1t Ryan who ala the TAKING out "''' NV
| swear positively 10 that Ia, T., N.u
You swore to 1t here in court and also IN New
icrk rD repled the witness. but was excited
then that / didn't know exactly what 10 say -
Ranges went on to say that the occupant Of his
had trunk and siwsyI saTrs nderson
constable came after the trunk. and the witness h
helped TO carry II Out OF the b oo ali re Of when were
filled with slips of paper, cut 10 the s'|e VI ~"
From rumors flying about the town Ranges said ,a
that he gathered that the men were running nad
SO he tod 70 E The next day Marshal
McKenna and Constable Anderson came AROUND 10. anu
and one Of the men drew revolvers, and after a
short parley McKenna declared that ne wou ne ie.
! them 20 II they would return the next day. Ihey
went away and came back the following morning,
| and Mckenna shrewdly reasoned that tney "eie
.all right or they would have remained away.
| on DISCRIMINATION Ranges. who seemed TO be
anxious to spare Ryan. reiterated over ana over
that he could not positively swear that Ryan rented
thS rooms He manifested so much anxiety to re-
leve Ryan's embarrassment that me JuusS ,' uoa
MIN hand and after much questioning ei, ~ hjs
the lnforma ton that Ryan was. to the pest Oh HIS
knowledge, the man. ..,,, .,.... ,no a.
under Indictment for his connection, as an omciai;
with the swinders. He detailed the mold up Oh
the "greengoods' men In which ne piayea a star
| mart The Prosecutor asked him II he mad ever re-
ceved any money for not disturbing the rars
hut before he could reply Mr. Rooster, VINO IeppIs
scented Ranges and who Is also employed by Ander-
well by Ryan warned hum not 70 Who
This unusual action aroused prosecutor o'ass, WI"
minated that he occupied peculiar position. as
he was opposed by an attorney VINO repre s ~
nrl, ,he defendant but also several OF the STATE
witnesses The Court instructed Anderson not 70
reply if his answer would incrminatc MN, ana Oh o
thnse grounds the witness declined 10 respond 10
the question He subsequently admitted Ihat ne
had testified in open r S0nrt 'n o visits he had paid
to RYAN and OF the latter's concern over RANGES
trouble. II, 400 asort I, Ranges
ho.e when the assault took place. told or the lhci
dents Of the day He was in the dining-room when
he heard n scufle upstairs and seVerai CRIES ot
"NInrderi" Before he could leave the room to go
10 the assistance of the persons VINO MeIe 81 linz,
Mullins past the window with DIoou slrea H
from several cuts on his head a moment iatel iou
men rushed through the dining room and escaped;
one of them. ne declared was RYAN whom ne haa
known FOR six seven years TWO OF the Others I
We're ~ led" Lyons and Charles Graham. both we'll
known crooks and manipulators or greehgoous, L.,
The attorneys for the defence tried TO snake
cc n identIfca alton but instead thew caused him
10 declare more positively that their Client 'oo p'
~ tmu G sbeck who was with Schafer cor
celebrated the latter except as TO the identincaon
and Chief Of Police Hendry or Passac meg oar
importance Frederick Walters, hackman' VINO ,
generally delivered the "come-ons' at the hotei,
was called. hut he was so refractory that ne WIS
Amonq tho witnesses upon whom Prosecutor
sagg will cali to-morrow are Anthcny Com Oe,
Defective Ecliv. of the New-York Central Once:
and Michael ~ Richie who was Rangess first
attorney and who "a popularity believed 10 know
great deal about Ryan's connection with the gang