The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-23

Saturday nights session of the kins-
ley inquiry developed the most sensa-
tional feature of the investigation. 1t
was the closing charge Of the WORLDS
side of the case and 1t was the most
serious of them all. inasmuch as 1t in
volved not only the street commission
er. but his foreman George Perigo, the
law firm of Watson & Zimmerman ana
indirectly the city councils. The ac-
cusation in substance was that the pro-
prietors of the night lunch wagons had
to pay princely tribute to prevent their
business from beingsclosed up.
Mr.. Newcomb upon reaching this
phase of the case expressed a sort of
regret that 1t was necessary for them
to stir up such hornets nest and said
that if. when he first inserted this
charge among the others, he knew as
much as he did now, he would have
hesitated to introduce the matter at
all. The charge had been made, the
witnesses We're present and he could not
do otherwise now than proceed to prove
the charge.
Aaron Goldberg was then called to
the stand. He testified that he is the
owner of one night lunch wagon and
part owner in four others. When these
wagons first came here he secured an
annual permit for SIS. paying $40 to
the city and S. as fee to the street
commissioners department. The per-
mits expired last March and he went
to Mr. Kinsley to have them renewed.
Mr. Kinsley refused to renew them and
he went to Mayor Connell. Mayor
Connell said he favored the wagons
and would see Mr.. Kinsley about the
permits. He called on the mayor later
and was directed to go to Mr.. kinsley
and that he would secure the permits
all right. Mr.. Kinsley did not openly
refuse to follow the directions OF the
mayor but instead told Goldberg to
come around later; that he would look
into the matter, when he could find
time Witness made repeated efforts
to see Mr.. Kinsley after this but could
not get an audience with him. In
April, some time after Mr. Bailey be-
came mayor, witness again went to see
about the permits.
HE SAW PERIGO.
He. was directed to see the street
commissioner but was unable to find
him. George Perigo was In the office
and he told witness not to be bother
ing Mr.. Kinsley about the permits as
Kinsley was opposed to the wagons
and could not be induced to grant the
insist on it. Perigo, however, sug-
gested to him that he might be able
to get the permit if he had any money.
Witness answered that he had little
" heroupon PerigO wrote a letter and
sealing it gave it to Goldberg with in
structions to present 1t to II. a. Zim-
norman and to allow no one else to see
It. After Attorney Zimmerman had
read the letter he told witness that 1t
would cost him about $500 to get the
permits. Witness thought this was
too much but after consulting with his
half brothers it was agreed to pay the
$500 If they were guaranteed protec-
ton as long as they wanted to continue
the lunch wagon business. When he
went back Mr.. Zimmerman told him
it would cost him $3.50 as 1t was neces-
sary, he had discovered, to see other
men than those he had first bargained
on. Goldberg paid the $3.50 by check.
The check was put in evidence. 1t
was made out on April IA, 1896, to Wat
son & Zimmerman and was for $500.
1t was signed Goldberg Bros, con-
tanned Watson & Zimmerman's en-
dorsement. and, also, the cancellation
mark of the First National bank. Gold
berg got the four permits from Mr..
Zimmerman and paid $40 to the city
treasurer on each of them.
On July last Kinsley ordered him
to close his wagons, but q S. bill slipped
into Pergo's hand made obedience to
the order unnecessary. Mr.. Perigo took
a paper to Mr. kinsley and had him
sign 1t. and after that the wagons We're
never disturbed.
A man named Weissberger, who re-
Gently opened a lunch wagon here, told
the witness that it had cost him $75
to get permit. Goldberg's half-broth-
er. Isadore Furkelstein, heard the con-
versation.
Furkelstein was sworn and corrob-
Grated this last statement of Goldberg.
He saw the July permit issued by
Pergo. and saw his half-brOther tear
ing 1t up in q rage. This concluded the
evidence bearing upon that part of
the allegations.
JONES WAS RECALLED.
John T. Jones was recalled to tes-
tiSy further about the teams. He said
he worked on a private contract for
grading behind Hill & Connells last
December, during the time he was in
the employ of the city. He also had
three city teamsters working there,
Belcher, Ramsey and Hiltz.
Thomas Hennigan, who was also a
witness Tuesday night. was recalled
and swore that last MAJ. when he,
one dag asked Edward Ramsey about
a particular red horse that was on one
of the street teams, Ramsey told him
it belonged to kinsley.
James RYAN, one Of Che witnesses,
who was absent Tuesday night. and
who, it was said, made the remark that
he would be blanked II he would tes-
titled against Kinsley, was brought to
the hearing Saturday night by Con-
stable Carman. He said he appeared
at the city hall Tuesday night at 7
o'clock, the hour which appeared on
the subpoena, and finding no one about
went away.