The sun., 1897-12-15
MARTIN ENGELS REVENGE.
TAMMANY LEADER HAS NoRBETH
PFEFFER SUMMONED.

Accuses Him or Criminal Libei for Circulating
the Election Pamphlet which Apparently
Caused the Tammany LEGAL Defeat IN ..De
Aten-Circular Now Used TO Down Enscl.
Tho elaborate pamphlet devoted to the life
and deeds Of Martin Engel, the present Tam
many Hall leader in tho Eighth Assembly dis
triot, which was prepared and circulated by
Norboth Pfeffer an east side politician, Just
before election brought its author into court
yesterday on O charge Of criminal libel Not in
years has ''de ate" been so stirred UP rs 1t was
when Pfeffer's circular was distributed through
tho district. 1t was tho ilrst time in many
day that anybody had dared TO arraign Engel
and openly defy him TO contradict the charges
made against him.
Engels candidate for the Assembly, Phil Wis
sig,:.was defeated by tho Republican candidate,
Charles Adler, at the last election. and Engcl,
who ran for Councilman. was also beaten.
Whether It was the circular that did 1t is n
matter OF opinion. Engel's enemies say that
1t was His friends, however, attribute their
defeat to the fact that Engel let tho circular go
unanswered. 1t is a fact that Engol did not
deny any of tho allegations contained in tho
circular, and didn't take any action against
Pfeffer around election time.
The pamphlet in question, was addressed to
the "Citizens of. the First Council District" In
1t Engel was accused Of almost every crime on
the criminal calendar. particular stress being
laid on tho charges that he rented out houses
for immoral purposes, and that during the
Lexow investigation he acted as spy for the
Parkhurst society. In big black letters at the
bottom OF the circular was, Issued by Norbeth
Pfeffer. 80 Stanton street." and at the top in
similar type, "Notice-I challenge contradic-
ton"
Several thousands of these circulars wero
scattered around the district during the cam
paign. Pfeffer used to stand on street corners
and give them to passersby, and he always kept
a big supply Of them on tho bar in his saloon
at 80 Stanton street. Pfeffer is Republican.
He was formerly detective for the Park
hurst Society. but resigned to open saloon.
lie has been prominent in all Of the political
squabbles in "de ate" and Is unalterably op-
posed to Engel in everything
Tho action taken against Pfcrer by Engel
at this time has been practically forced on tho
latter. He has not only had TO fight tho Re
publicans In the district but has also had
his leadership Is led by no less a parsonage
than tho great Barney Rourke, who wants 10
last election was anything but pleasing to the
powers that DO in the Fourteenth Street Wig.
wam Engel had hard time explaining why
he and NissiG were beaten hut it was an even
tougher task to convince the leaders that it
was no fault of bis that Mayor elect Van Wyck
fell behind in the district.
The Rourke faction sent delegation down
to Lakewood several days ago TO see Mr.. Cros
Rer. The delegation took one of Pfeffer,ss
pamphlets down with them. They showed ii
to Mr.. Croker. Then they explained that En-.
gel had never denied the allegations contained
action against PtciIcr Under the cirCuni.
stances he was a menace to Tammany Hall as
leader, they said
1t was his attitude in regard to the charges
In the circular. they said, that was responsible
for for the rammany my, slump in de ate" Then
of the election district Captains favored
Rourko ms leader and after telling Mr.. Croker
that any little favor he might do the cause of
Rourke would be highly appreciated, they went
awny.
The primaries in de ate" will be held next
leadership between Engcl and Rourke. Both
sides claim sure victory. The Ruurke crowd
has been using the pfetfer circular r rs cam
to the disgust of the Engel men. who say il is
rank treason to take the fire of the common
nemy and use 1t against n brother.
On Monday, afternoon Engel., accompanicd
by Lawyer Alexander Rosenthal. went to the
Essex Market Police Court. EnGe was greatly
agitated. Ho tossed one of the circulars down
on the desk in front of Magistrate Hedges, and
In q voice broken with emotion, said:
Your Honor, l am the victom OF "A base
author of this circular"
We'll" said Engcl. Just before election"
Kind Of late in the day to kick, but Ill give
1t spread around do ate" like wildfre that
Martin Engel had at last bearded the pre-.
sumptuous Pfctrer. His friends said, Now
you'll sec what'l become of Pfeffcr Mar
tins only been laying back" The Rourkeites
sneered and said, Bluff pure bluff
The summons was served on Pfeffcr, and
yesterday afternoon he appeared in the Essex
Market Court. accompanied by his lawyers,
McManus. All OF the politicians in "dc ate"
were in court to hear the testimony, particular
mer, Bob Breeder. Julius Simon. Charley Solo
mon, and a score OF Others. Henry Goldsmith
was not there, because he wns off getting mar.
ried Engel promised Goldsmith Assistant
District Attorney Rosalsky's job as q wedding
present some weeks ago. Since the Rourkeites
have shown 20 much strength in the district
however. Goldsmith has had some doubts about
the present
for all hour about the case before ii got under
way. Finally Magistrate Hedges told them to
quit, and stationed two policemen between En-
gel and Pfercr to insure peace in that direction.
The first witness examined was Max Ensler,
who described himself us ladies' tailor of 20
East Third street. He said that two days be-
fore election Pfeffer had handed him one of the
circulars on Essex street, renarking as he did
so This is enough Of IA roastcr for Engel, and |
guess it'll knock him all right"
Tho next witness, was Louis Prayer Of 103
East 123d street. He said that having heard
about the circulars, he went to Pfeffcr's saloon
and asked him for one. Pfctfcr gave him half
a dozen Of them. He took them from pile on
the mar TWO lceI nlBn.
There was look OF expectancy on every face
when Martin Engcl was called to the stand.
Before he could be questioned at all, Lawyers
Gruhcr and Rosenthal held II consultation and
agreed to adjourn the case until some other
day. Magistrate Hedges promptly set it down
for 2:3O o'clock this afi ernoon, and the crowd
filed out Of the courtroom very much disnp'
pointed The court will be packed to-day. for
II is known that Engcl will testify, and people
are curious to hear the Cross-eXamination.
Okie Holds Tn the Canvass Again.
The Board of Aldermen, in their capacity az