The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-16
POLICY JIM'S TRIAL
Judge Hudspeth Charges
the Jury In the Case
Against Solomon.
WITNESS ARRESTED FOR PERJURY
Owner Of the Premises Raided Had
a Convenient Memory
Mysteries Of Gigs, etc.
WITNESS ARRESTED FOR PERJURY

M "a I'D
James, better known as Jim, Solomon,
was called in the General Sessions Court
yesterday afternoon to defend himself
against an Indictment for having been en-
gagged in this policy business. Assistant
Prosecutor Joseph M. Noonan represented
the State and Lawyers Norman L.. Rowe
and John DENIM looked out for The de-
PENDANTS interests.
Oliver Burns, who claimed to have been
In Solomon's employ, was the star wit
ness. He displayed a weakness for talking
a great deal, not for the sake of talking,
but because he was solicitous that the
Court, the lawyers and the jury should be
thoroughly enlightened on the subject.
1t was impossible to get him to answer
questions with a simple yes or no. He in
sisted on explaining everything and enter
ing into details which had no relevancy
to the case. Sometimes it required the
yers on both sides to choke him off and oc-
casionally he broke out again even after
they thought they had him suppressed. 1
The indictment of Solomon was one of
the results of the raid on the policy head
quarters at No.. 1873 Morris street made by
Under Sheriff Erwin and about eighteen
or twenty SQUIRT officers last July. They
were driven down in one of Thomas j.
Stewards closed furniture vans which ex-
cited no suspicion on the part of the sem
tinels who were on the lookout, and when
the proper time arrived they made a grand
rush into the rooms occupied by the policy
men, capturing a number of prisoners
securing a complete policy outfit except a
wheel for drawing the numbers The men
captured were indicted, tried and some of
them convicted on the testimony of Burns,
who told Sheriff Toffey and Under Sheriff
Erwin all he knew on their assurance that
he could thus secure immunity. Solomon
was on his way home from a ~sojourn in
the country when he heard of the raid.
He stopped in New York and Joined the
colony of policy exiles who have been
there for a couple of years. Living in exile
even in New York, proved irksorne to him,
however, and he determined to come back
and face the music no matter how hot the
dance might be. He surrendered himself
and was released on bail.
The witness Burns testified yesterday
that he began to work for Solomon in the
- oAo Al LII c1lR10y
until November of the same year when he
went to Snake Hill for a year, not for his
health, but because the Courts sent him
there. With the time deducted for good
behavior he was released on October s..
Three days afterwards he accepted another
engagement with Solomon and reported
for duty at Kern's saloon. No. s16 Barrow
street, where the headquarters were then
located. His compensation was to be 12h
per cent of his receipts and one-third per
cent. of the monthly profits of his books
ABOUT that time the police were active and
kept the headquarters moving pretty live
~ Occasionally they suspended business
for a week OF so and did not resume un-
I'll Solomon told them it was safe.
One day." said the witness, Solomon
and I were Sitting in the Nonparef1. Solo
mon had told us not to go to work that
morning. I said we had better send Hook
up to Drums headquarters and find out if
he was working. He came back and told
US mat Drum was working. I said that
was 100 bad as he was liable to get pinch
Cd We sat there drinking for quite a
Wnlle. solomon paid for all the drinks.
course" commented Mr.. Rowe.
One time Solomon told me to 60 to
Darcyss saloon" continued Burns. He
wanted me to go there to see a man who
was trying to get a play in us for Sevi-
qence- solomon came into the saloon after
1 got there and pointed out a man across
Ine street as the man to look out for. The
man was with Detective Pearson and Solo
mon SAD his name was Teel. After we
were Closed up for a week or so Solomon
would tell US that the police were All
right and thatywe might go to work if we
wanted to. l got the money to pay the hits
from solomon when he was there. Solo
mon also took the money when he was
there and Quigley took the books. Solomon
laid US OF occasionally telling us that ii
was not safe. Then in a few days he would
meet US in the Nonparedl or Somewhere
right"
Judge Hudspeth decided that it would
nor De necessary for the State to prove
That any drawings took place and the de-
fence took an exception. The parapherna-
ia seized in the raid was produced and
identified by Burns. There were gigs and
bers and scissors to cut the slips with the
drawing. The witness explained the uses
on all of them. He also explained that
IT. on the top of a slip meant Frankfort
lottery and ky" meant Kentucky lot
terry. Daily, who was the slip runner
brought in the slips and either Soloanonsor
Quigley made copies of the numbers. Then
Daly set up the type and printed the slip
One day in june said the Witness
solomon said in the presence of every
BODY in the place that he was going over
70 the Young Mems Republican Club in
Gregory street to find out why he was
being pounded. He did not see why he
should be paying out his good money all
the time only to get pounded every day:
He said he was going to be introduced to
Johnnie Erwin by a good man"
you been drinking?" asked Mr..
Rowe on cross-examination.
Yes, a little" replied the Witness.
HAS it affected your head?, continued
the lawyer.
n sir. not a bit" replied Burns.
Have you a good memory"
Il have, when necessary"
What do you mean when necessary?s
II mean that I have a good memory
when 1t is necessary to nave a goodsmemi-
Dry llcidly explained the witness.
suppose?"
II suppose So"
New York?s
The witness hesitated for a m~onentfand
-