The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-14
PROFESSIONAL BONDSMAN.
New Workers. Money Making Scheme
Despoiled In Court

New York, Oct 14.-Annie Matthews a
negress of large proportions, of many
aliases, and a reputation which is in
scribed on many pages of the TenderlOin
police station blotter, was arraigned for
examination on a charge of larceny for
the West FOrty-fOurth street police
court yesterday. Last Friday morning
she was arrested charged by Henry
Post, who said he was a druggist and
lived at % University place, with rob-
bling him of $50 in Ter derlOin saloon.
The negress was hauled to the Tender DIN
station and arraigned before Acting Ser
geant Fennell. He entered Posts charge
on the blOtter and the Matthews woman
was locked up.
There are two stories to the subse-
quent proceedings. In both stories one
William r. Nelson plays conspicuous
part. Until the Matthews woman was
arrested the light of publicity was not
thrown on Nelson or his business, and
the publicity he is at present enjoying
is entirely unsolicited. Mr. Nelson is a
man with a pull. He is a Tammany
man, and is in the liquor business. The
Tenderloin habitues call him a profess
SiOna1 bOndSman.
When the Matthews woman was
locked up Nelson soon heard of it. She
is one of his clients, and a good one,
too. Nelson hied himself to the police
station, where he enquired the cause of
his clients arrest. He was told what
charge had been made against her. The
The larceny of S25 or over is grand lar
ceny. Grand larceny is a felony. The
person who is charged with a felony
can't be bailed unless MAGISTRATE ap-
proves the bond. Nelson knew this.
and so did Acting Sergeant Fennel1.
Nevertheless, the negress was bailed by
Nelson and the acting sergeant took his
bond.
The Matthews woman was then re-
leased. While Nelson was leaving the
station house Post, the complainant re-
entered to get some further information
about appearing in court. Nelson
called Post to the sidewalk and talked
to him. A tipster who lounges about
the station house alleges that he over
heard the conversation which passed
between the two men. After Post had
left Nelson the station house lOunger
accosted the druggist and told him that
he was a reporter. Hearing this. Post
told the station hanger on that Nelson
had ordered him not to appear in court.
The hanger-On told Post not to pay any
attention to Nelson, as he was a profess
siOnal bondsman.
When Post appeared in the court in
the morning he told Magistrate Olmsted
of his talk with Nelson, and said that
three reporters had told him that Mel
son was a professional bondsman.
When Magistrate OlmSted heard this he
decided that an investigation was in
order. The three regularly accredited
reporters who are assigned to the sta
ton house were subpoenaed to appear
in court yesterday. Nelson was also
subpoenaed. When the case was called
all the witnesses We're on hand. Post,
the complainant, wasn't. Nelson had
former Assistant District Attorney Bat
tie and Lawyer Louis Bowenstein to
look after his interests. The subpoenaed
reporters told Magistrate Olmsted that
they knew nothing about the case at all.
Nelson's lawyers made a statement in
his behalf No complainant being pres
ent, the Matthews woman was dis
charged. So ended the investigation.
Nelson keeps a saloon on the southwest
corner of Seventh avenue and Thirtieth
street The place is it is said. one of
the worst dives in the city. The police
call it a ''black-and-tan" joint. It is just
across the TenderlOin boundary line, and
within half a block of the Tenderloin sta
ton Nelson's liquor business is only