The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-19

collins. Duffy and watkins
Were they acquitted?"
They were
"who tried them. the Assistant Prose-
cutor?"
'yrhe Prosecutor. I"
Were you permitted to tell all that
you knew?''
Il answered all I was asked replied
Mr.. Erwin.
WAS the case presented in an ener-
getic and thorough going way?''
Il am not a judge of that, was the
cautious reply, 'but evidence in my pos
session was not brought out
WAS the Prosecuting Attorney aware
of what you knew?'
Il could not say that"
Mr.. Erwin described next a raid in
Harrison where he captured J. Thums,
Patrick Tighe, W. Glishman, J. Law
renee c. Reed, J. II. Martin and an
other Five of them were convicted but
Thums escaped. Coming back to the re-
mark about Mr. Joseph M. Noonan, Mr.
Erwin said it had been reported to JUS
tice Lippincott, who was very angry and
ordered an investigation.
Did you have conversation with Mr.
Noonan about it?''
1t came about in this way replied
Mr.. Erwin. 'sMr. Noonan came to me
when Collins was going before the Grand
Jury and told me that he and the Judge
had arranged it. Collins was a liar he
said, and there was no occasion to stir up
the matter
During the Collins raid, did you get
letter from him?'
Yes"
please read it?''
The following letter was read aloud
J. J. Erwin, Esq.
Dear Sir-It is important that I
should meet you within the next half
hour. Can you appoint place where
can meet you quietly and talk the
matter over? Answer by bearer.
Yours, etc.,
]. B. COLLINS.
Jersey City, March 30, 1896.
This completed Mr. Erwin's examina-
tion. Osborne Wiley and another were
called, but they did not respond and
Chairman Gledhill at counsePs request re-
peated his warning that witnesses sub
poenaed must remain in the room until
they are excused. Captain I. Graham
sent ones and warrants may be issued
Captain ]. Graham was recalled and he
was about to rehearse the visit paid by
him and Mr.. McCarter to Trenton State
Prison on Tuesday last to see Thomas
e. Whelan, when Mr.. McCarter suddenly
dropped that line of examination and
called colored man to the stand. This
was Scott Gordon, who said he knew
Sheriff Toffey and Mr.. Erwin s'pussunly,
sah.''
Mistah Gordon, in confidential tone,
told the committee, accent on the "tee, !"
and Mr.. Klink, who put the questions
that Mistah Toffey, sab, had engaged
him to secure evidence of policy playing.
Mistah Gordon said that some one had
offered to buy him off and his life had
been threatened if he didn't knock off.
do you know a man named Oakland?"
asked Mr.. Klink.
"Oh, yes, sab suddenly, sab; he done
invite me to take pleasure trip to New
York" said Mstah Gordon.
HE did, did he? Where did he get the
money!" asked Mr.. KlInk, with q smile.
Guess he done got it at saloon on
Railroad avenue
"Solomons place?"
"Yes, sab, Mstah Solomon's place"
''Well, tell us what you did?''
"Well, Mistah Klink; Use tell you de
trufe. He hab twenty dollar and he said
he would get me a good tarm, and SO
I TUX in de situation and went, you bet.
I took in theayter and went into a
saloon for a glass for beer. When I
came out small man he done make a
complaint and / was rested. They found
a watch in nah close and 1 was charged
with stealin' dat watch. They sent me
to the Tombs.
Mistah Gordon sorrowfully said that, in
his opinion, 1t was all a put up job to
drive him out of town. "but they didn't
succeed, sah.' he added, with a smile
at the committee.
.You say you knew where the money
for the trip came from?' asked Mr..
Klink.
Sure sartain, fren Of marn done tell
me- was the conclusive reply, and Mis-
tab Gordon left the stand.
This closed the testimony for the day,
and the committee adjourned to meet
next week, same day, same place and