The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-12

The States next witness was Louis u.
Beck, who in the main told the same
story as Pidgeon. There were, however,
some additional facts" and one of these
was that at the Star Hotel. on the night
of December 8, when the negotiations Tor
the alleged payment of $500 were con-
cluded. Noonan borrowed ten dollars from
him and as a security for the loan gave
up his cuff and button. Another feature
in Beck's Testimony on direct examination
was his account of the visit to Brown
after the payment of the $500 in Simpsons $
office On that occasion there were pres
ent, he said, Chief of Police Callaghan
of Harrison, who told him that If he ana
Pidgeon came over to Harrison to DO
business he, the Chief, would permit
them to turn gopher" (thieves' YER
nacular for cracking safe). and Beck
said also that he asked the Chief in the
event of being permitted to turn a
gopher this question, Are you next?"
phrase among criminals meaning 'Win
you share in the proceeds?"
Beck's cross-examination, while his
main story was not shaken, resulted in
developing inaccuracies, especially re-
garding events to which Pidgeon swore.
dents on direct examination also differed
from his version before the Bar Associa-
ton, and on cross-examination, one in
stance suffices:-
To Judge Garretson, on direct examina-
ton, Beck swore that Noonan, after the
payment of the $500, asked him if he,
Beck, would not meet him in New YORK
the next day, at Silver Dollar Smith
saloon to arrange other matters; but on
cross-examination, Beck said that he
suggested Silver Dollar Smiths as the
place of meeting, and, pushed by Judge
Noonan, he said he never mentioned any
thing of the matter in his testimony to
the Bar Association Committee. The
defence showed many other discrepancies
between Beck's sworn testimony before
the Bar Association and his testimony
on direct and cross examination, and
there were many facts introduced by
him at the trial which he omitted from
his Bar Association statement. Beck $
statements in many other instances, also,
clashed with those of Pidgeon.
The next witness for the State was
Simon Buttner. His testimony was on
what took place in his place, the Star
Hotel, New York. Mr.. Buttner said that he
had been coached preliminary by Beck to
pose as the friend of the Pole. who was
to pay the $500. Buttner swore that the
conversation as to the money took place
between Simpson, Beck and Pidgeon
Mr.. Noonan was at another end of the
room This was of course very favorable
to the accused. The principal part of his
testimony was a recital of a meeting at
Silver Dollar Smiths saloon, after the
expose. Buttner said that he was asked
to go to that place by Smith, and, when
he got there, he found Smith, Noonan
and another Noonan. Smith said to him,
"Buttner, I've done many favors for you,
and I want you to do something for our
friend Joe. here, who is in trouble. You
know what good fellow he is, he would
get up at three o'clock in the morning to
turn out a man for me-" Buttner's reply
was that he would help Noonan all he
could without committing perjury.
On cross-examination, Buttners story
that Noonan had nothing to do with the
consultation about the money at the Star
Hotel was a strong point for the defense
As to the meeting at Silver Dollar Smith $
it was shown that the other Noonan was
not ex-Judge T. F. Noonan. 1t was also
shown that the phrase turning out a
man." meant that in the case of bail
bond Mr. Noonan would get up at any
hour to accommodate a prisoner locked
up in the County Jail.
Managing Editor Rappleye's evidence
was not important. He said he hired
Beck and Pidgeon to make out a case
against the Prosecutors office His cross
n,,1u az
methods of procedure, the character OF
Beck and Pidgeon and their duties.
The last witness of any Importance Tor
the State was Counsellor James Manning,
the former counsel for Bosczkowski. He
! stated that he found out that Simpson
| had come into the case. He proved that
with Simpson he had argued points in
reference to the change of plea before
| the Court some time between December
| 3 and December g. Cross-examination did
not alter Mr. Manning's story, which the
defendants claimed was strengthening to
| their case.
The defense, as outlined by Mr.. Speer,
| was in brief that Simpson was engaged
as counsel to do something to release
Bosczkowski, which was a perfectly pro-
| fessiona1 duty for a lawyer and happened
| every day. He invited Mr.. Noonan to
accompany him to New York to see Beck
and Pidgeon, who represented themselves
| as friends of the Pole. The discussion as
to the fee of $500 was confined solely to
| Simpson, Beck and Pidgeon and Noonan
took no part in it. Noonan's presence
| throughout this meeting was simply an
| invitation of Simpson, it was for social
| purposes and had no reference to the
business AS to the meeting when the
money was paid over, the $500 was paid
| to Simpson and not Noonan, and of course
| Mr.. Simpson, who stipulated that $500
| was to be his fee, gave the receipt These
| facts were substantiated by Mr.. Simpson,
| who was the first witness for the defence.
His story was told in convincing man
| ner and it ended with a dramatic point.
| Pidgeon and Beck had sworn that when
| they paid the money to Noonan, Simpson
| had shown anxiety to get some of it, say
ing he was 'thard up, In answer to
questions, Mr.. Simpson declared that he
was not hard up He had that day re-
ceived a check for s., 600, one-half of which
was his. Asked from whom he received
/ II. he said it was from Mr.. Garretson, the
| Prosecuting Attorney. Mr. Garretson con-
| 6rmed the statement with nod.
| Attorney General Grey practically made
| no cross-examination.
| host of witnesses were then called,
| who tore the characters of Beck and
Pidgeon to tatters.