New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-13
A CONFESSION FROM ISLES.
PHILIPs'S SECRETARY,
VINANT. ARRESTED AND HELD.

swrARs THAT wINANr OFFERED HIM $3.50
TO PROTECT WILLIS AND PHILIPS
rRoM INDrCTMENr-rHE COM
MIssIoNERs SECRETARY
HELD TO BAIL.
Frederick G. Isles. the accused OF at
tempting TO bride the March Grand Jury or
Kings County OF which he was secretary. yes
terday broke down and turned States evidence.
On Isles's affidavit Charles NJ Winant was ar
rested and on Isess testimony the Teshes OF
the law are Tightening several men VINO are
much higher in the social and political worid
than Winant is Winant IS private secretary 10
William Z. Philips one of the Republican mem
bors of the Board Of Police Commissioners.
Philips is a cousin by marriage of Theordore b.
Willis former City Works Commissioner in
Brooklyn. and one of Platts lieutenants in that
borough Philips was present IN the Adams
Street Police Court yesterday when Wnant fur
nished bail. Isles swears that promise OF
$4,000 was made to him If he would get the
Grand Jury TO exonerate Willis and Philips.
The following is the affidavit of Isles:
Borough of Brooklyn. So.
,yn Sing duly sworn depcses and says
that on about March d 1885; the CITY of New
Charles 81. Winant committed the crime, OF bribery
OF Juror in the yony OF hngS an aS a%aed as
Grand Juror Of the County of Kings IN ths
GSnn be cGF of &n Ifs s such
Juror on March I. 1898. That among other matters
Investigation into the administration OF the affairs
Of the board of City Works Of the City of Brook,
received before said Grand Jury involving Theodore
b W q 5s ysa gt S AND 81 OF WIZ
lam T. Philips. and charging them with crime. and
Grand Jury That deponent is Informed and be,
lieves that during the said investigation the sald
city Of New-York and that Charles n; Winant
was clerk or private secretary TO the saa Wii"m
E. Philips as Police Commissioner in the CITY OF
That on March IS. 1898. while the investigation
while Tas af b a as sSGn hear nd &
mine m ,'' whether ian an Indictment should be- found
against said Theodore b. Wills and william =;
Grand Jury alleged against them. the. said Charles
NJ. Winant at the city and county aforesaid WIN IN
vote, opinion and decision of deponent upon the
question to whether the said Philips and WINS
winant. did. at the place aforesaid promise to de-
po6 vdi that h criminal n ai charges against
the said William L. Philips and Theodore b wills;
s spe SSIs WINS and WOULD
others Of the Grand Jurors to do the same; dh AZ
be given to deponent for division between himself
and such other eleven Grand Jurors the sum OF
;SeTeupon Requested deponent being then about
O'Clock in the evening to meet him al 10 Of
Zig hth|st and Broadway. Borough Of Manhatt an
NewYork City. and directed deponents TO go 20 ne
Wnant, would go also by, himself. and meet de,
ponent at that place and there a @ s IN to the
event Of such action being taken IN the me r sa
s uTS anG did meet said Charles wnant
al said Sinclair Hotel about 10 O'clock 'hS' fssc
name 10 a gentleman whose name ne gave ar
Coions Webster That deponenti, rename o
said hotel eating and drinking, Until midnight, and
said Colonel Webster IN the Pre ,sat was
ready TO be paid. and that in case Of the acton
aforesaid by the said Grand Jury he would sena II
through said Charles NJ Winant. might direct, ana anu
said Me9ssT s,sS sa ia Wan
TO deponent as earnest Of the promise ABOVE men
Wherefore. 1t is prayed that the said Charles NJ
Winant may be apprehended ana qealt W IFS
cording TO law ffhDEniOh w. '"'--
Thomas Edwards and Charles Schott' VINO
were members Of the March Grand Jury that
isles attempted TO BRIDE must have a good
share Of the credit for persuading Isles to con-
fess. They labored with Isles almost all the
afternoon and I'D 70 midnight on Monday. They
told him to think Of his family and the danger
he was In and 70 make full confession. He
broke down Just before midnight and told every
thing he knew.
CI,OsETED WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
About 10 a. m. yesterday he entered the Dis
trict Attorneys Office. and. walking VI to Mr..
Marean. said:
Mr. District Attorney. have come to turn
States evidence. haven't slept all night and
have been worrying about this matter"
Isles was closeted with the District Attorney.
Assistant District Attorney John F. Clarke
and the stenographer of the office for four
hours Then his statement was reduced 70
eight typewriter pages. and this deposition he
signed.
Thomas Edwards, foreman OF the March Grand
Jury. was present 1t is said that the statement
Of Isles involves a former Alderman and another
former city Official Several men who were
members OF the March Grand Jury were sent
for while Isles was making his statement. and
were taken into the same When the
typewriter statement was In shape and the
afndavit had been drawn and signed, Magistrate
Brenner was sent for and drew a warrant for
the arrest Of Winant.
The warrant was intrusted TO Sergeant Ma
honey one Of the detectives Of the District At
torney's office. Mahoney went at once TO Police
HEADQUARTERS In Manhattan. where Winant was
engaged in his duties as private secretary 10
Commissioner Phillips and told Winant that he
was wanted and showed him the warrant.
winant seemed surprised and nervous but con-
scented TO go to Brooklyn. When he reached
the District Attorneys office his attorney. who
had been telephoned for. was also there. This
was David Welch. who was an Assistant Dis
trict Attorney under De Lancey Nicol He is Of
the firm Of Welch & Daniels. OF No. 30 Mas
sau-st.
To the reporters Winant said that he had
nothing to say. and his lawyer added quickly:
you understand his position. gentlemen. There
Is not the slightest foundation for this charge.