The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-15
DULL DAY OF DOUBT
Evidence in the Nuonan-
Simpson Case Favors
Neither Side.
wHITEWAsHING TIE sLEUTHs
Some Reputable People Say
They Are All Right $50
Far AS They Know"
POLE DENSE AS A FOG
Nothing Satisfactory Elected About
Simpsons Early Employment
as Counsel.
sczYMANsKI UNDER FIRE
Attorney General weary-A Walters
story Of the Cuffs tho Only
Sensation of the Day.
sczYMANsKI UNDER FIRE

Sensation of lbe Day.
Yesterday was a day OF surprises 1or
everybody in the Court of Oyer and Ter
miner at the six days trial of Joseph M
Noonan and Alexander Simpson, for con-
spiracy, for the very good reason that
those things happened which no one had
the least idea would transpire. When the
defendant Noonan got through with his
plain story of the alleged conspiracy,
manufactured by the Journals discred-
tied hirelings, everyone expected a long
and searching cross-examination by that
able lawyer Attorney General Grey; but
what took place? The foremost lawyer
at the bar of the State asked few ques-
tions less than those he asked the code
fendant, Mr. Simpson, and, without shak-
ing Mr.. Noonan's story in the slightest
degree said that's ALL"
To describe the general surprise is i'm
possible, even the Court, impassive, inn
partial and generally unmovable, gave an
unmistakable sign that the action of the
States lawyers was entirely unexpected
by the very nature of things. And the
+
"came to- they said after all there was
nothing to be surprised at. The truth
was out and it revealed the entire base
conspiracy of the Evening Journal and
the degradation to which it stopped in
framing a case from the story of two
creatures whom those who know them
would not believe under oath.
That part of the general public which
attended yesterdays session of court had
another surprise, in listening to the
Character witnesses for the State, in
troduced by consent of defendants law
yers They were intended to whitewash
if possible the very badly smirehed repu-
tations of the Journals tools, Beck and
Pidgeon. 1t was odd, that, taking the
weak testimony at it's best, none of them
dared to give Beck clean bill of health,
excepting one man, and he refused to an
swer question whether he had been
convict or not. Pidgeon Jared little
better. A few newspaper men swore that
he had a reputation, but the majority
of them were attached to yellow journals
of unsavory reputation which cared moth
ing for reputa tions, but sensational re-
suits, procurable by any foul means, such
as those adopted by the Jersey City
Evening Journal
Lastly there was a surprise in the ac-
ton of the defence, in bringing into court
the man Nickodine Bosczkowski, who is
now serving a term in Trenton State
Prison for five years for embezzling the
monies of his poor clients. On his evil
dence hangs a very important matter,
nay, the entire case. He was there to
swear that Mr. Simpson was really en-
gagged by him to secure his release, if
possible, and SO he will testify today.
His testimony yesterday was not put in
because of the difficulty in securing an
interpreter. BY consent of the defend
ants counsel, the State "broke I'M yes
terday afternoon with the character wit
nesses to offset little the smashing of
Beck and Pidgeon's regulations by the
defence, and the first of the forlorn hope
was
Cecil Hastings, Of the New York,
Press in charge of the Brooklyn office,
said he knew Beck and Pidgeon. He knew
Pidgeon well, but Beck not so well.
.'Do you know the reputation of Edward
Pidgeon and Louis J. Beck in the city of
New York?'' asked Assistant Prosecutor
Klink
ST do," Mr.. Pidgeon's reputation is good
and Mr.. Beck is absolutely reliable as a
newspaper man"
The defense objected to the ingenious
lodging of the issue by Mr.. Hastings, and
Hastings left the stand.
Henry Warnke of Coney Island, race
horse trainer, said he knew Beck well:
He knew Pidgeon by sight. He lived
next to Beck at Coney Island
sDo you know Beck,s reputation for
truth and veracity among those neigh
bors ?"
"That's all. said Mr. Klink.
Josephus N. Goodfellow, also of Goo
ney'' Island as the witness called it, a
ae ddn know Iaa Becka
s'Do you know the reputation of Beck
for truth and veracity," !" asked Mr.. Klink.
Good, so far as ] know"
t'What does reputation mean?" asked
Judge Hoffman, suspiciously.
Well said the witness, scratching his
head, 1T means whether fellow is no
s'Do you know what the word means?''
pursued the lawyer
NO. said the witness, boldly.
That's ALL said Judge Hoffman, tri-
Mrs Goodfellow, wife of the last wit
nsx She sha aa haa AZ known BeeR
was good so far as she knew.
when did you know you were wanted
here?, said Judge Hoffman.
ION Sunday
WHO told you of it?"
ga man came to my husband and /
came with my husband and Mr.. Warnke"
What was Beck doing in Coney Is
land?"
Living privately
'sDid you ever hear anyone talk about
Beck?'
Eyes, several parties spoke about him.
ssBut not as to his truthfulness?" and
there was, of course an objeotion. Mrs.
Goodfellow knew what reputation meant
better than her husband.
Charles Fisk, editor Of the Newark
Daily Advertiser" Newark, and for
merly co1inected with the New York
World" said that he knew Beck and
Pidgeon, and he said the reputation of
those. precious creatures WAS good when