The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-09
HE WAS THE HUMAN PINcUsHloN
But Indignantly Defends the Raines
Law Dive which He and
Gombossy Keep.

Joseph M. Noonan and Alexander Simp-
son, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
for conspiracy has revealed some very
startling facts. One of these stands out
very prominently and that is the Even
ing Journals" editors hired two men as
sociated with dives and dive6eepers of the
worst kind expressly for the purpose of
attempting to debauch a high county
official and in the characteristic manner
of hirelings they stopped at nothing.
Another thing brought out was that the
editors of the yellow paper consorted with
these men in places of questionable re-
pute for the purpose to put it simply of
fixing up the job. The third odd fact was
that all these leaked out by the state
ments of the precious pair themselves.
Beck and Pigeon.
Beck, who, was on the stand for the
most part of yesterday, like his partner
in the ignoble work. posed as a news
paper man; denied first that he was a
detective and then admitted it.; denied
that he had associations with places of
doubtful reputation and then admitted it,
and then finally when discrepancies were
pointed out in his statements made yes
terday and those made before the Grand
Jury and Bar Association committee, fell
back on the convenient excuse "I forgot
Beck's antecedents, skillfully brought
out by ex-Judge Thomas F. Noonan, made
him peculiarly adapted to the work
planned out by the Journal He had
been for years known in menageries and
cheap museums as a freak, starring"
under the extraordinary name of the
Human Pin Cushion and he certainly
maintained his reputation, because the
legal pins jabbed into his hide by the
cross-examining counsel, which would
have made others vince, simply made
this freak grin.
He confessed that he was at the present
moment in partnership with Gombossy
the notorious dive keeper, running a
restaurant in Third avenue, New York
city, frequented by people of all shades
in life, from the editor of the Journal
down. With such a partner the character
of the place may be OWNED.
He admitted that he had furnished some
kind of information. to the editors of a
paper in Asbury Park and one in Eliza
beth, upon which the editors had based
certain alleged corruption charges, but
which accusations were subsequently dis
proved and the editors had to pay heavy
damages for Mr.. Louis ]. Beck's investi-
cations and information; and this is the
man who yesterday proudly told Justice
Lippincott Judge Hudspeth and a jury
of Hudson county's most respectable
citizens:-
"The Journal instructed me to find out
corruption in Jersey City!'
Yesterdays account of the trial in 'The
News closed with Beck on the stand
relating the alleged negotiations in the
Star Hotel, New York city, between
Noonan, Simpson, Pidgeon and himself,
leading to the payment of 5000 to release
Nicodine Bosczkowski.
''What next did you do?" asked Judge
Garretson. who was conducting Beck's
direct examination.
Il consulted with Mr.. Rappleye, who
gave me the $780,"
What next?''
1--WE came to Jersey City the next day.
December 8, I think, and went to the
Prosecutors office. but Mr.. Noonan, we
were told, was in New York.
''Well?'' said Judge Garretson.
''Then we went across to Mr. Simpsons
office, and we found him. When said
that Mr. Noonan was in New York he said
Hell, no, he amt; he's got his belly up
against the bar. 1 went across to
Browns place and found Noonap."
"Who was with him?"
Two men; one Chief Callahan of Harri-
son and man named Bindernagle. Joe
introduced me to him saying, This is
Freeholder Bindernaglef who has been SEN
fenced for having a gambling place. You
are the fellow, Beck. who can do business
for him and reach + the Court of Par
dons' I"
What did you say?'
81 told Joe that we could attend to that
later on. We then went across to Srmp-
sons office and Joe said: Well, boys have
you brought the money3s said, Yes
and taking out the ron 1 handed it 10
him. He counted over the bills on his
knee and put them in his pocket
How did you know there were $500 in
the roll?" asked Judge Garretson
Mr. Rappleye counted them when he
with Pidgeon and we to New York
Witness then related the giving of the
receipt by Simpson, and the subsequent
alleged ito have been made by him
where's my END of it?''
What did Noonan say to- that?" asked
Counsel.
He said: You know, Aleck, I'll have to
keep the money until / turn out the
man. and Simpson said TO me< IF +
don't get it now, he'll blow it in; he's such