The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-11
STATES ODD COURSE
Almost Looks Like an Aban-
donment of the No0nan-
Simpson Case.
NO CROSS EXAMINATIONS.
Simpson Straight Story Un-
shaken and Un-
impeaehed.
PLENTY OF coRRoBoRATIoN
Witnesses Swear They Saw the $500
Handed 10 Simpson
By Beck.
JOE NooNAN WAS "DoPY"
s.Journar.o sieuthes Deliberately
DrugSsd Their Victim
With Champagne.
JOE NooNAN WAS "DOPY"

With Champagne.
e. Yesterdy was a day of contrasts and
sensations in the trial of Messrs. J. M.
Noonan and A. Simpson for conspiracy.
After listening for days to the testimony
of disgusting and contemplate Creatures
Hike the Journals hirelings sigh of re-
lief came from the big crowd in the Court
of Oyer and Terminer when the dignified
form of His Honor Chancellor Alexander
T. MoGIll was seen in the witness chair.
The head of the Court of Equity, whom
all classes and citizens within and with
out the State admire and esteem. was
present to testify to the character of the
ex-Assistant Prosecutor now on trial.
Before and after His Honor's appear
ance the eager crowd, filling every part
of the court room, had listened to a nice
dissection of the characters of the Even
ing Journals champions of purity-the
exposers of corruption. If ever Louis ].
Beck the self-confessed pincushion freak,
dive keeper and stool pigeon, and his
fidus Achiates of equally odorous reputa-
tfon Edward Pidgeon, possessed any
character at ALL the testimony of a. large
number of people yesterday afternoon
made what little they had vanish into
thin air. The denouement was so per-
feet that many marvelled that a paper
like the Journal, with its pretensions,
could stoop so low as to use such tools.
Verify" as one distinguished jurist
put it. who happened to be in court and
heard the evidence. 'sthe legal maxim is
true here. 'Qui facit per alivis, facit per
Sc or to translate it into every day or
binary English, Those who touch pitch
must themselves be defiled' -
The next sensation was the sudden and
exceedingly abrupt close of the States
case. The yellow Journals" moral edf-
tors had from day to day, either by edi-
torials or news items, implored their
readers to wait, until the trial took place
when they would unfold a tale whose
Iightest word would freeze up the soul
and the blood: make the two eyes Like
stars start from their spheres; cause
the knotted and combined locks to part,
and make each particular hair OF each
particular citizen of Hudson county to
stand on end like quilts upon the fretful
porcupine; but did they do it? Indeed
they did but not with the result they
expected Their story has acted like a
boomerang, injurlng the awkward indf-
vidual who hunts it, and for a reason
which commends itself only to honorable
people the Journal its editors and its
minions have not come into court with
clean hands!
Sensation No. 8 yesterday was the story
.old by the defendant, Alexander Simpson.
His counsel, Mr. William H. Speer, Jr., in
remarkably eloquent speech. generally
foreshadowed the defense, and Mr.. Simp-
son tcld 1t in detail AS it stands it IS
consistent and convincing and from end
to end bears the stamp of truth. He was
engaged, he said, by Bosczkowsh himseif
as counsel long before the Journals
hirelings. Beck and Pidgeon, came on the
scene and the $500 paid to him was the fee
he demanded to do what every lawyer IN
would do tomorrow provided anybody else
but a Beck or Pidgeon approac ching him.
1t leaked out during Simpsons straight
forward account that Beck and Pidgeon,
true to their peculiar characteristics, ac-
tually, so Mr.. Simpson said, in doing the
Journals" dirty work, tried to work the
Managing Editor Rappleye only know
how far they succeeded
Mr. Simpsons direct examination was
iourned It was interrupted by cloud
Of witnesses who came from another State
to tell the people of Jersey City and Hud-
these. angels of the journal Beck and
Pidgeon, were, and the first one to be
called was Mr., John O'Brien,. of No 100
Hoffman examined him, and this is what
10 You know Louis j. Beck's reputa-
tion in New York City for truth and YER
II do. 1t is very bad,'' was the reply.
what was he when you met him?
"A waiter at a Bowery dive in 1882
you believe him under oath?''
mo, sir; indeed would not"
The Attorney General cross examined,
but couldn't shake the witness. During
the testimony of these witnesses Beck sat
close 10 Assistant Prosecutor Klink to
at the witnesses. but the Human Pin
cushion,s' suggested questions were
promptly and satisfactorily answered.
but he replied no, that he was manager
of afrespectable restaurant, and of course
not of the kind frequented by the Jour
''ab John + II II. Martin, of No. 1856 Forsyth
street, New York City, added his knowl-
edge of Beck's character.
ssDo you know man named Beck?'
began Judge Hoffman.
ssYes he was a waiter of the Three
Deuces, called by the police, the House
of Murder calmed replied Mr. Martin;
..Do YOU know what Becks general
iePSer lVery yii bad, said witness deliberately.
..Would you believe him under oath?"
Most decidedly not replied the wit
ness apparently amazed at such ques-
s.Who told you to come over here?"
asked the Attorney General, trying to
whitewash Beck
NO one
.sWhy did you come here?"
ssSimply because I thought it my duty
to expose such a Fellow. said Martin
glancing contemptiously at the Human
Pin Cushion.
The Attorney General tried to find flaws
in Mr.. Martins armor, but to no pur-
{ pose 4, II