Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-18

Stephens was told to go to the Lafay-
cite hotel and wait for a message. No
message arrived and Stephens returned
to Jersey City.
The examination of Stephens was
suspended at this point, and Mr.. Moss
called Simon Buttner to the stand He
testified that in 1880, when he came TO
this city "a country jay" he went to
certain politician, who told him that
he would have to see the police. He
was instructed to see Inspector Will
liams, but he could not see him and met
Price, then a roundsman, now cap
tain.
Buttner testified that Price told him
he would have to pay him 500 a
month to insure the protection of the
resort which he started, and that il
anybody was robbed, he price was to
get half. and l have done business
with him for quite WHILE" said Butt
ned. Buttner testified that it was in
1S90-91 that he paid the money to
Price. At that time, Buttner said, he
was simply running an ordinary sa
loon. Buttner said his Broadway gar
den had been frequently examined by
police officers and declared TO be all
right. Everything had gone well until
Captain Price came to the precinct
Then Buttner said it was a case of
hands up" Buttner swore that the
first thing Price did was to threaten to
close the Broadway garden UP unless
he received $3.50 and half of any rob-
berry that was accomplished in 1t. He
n nd fn1 hn uyac mn i'm "
straightforward game and letting out
no rooms. but according to the witness
Price replied: Il don't care a d if
you let out hundred rooms a night;
Iwant $3.50 a month"
Price was not a man to argue a
point in gentlemanly way, Buttner
said, and SO he (Buttner) asked with
whom he should do business. He was
told to see Bob Nelson, saloonkeep-
err. Witness objected to Nelson and
Price began to make arrests in the
garden. Buttner went to see Nelson,
but though he called a dozen times,
he was always unable to find him.
Then Buttner said he was advised to
go to see Al Adams the policy king
and owner of the Karsch brewery. Re-
ferring to him Buttner said: by
taking beer from Adams you are all
right; you will be well protected"
Buttner said he did not see Adams
personally, but got a message from
him saying he could expect no protec-
ton in that precinct. Buttner testified
to later interview with Captain Price,
in which he alleged that the police
officer said: Il tell you, Simon, ]
have nothing against you personally.
| never did have anything, but you
cannot play in this precinct" and he
advised Buttner to sell out
Buttner said the conversation then
turned on a robbery of $500, which
had taken place the previous day at
the Broadway garden. Buttner said
to Price: Don't blame me for it,,
Captain. AS soon as We heard of -
we sent to get one of your officers and
we told him who the woman was. he
got the money from the woman. Now,
if your people encourage these women
to rob men, if they stand in for one
half, you can't blame us, we can't put
watch over every man and woman
and watch them"
Richard Croker was called to the
stand soon after noon, and he occupied
the attention of the committee the rest
of the session. He testified that the
police did not contribute cent to the
Tammany campaign last year, but that
the office-holders did. He could not
tell the amount of money raised last
year, nor did he know in what bank
the funds were kept. He said he had
never received cent from Bourke
Cochran. He also swore be was never
caught short with Manhattan 81" stock
and did not lose $4,000.
NEW YORK. April H.-Before the Mazet
assembly investigating committee to-day
Richard Croker refused to answer ques-
tions as to how much he paid for his
stock in the United States Fidelity Bond
Company of whether the stock was given
him. The refusal was noted and Mr..
Croker will probably be reported to the
assembly in session at Albany with a view
to his being proceeded against for con-
tempt. The L. S. Fidelity Bond Company
is the corporation that furnished bonds
for most of the city employees who are
required to give security.