The Indianapolis journal., 1899-04-18


tor Williams but he could not see him
and met Price, then roundsman and now
a captain. Bettner testified that Price told
him he would have to pay him $1Oo a month
to insure the protection of the resort which
he started. and that If anybody was robbed
he price was to get half. And L have
done business with him for quite while.
said Buttner. Buttner testified that 1t was
in 1S9o-91 that he paid the money to Price.
At that time Buttner said he was simply
running an ordinary saloon.
Buttner said his Broadway garden had
been frequently examined by police officers
and declared to be all right. Everything
had gone well until Captain Price came to
the place. Then Buttner said 1t was case
of hands up Buttner swore that the first
thing Price did was to threaten TO close the
Broadway garden unless he received $50
and half of any robbery that was accom-
pished in it. He objected and told Price
he was running straight game and letting
out no rooms. but, according 10 the wit
ness, Price replied:
Il don't care - If you let out a hun
dred rooms a night. l want $50 month"
REFERRED TO THE POLICY KING"
Price was not u man to argue a point in
a gentlemanly way, Buttner said, and so
he (Buttner) asked with whom he should
do business. He was told to see Bob Nelson,
a saloon keeper. 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 al
ways una BILE to see him. Then Buttner said
he was advised to go TO see Adams "the
policy king" and owner of the Karsch
brewery. Referring to him Buttner said:
''By taking beer from Adams you will be
well protected"
Buttner said he did not see Adams person
ally, but got a message from him. saying
he could expect no protection in that pre-
cinct. Buttner testified to later interview
with Captain Price, in which he alleged
that the police officer said: II will tell you,
Simon, l have nothing against you person
ally; 1 never did have anything, but You
cannot stay in this precinct" and he ad-
vised Buttner 10 sell out. Buttner said the
conversation then turned on a robbery of
Si00 which had taken place the previous day
at the Broadway Garden Buttner said to
Price:
Don't blame me for II, captain. As soon
as we heard of 1t we sent to get one of our
officers and we told him who the woman
was. He got the money from the woman.
Now, If your people encourage the woman
to rob, If they stand in for one-haf. you
can't blame us. We can't put a watch over
every man and woman that comes into the
garden"
Buttner asserted that he had known more
than a hundred similar cases in which the
police had made women share with them
money they hai stolen from men. He swore
that on one occasion a woman robbed a man
of s., 800 and gave the whole amount to the
ward man. The robbed man complained to
Captain Price, and, said Buttner, this mis-
fortune happened TO these people. price
and the complainant.) They met the girl
on the street and they had to arrest her.
She said: L gave the ward man the wad of
$3, 500 After she told that they returned
the $500 and let the girl go.''
ALLEGED SPITE WORK.
Buttner said Bob Nelson bailed all the
women arrested in the Tenderloin. Buttner
alleged that Price had hin arrested on the
charge of robing Magowan purely for spite,
and that Mcgowan, previous to the arrest.
had apparently been satisfied with the ex-
planation which Buttner had given TO him.
Buttner's testimony was suspended and
George Tuohig gave evidence In support of
in the Broadway garden. Mr.. Moss said
that Tuohig and Stephans had been fol-
lowed by his men during their entire trans
actions in this Broadway garden.
Richard Croker was then called. Mr.. Moss
asked him about the contributions made by
the judicial candidates last year. Mr. Crok-
er could not tell the amount The Tam
many leader and Mr.. Moss had a. little tilt
l., ~
the city was not wide open" Mr.. Croker
had never heard that the Metropolitan
Street-railroad or persons interested in it
had contributed $4,000 10 Tammany Hall
during the last election. Mr.. Croker had re-
ceived no money directly or indirectly from
Mr.. Carroll during the last year. From An
drew Freedman he, or. rather his firm, Myer
&c Croker, had received money. Mr.. Croker
said he was interested with Mr.. Freedma n
in the United States Fidelity Company.
you know that all the bonded officers
of the city government take out their bonds
from your company" queried Mr.. Moss.
"Not all of them" said the witness.
Some take them from your boss 5 COM
pany." This caused loud laughter.
do you mean Mr.. Platt's company?'
asked Mr.. Moss.
1 mean" and there was more laughter.
Mr.. Croker presumed his own company
had the majority of the business in the
city and Mr. Platt's in the State.
Mr.. Moss asked Mr.. Croker how much he
paid for his stock in the United States
Bond Company and whether the stock was
given to him upon the formation OF the
company Mr.. Croker refused 10 answer and
Mr.. Moss requested the committee to direct
the witness TO answer. Mr.. Mazet so di-
rected
''WiI you answer, Mr.. CrokeT?"
"No, SIR said the witness. firmly
'Please TO record the gentleman's refus-
al TO answer all Of these questions concern
ing the getting of the stock and whether
he had paid for il or not or whether he
got 1t at the organization OF the company, -
said MIR. Moss.
And record also that he declines to an.
swer on the ground that it is a private per-
sonal natter said Assemblyman Hoffman.
HELD 1T ON A MARGIN.
Mr.. Croker said he was not interested I'm
the Maryland Whisky Company. He had
never owned any stock I'm the Flushing Gas
Company. Mr.. Moss wanted to know WHY he
made definite answers TO these personal
questions, but Mr.. Croker said: Il don't
know, have got TO answer some, and must
reserve some to my judgment. If l did not
answer some 1 would sit here without an
swering anything at ALL" lie had no stock
once had long before the introduction of