The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-13
BLUE. FOR GREY
Disbarment Case Against
Noonan and Simpson a
Pitiful Fiasco.
HIGH HANDED OUTRAGE
Attempt To Railroad In the
Raines' Law Hotel "Jour-
nalists Discredited
Testimony
sKULKING IN NEW YORK
Beck and Pidgeon Could Not
Even Be Bought To
Tell Their Story
Over Again.
sKULKING IN NEW YORK

Attorney General Samuel H. Grey this
morning began taking testimony in the
Davidson Building on the part of the Su-
preme Court in the matter of the procede-
| ings begun to disbar Lawyers Joseph M.
Noonan and Alexander Simpson for pro-
| fessional misconduct. He did not bring
the Journals" precious witnesses, Beck
and Pidgeon, and at the opening of the
proceedings he refused to say whether or
not these odorous individuals had con-
sented to come over to Jersey City.
In Commissioner Lindley Garrison 5
cramped little room on the top floor of
the Davidson Building the hearing began.
Besides the parties mentioned there We're
present the defendants lawyers, Prose-
cutor j. S. Erwin and a batch of wit
nesses, among whom was J. A. Dear of
the Journal" Another was Lawyer
James Manning, formerly counsel for the
Pole, Boezkowski, over whose case the
trouble arose
Deputy County Clerk EA w. Gritten was
the first witness called. He had brought
the minutes of the Court of General Quar-
ter Sessions, September Term, 1897, show
ing the indictment of Nicodemus Bocz-
kowski for embezzlement, which was
presented at the November Term. 1t was
transferred from one to another court for
trial.
Mr.. Noonan objected at this time to
the witness testifying to what was done
with the indictment, since the minutes
were not recorded. The objection was
noted Mr. Noonan also objected TO the
minutes being produced of the Court of
Oyer and Terminer on the same ground.
Mr.. Simpson concurred in the objection.
Mr.. Gritten. looking at the minutes, said
the Indictment was ordered for trial in
Oyer and Terminer The indictment, he
continued, was in the handwriting of Mr..
Noonan Still reading from the minutes,
the witness said that Boczkowski plead
ed guilty to grand larceny and was SEN
fenced first to five years, but was re-
manded and then afterwards to two years
Imprisonment in December, 1897.
Mr.. Noonan here objected again to the
minutes and to the caption of the indict-
ments because on the indsfsement it said
that the indictments were handed down,
and on the record it said they were not.
Mr.. Simpson would not object to the in
dictments.
Joseph A. Dear was then called and
thought better of it, and took the oath
on a greasy Bible. He said that Mr.. FL
bert Rappleye went on April 22 by the
Atlas line steamer to Jamaica, West
Indies.
"a pleasure trip" asked the Attorney
General.
"No, in pursuit Of health" was the re-
ply.
HE is out of the country?"
"He is.''
Supreme, Court Stenographer John A.
Nugent was called and the Attorney Cen
eral fired at him this question:
sYou reslue here in Jersey City?"
81 do not,' was the witness prompt re-
ply. and everybody laughed.
81 don't wonder at your denial ths1 you
live here" retorted the Attorney Gem
eral.
Mr.. Nugent then produced a package,
containing Exhibits" used in the trial.
They were the receipt "for $500 from
Louis Beck for services given by Alex
ander Simpson; Noonan's pass on the N.
Y, Susquehanna & Western r. R.; a
small book 5 inches long by 8 inches, ex-
act measurement by Mr.. Nugent's rule,
Polish; a piece of paper on which was
the name, .Advocat Lawyer Simpson
and Noonans cuff and button obtained by
Beck in the Star Hotel, New York All
these articles, which figured so prominent
ly in the famous case, were impounded
by order of the Court.
The Attorney General then made a
statement which everyone had been ex-
pecting to hear been made at the very
opening.
Mr.. Noonan and Mr.. Simpson, he said,
"I have been unable to bring Louis ].
Beck or Edward Pidgeon over here. I
made an effort to have them here, but
1 have been unsuccessful. They decline
to come. We have spent several days
looking for them and will now produce
a man who Will tell you wha efforts
have been made. Mr.. McMichael take the
stand.
William c. McMichael, a clerk in the
Attorney Generals office at Trenton, said
that he had made an effort to find Beck,
Pidgeon and Simon Buttner
Take Pidgeon first" said the Attorney
General Who gave you Instructions to
look him up?"
THE Attorney General"
when did you make the attempt?'' ~
.On May / was informed of his place
of business and met him in Brooklyn on
May A. He declined to come over to
Jersey. City 3
..Did you offer to pay him for SER
vices?"
/ s.I asked him what he considered to be
the value of his services" replied the
witness.
What did he say2"
"He declined"
.sDid you make any further effort?''
asked the Attorney General
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