The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-30
SAYS He WAS A DUPE.
Fielder's Defence for Obtain
ing Money Under False
Pretences Is Ignor-
ance.

Charles Fielder, a constable from North
Berger, was tried in the General Sessions
Court this morning on an Indictment for
obtaining money under false pretences.
John Day, otherwise known as john II.
D. Blum, is indicted with him, but has not
been arrested
Louis Napoleon, an Italian runs a sa-
loon and concert hall at No. u Hudson
Boulevard, North Bergen The concert
hall is open every day in the week, Ma
poleon complying with the Sunday ooserV-
ance law by giving sacred concerts on
that day. On Sunday May 21, Fielder and
Blum visited the Saloon and had TAX
with Mrs. Napoleon. Blum said that they
had been sent from the Court House to
arrest Napoleon for running the place
without a license Mrs. Napoleon was
scared. and called Sabbatore Palladino.
who saws he Is a sketch artist, to talk to
the men.
Blum repeated his statement that he
had been sent from the Court House TO
arrest Napoleon and that 1t would cost
NAPOLEON about 5000 to get out OF the
trouble if he was taken to the Court
House. Blum suggested that he could nx
IT for much smaller amount He said
that for $50 he would give Napoleon
license and guarantee him constant pro-
lection.
plum said that he was a State detective
and in order to prove their authority ne
called on Fielder to show his paoge.
Fielder threw back his coat and displayed
his badge. Mrs. Napoleon became frlgnt-
ened and sent for her husband, who was
on the stage giving sacred" recitation.
Blum ordered the people out OF the place
and then talked the matter over with
Napoleon. Napoleon refused to pay the
money and Blum put him under arrest.
Mrs Napoleon offered Blum $25 and he
accented it. He and Fielder gave this
receipt
This is to certify that John H. D.
Blum, State Detective, authorizes
T,ol1is Napoleon to run entertainment
seven nights IN the week, as per agree
JOHN H. D. BLUM,
CHARLES FIELDER.
Fielder told a story of childish IN
nocence in his defence. He said ne was
elected constable the previous April and
was totally ignorant OF the ou.ies y e,le
ing a man whom he afterward learned
was wa Blum, called at his house and ordered
the defendant to go with him to close .
concert hall that was running without 9
license. Blum said he was State detec-
tive and showed badge.
Fielder refused to go until Blum threat
ened to make it warm for him for re-
fusing to perform his duty. Then he
consented to go, although Blum showed
him no papers. He merely told Fielder
that he had come from the Court House.
They went to Napoleon's and everything
occurred as the other witnesses had resti-
fed. Fielder said that he showed his
badge because lum told him to, and he
signed the receipt as a witness that Blum
had received the money. The defendant
denied that he got any part of the money.
After thinking over the matter. for q
week it dawned upon his bucolic mind
that there was something wrong IN the
transaction, and he went TO Napoleon aud
offered to pay him the $25 If he wanted it.
After the defendant was arrested he did
pay the money back.
After completing his cross-examinatio tion
Assistant Prosecutor Van Wrinkle asked
the defendant If he expected the jury to
believe any such story. The case was
given to the jury just before recess.