New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-11
EXTORTION CHARGES MADE
PArRoIA1AN HELD FOR TRIAL BY MAGIs-
TRATE CORNELL.
CREEK PEDLER DECLARES POLICE RE
CEIvE REGULAR PROTECTION PAY
pENTs-ALLEGED BRIBERY IN TOMBs
vREDENBrrRGH's ANGRY DENIAL.

CETvE REGULAR PROTECTION" PAY
MENTs-ALLEGED BRIBERY IN ToMBs
-vREDENBURGH's ANGRY DENIAL
Through the arrest Of a Greek pushcart pedler
Yesterday morning there developed in the Cen
tre-st court a wholesale charge Of extortion on
the mart Of the police Of the Oak-st. station that
promises sensational developments. The pedler
said he was KaraIabos Kololouros, Of No 10
Roosevelt-st. He appeared in court with one
eye closed. his face bruised and cut and his
clothing almost torn Off hirc. He said he had
been assaulted on The Bridge Of Signs pass
ing from the Tombs 10 the courtroom lie
charged Policeman John McGrath, Of the oak
ST. station, who arrested him. with the assault.
The man was arrested on the usual charge OF
violating the corporation ordinance, at William
and Fulton SITS When he arraigned Magls-
trate Cornell heard Policeman McGraths state
ment and then with little ceremony and no
delay fined the Greek the usual penalty OF 81
McGrath started 10 pull the Greek down OH
the bridge and get him away, when the prls-
oner protested The interpreter alone knew
what he was trying to say and told the Magis-
trate the man telling of 81 which he had
refused to pay McGrath. and how this had
caused HIS arrest.
Magistrate Cornell at once stopped all bust
ness and had the man brought back The pris-
oner said he had been asked for 81 by McGrath.
and declined 10 pay It, inasmuch as he mad al
ready paid his monthly taxes" Of 50 to the
usual collector a policeman known TO the push
cart men only as "Aleck' and Greek Magis-
trate Cornell at once RENTED the fine and ad-
1ourned the case until the afternoon, when 2
more proficient Interpreter could be on hahu'
The pedler was sent to the Tombs. Magistrate
Cornell al once Endorsed the complaint against
the policeman, who admitted having assaulted
the Greek, but declared it had been done IN sell
defence.
When the case came up in the afternoon the
Greek told a story of how his fellow-countrymen
10 the number Of fifty more met under the
Brooklyn Bridge at the first part of every month
and paid the Greek policeman "Aleck" So each
for the use of the Captain"
vREDENBURGH DENIED CHARGE.
Captafn Vredenburgh was in court and Magis-
trate Cornell called him up and asked him what
he thought about the charge.
I think he's liar," the Captain promptly
replied ''AU these Greeks are liars. When Your
Honor has as much experience with these fell
lows as we have you won't believe them so
readily
Magistrate Cornell had some testy words
this point and ended by saying that he would
believe a Greek pushcart man as readily as he
would Captain Vredenburgh or any Of his
policemen He then held McGrath in $500 bond
for trial in Special Sessions on the charge Of
extortion and assault. Captain Vredenburgh
protested that under the rules Of the Depart
rnent McGrath could not be tried in Special
Sessions but was entitled TO a jury trial IN
General Sessions. The accused policeman's
lawyer John Pameri Of No. GO Park Row,
also advanced this argument, but it was not
entertained. McGrath was paroled in Captain
Vredenburgh's custody pending the arrange
rent Of his bond.
The case was believed TO be over for the time
when the Greek pedler asked permission to
make another statement. He said he had been
under the impression, when sent to the Tombs
in the morning, that he had been fined 81. He
said one Of the Tombs attendants asked him
what his fine had been, and he said 50. He
said too. that Policeman NcGrath, who was
much excited. had also told that he was fined
So The Greek said he then paid 81 to the
Tombs man and received a receipt for IT, signed
Shea" The only Shea" in the Tombs IS Den
mis- Shea, the Tombs messenger. He was sent
for at once. He denied having taken the money.
and. as the Greek could not say positively he
was the man, Shea eXonerated by the
Court. The Greek then went to the Tombs. and
the dollar was given back to him. Who gave 1t
back Il was impossible to ascertain. Flynn the
head keeper, declined TO say who had received
the dollar or who paid 1t back.
NO COLLISION. HEAD KEEPER SAYS.
It seems it is the custom when a prisoner
comes back from court to accept his word as to
the sum Of the fine If the policeman veriies it,
and if the man has the money he pays 1t and
gets out. The papers follow after a while and
are then Endorsed. Flynn says collision be-
tween the prisoner and the policeman has never
occurred and he thinks the system not so bad
lie admits that II would be less likely to cause
complications like that Of yesterday were the
papers TO go with the prisoner. However that
may be- the mystery of who got this Greeks
dollar is unSOlved.
After getting his money back the Greek went
back 10 court. He said he wanted his push
cart, and was afraid to go after 1t he would
have TO pay 81 before the police would give
IL him. He said this was always the case
and that the man had 10 pay 81 to buy the
policemen drinks" This made Magistrate Cor
nell mad. He called up Captain Vredenburgt
and asked him about this charge.
Oh l suppose I'll have to go and get him his
cart" replied the Captain, angrily.
do you mean that disrespectfu 10 this
Court?' demanded the Magistrate
The Captain at once said that he had not IN
tended IL in such way, but that it made hin
angry to see so much trouble caused by a Greek
They're a lot Of liars, Your Honor. You cam
believe them. They're liars" He repeated hi.
belief that the Magistrate would learn NOR.
about Greeks and their reputation for veracity
he grew older. Magistrate Cornell in turT
replied that TO him & Greek under oath was a!
reliable a witness 5 a policeman"
The Greek said his fellow pedIers had grown
rebellious at the eXactiOns of the police an(
declared he could easily produce a score O
them to go with him the Police Commission
ers and file complaints
% Evr,r-yh