The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-11

uTeW MS chaHenge Tor cause. Later
Mr. Martin was excused.
THE CASE OPENED.
After about an hour mad been used
up in selecting jury Attorney General
Tanner began his opening address Mr..
Tanner said Norman Plass was indict-
ed and he was TO be tried on a charge
OF having attempted TO extort money
from George b. Boyden after charging
him with the commission OF a crime IL
was an 0ffense popularity called black
mall though that was not a strictly
legal term. The indictment was under
the statute that had been for many
years In force. II charged maliciously
attempting the extortinr Of money.
This meant not that the defendant shall
have any malice. but that his intention
is to Illegally get the money No one
lis permitted TO assume the functions OF
government and TO attempt to punish
a single individual No one is permit
ted to say 10 another: You are con-
demned by my private tribunals TO pay
so much money" The majority OF the
law must be regarded and 1t looks out
for the interest of the party accused
the same as ii does the innocent. and
gives no one the right to say: You
have been found guilty and must pay
me money"
WOULD SETTLE FOR $500.
Attorney General Tanner then said
the state would prove that Norman
Plass at the headquarters of the Anti
Saloon League in the Banigan builr
ing told counsel for George B. Boyden
he would settle some 40 cases alleged
to be had against Boyden for Si00. The
defendant was to bring pressure on MI.
Boyden until he saw the matter in the
proper light.
10 hoI ettIA
ted to him the proposition and he had
Indignantly declined II.
LAWYER TEsTIFTEs.
Charles c. Mumford, Esq, said he
was an attorney at law and went 10 \
office in the Banigan building twice.On
the first occasion he did not see Mr..
Plass. but on Sept. 25 1899 he did see
him. He went to the Office in response
to a letter handed him by Mr.. George
B. Boyden. The letter was produced
and identified by the witness. Mr.. Num-
ford asked Mr.. Plass what he wanted
10 see Mr.. Boyden for. Mr.. Plass replied
that he wanted to see what kind Of a
man Mr.. Boyden was and TO see If he
would give up his illegal business. Mr..
Plass spoke Of sales in different parts
Of Crescent Park and said that Mr.. Boy
den had right only to sell I'm one place.
The witnesses were reputable ones. but
had no money except what they made
from getting sales
4 man who was candidate for town
council Plass said. was pressing him.
as the man had much feeling against
Boyden, and would be a candidate for
the office again and would see that Mr.
Boyden diG not get q license Mr..
Plass said the witnesses We're entitled
10 one half Of the results OF the prose-
4 b. fe,i,f lo
$1,000 10 the league. Mr. Plass would
not authorize Mr.. Mumford to make
any Greet proposition To Mr.. Boyden
Mr. Cooke for the defendant, asked
no questions.
MIR VAN SLYCK'S TESTIMONY
Cyrus VI. Van Slyck said he called on
Mr. Plass on October 81. There was a
man there with Mr.. Plass Witness
said 20 Pass: "I come 10 see YOU in re-
gard tc a promise made By Mr. Num-
ford" Mr.. Plass was busy, and Mr..
Van Slyck agreed TO come the next
morning. and did so. Mr. Van Slyck
said he made extensive notes of the
conversation then had with Plass.
There was first a general conversa-
tion. then Plass said: You have come
about the Boyden matter?' Witness
said. YES. Plass said he had been pro-
noted 10 q larger uelu, ana jnel tdlkeu
pleasantly about Buffalo. Finally
Plass said he did not know what to DO
about the Boyden matter. The infor-
nation. Plass said. was all In his keen
ing. and ne did not know how much he
would give TO his successor.
IL was MT, Plass said. the desire ~
the league TO punish where parties did
not continue go violate the 49, case
was mentioned where a man had reim-
burscd the League Mr. l*hss wanted
TO see Mr. Boyden alone, hut AIR Van
Slyck told Mr.. plass there would be no
such meeting This was because Wife
ness knew Mr. Boydcn denied any vio-
1ation OF the law and told Mr. PlasS
the Interview might be disastrous
Rev. Mr.. Plass sold witness tha, tho
men who had got testimony againr'
l}oydon were very reputable mtp. Dut
deDendcnt upOn their fees.
Witness suggested that ~ any promo
sition was 90 be made tc Mf B3yden
Continued on par' TW1)
STRIKE iT HivsRHlLt