The evening world., 1902-11-17
Supt. Martin Testifies He Paid
Dr.. Whitmore and Army Clerk
Wilson $3.50 Each in Riker
Island Case.
DEMANDED $3.50 A MONTH.
Double Telephone Switch Used So
Detectives Could Hear-Accused
Men Say They Are Victims Of
Unjust Suspicion.

The examination OF DIR. Benjamin T.
Whitmore, the widely-known physician,
and Harry c. Wilson, Chief Clerk of
the Harbor Improvement Board, charged
with attempting to blackmail the Water
Front Improvement Company OF Jersey
City, was called this afternoon before
Magistrate Cornell in Center Street Po-
lice Court.
The defendants were represented by
George Gordon Battle. who announced
that he was ready to proceed. District
Attorney Jerome. with Assistant Dis
trict-Attorneys Kresel and Miner, rep
resented the People. Street Cleaning
commissioner Woodbury. and Deputy
Police COMMISSIONS Piper were also in
court.
DR.. whitmore and Chief Clerk Will
son assert that they are the victims OF
unjust suspicion. 1t is said that they
a~pproached Supt. Martin, of the Water
Front Improvement Company. which
has charge of the work of filling in
Riker's Island for the Street Cleaning
Department, with the proposition that
for 5000 and $50 a week they would
secure the continuance of the services
vof a Government dredge and tug.
loaned to the city for the work by the
War Department. Mr.. Martin cmmunl-
Gated with COMMISSIONS Woodbury.
and Deputy Commissioner Piper.
3 story of Marked Bills.
Detective McConville was assigned to
the case. He assumed the name OF
seeretary Gubleman, of the Water
Front Improvement Company, and was
80 introduced to DIR. Whitmore and
Wilson. They are said TO nav re-
newed the proposition and he paid
them $500 in marked bills, after
| which they were arrested.
DR.. Whitmore secured bail. Wilson
! has been in jail since his arrest on Fri
day afternoon. An Interested spectator
lat the hearing to-day was Professor
tDoremus. who has been "a friend Of
tDr, Whitmore for many. years.
Street Cleaning Commissioner WOOD,
! bury was the first witness. He told
how he had borrowed the dredge, tug
and three barges from the Government,
putting up his personal bond of $4,000
tGor their safe return, Capt. Piper, hen
superintendent of Final Disposition In
1.-THE department. negotiated the loan OF
the boats with Secretary OF War Root.
The testimony of the Commissioner was
I corroborated by Capt. Piper.
Supt. Martin swore that In response to
la letter and a telephone call he went to
1.-THE office OF DR.. Whitmore In Maiden
lane about Oct. 16. He said that DR..
Whitmore told him he represented two
fsalaried employees In the Government
service WHO had II in their power to re-
move the dredge and tug from the
tEiker's Island work or 20 continue them
there after the expiration of the term
for which they were originally loaned.
Says Whitmore Urged Payment.
'He pulled a pad out of his desk, +"
itestified Supt. Martin, and tried to
figure to mt that / was making enough
money out Of the contract to AFFORD to
pay these two friends OF his. VINO
] needed the money because they were
Jgetting only 800 q month apiece"
The superintendent then told how he
had reported the matter to the author
tiles and had a double switch arranged
on the telephone In his house so that
Detective Sergeant McConcllle might
listen to his telephone conversations
with DR.. Whftunore.
Mr.. Martin told OF two meetings with
DR.. whltmore in the Hoffman louise
, cafe. Wilson was at the second meet
& ing. He said he handed 81, 2S0 to each
of the two men. but DR.. Whitmore
handed his portion over to Wilson.
Then both were arrested.