New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-16
CLERK AND DOCTOR HELD
COUNSEL SAYS THEY WERE HUNTING
FOR CROOKED WORK.
wHITMoRE GETS BAIL. WILSON LOCKED
UP-FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALSO
TO TAKE A HAND

TO TAKE a HAND.
4 C Wilson, chief clerk Of the Harbor In
provement Board. in the Army Building, and Dr.
Benjamin 7. Whitmore. of No I'D West Sew
enty-third-st, were arraigned before Magistrate
Cornell in the Centre-st- court yesterday morn
ing on the charge OF attempted extortion. on
which told in yesterdays Tribune they We're
arrested Friday and locked up at Police
Headquarters overnight on the sworn COM
plant Of Detective Sergeant McConville. who ar
rested them. they were held for examination to-
morrow afternoon.
The prisoners are accused Of working in con-
cert in an attempt TO extort $500 from the
Waterfront Improvement Company Of Jersey
City, which is filing in cribwork on Riker's ISL
and under contract with Commissioner Wood
hurry Of the Street Cleaning Department. They
accepted marked money in that amount at the
time Of their arrest. from the detective sergeant
who was posing as Oscar L Gubelman, treasurer
Of the company. the police say.
When The prisoners We're arraigned they ap-
reared to be extremely nervous Both are stout
men. They forced smile when some inquisitive
person IN the courtroom was heard 10 inquire
who those fat fellows at the bar were Then
Dr Whitmore turned his face away from an
artist Who was trying 10 make a sketch OF him.
Both prisoners had refused to say anything to
newspaper men on the way TO the court. George
Gordon Battle represented them as counsel He
asked for an early examination. and il was set
for tomorrow at p. m. Deputy Assistant Dis
-rict Attorney Kresel wanted the prisoners held
in $1,000 bail each. but Mr.. Battle objected. say
ing they were men Of good standing who would
not run away
There might be question TO their good
sanding If they were caught in dishonorable
act" said the magistrate. He then fixed bail at
0500 each Bonds for DR.. Whitmore were
furnished later by q business associate al No.
On Maiden Lane, Herbert Turrell a chemist.
rend Of Wilson who went TO Inc court 70
give bond failed to qualify and Wilson was
sent 70 the Tombs. Magistrate Cornell authoriz-
ing Assistant District Attorney Miner 10 accept
bail for Wilson If IT were offered
Deputy Police Commissioner Piper, who aided
in the investigation leading TO the arrest Of
Wilson and Dr.. Whitrnore. said that the scheme
of the two men TO extort money from the
Waterfront Improvement Company seemed TO
~ "criminally foolish" The government had
lent two vessels TO the city TO aid in the work
Of filing in behind the cribwork at Riker's
Island, the work being considered one of har-
Dor Improvement because the ashes used in fill
ing in were not carried out to sea There was
no way in which the government the Harbor
Improvement Board could take money legally
from the Commissioner Of Street Cleaning, rep
reseu1.Dg tho city or from the company having
If 1fitafl Win tilr commissioner dti's AAAt
threat 10 stop the work, which Dr. Whitmore
Is alleged 10 have made TO a representative Of
the company was one which he or Wilson could
not have enforced.
We have been shadowing Whitmore for a
long time Captain Piper said He had men
toned the name of some one else besides Wilson
81 mo was connected with him and were en-
deavorine 70 learn whether this name was real
or iditiOus. We think now that II ficti-
tious. Whitnore was Swallowed all the way TO
Baltimore and back. He had not the slightest
suspicion that he was being watched
Detective Sergeant McConvie asserted that
while he was impersonating the treasurer or
ne Waterfront Improvement Company ne in
duced Wilson TO write letter authorizing the
payment OF the 81 500 20 Whitmore, and the
letter was turned TO Police Commissioner
Partridge. He said he thought only Wilson
and Whitmore were concerned in the attempt
"a eEIorJion-
Deputy Police Commissioner Piper went TO
the Army Building in the morning He placed
across the locks on the desk and safe used by
wilson slips OF paper on which Is written:
Sealed by order Of General Gillespie. TO be
opened by Major Marshall. Telephone order re-
ceved .. m. November II.
ALEXANDER r. PIPER.
Captain. L. S. A. retired"
George Gordon Battle. counsel for the accused
men, made the following statement yesterday:
Wilson became convinced some time ago that
rocked Work was gong on with regard 10 the
boats loaned for the Riker's Island Improvement
nc ssEeG III " hltofe Eao Is Lrieno OF tW1nty
80 s S 3 20 sslst nm n me natter; Ihey
Whitmore aid 90 10 Washington We Will admit
that Il might not have been judcious. but both
men were absolutely innocent Of any intention
commit q crime. They playing amateur de-
tectives, and while laying a snare themselves
caught IN the meshes % another set for them
Mr.. Wilson has been in the department for
than twenty years So confident he OF ulti-
mate success that he kept his associate Mr.. Pres
ton constantly informed Of the progress. His i'm
mediate superior. Colonel Mansfield. Is out OF
fDvn. and VIII not return until Monday. when VIII
son had intended 10 lay the whole matter before
him DR.. Whitmore declares that his whole con-
recLlon with the affair purely that OF a
friend and that he viii be able prove exam
nation Monday that he had criminal connection
with it,
General George L. Gillespie, head OF the United
States Engineer Corps. who was in the city last
evening TO attend the dinner given in honor OF
Jules Csmbon, the retiring French Ambassador,
said 10 a Tribune reporter that the charges or
hlackmau against DR.. Whitmore and Wilson
were Of q most serious nature. and that he
would investigate them tomorrow
Assistant Corporation Counsel James McKeen,
~ Brooklyn. said last night that DR.. Whitmore
went TO him yesterday and asked Mr. McKeen
70 say a good word for him. Mr.. McKeen
promised that he would.
He then said that from what he knew OF the
doctor he was sure that the charges made
against him were preposterous.