New-York tribune., 1902-07-13
SAYS SHE BOUGHT FREEDOM
MINNIE KURTZ DECLARES DETECTIVE
TOLD HER TO GO TO JERSEY

ASSERTS HE TOOK DIAMOND LoCKET. AND
! WITH POLICEMAN TOLD HER TO FLEE
| Minnie Kurtz. the woman who played an i'm
| portant part in the trial Ct Captain Diamond
and Wardnan Bissert. and who is a prisoner in
| the TOmbs. on a warrant charging her with
keeping disorderly house, made a statement
through her lawyers. Hoffman & Cherry yester-
day accusing Detective Maher of telling her he
would free her if she gave him diamond locket
she wore. The statement was made in the
Tombs court to Justice Mexican, of the Court
of Special Sessions. and he had it incorporated
in an affidavit. 1t is follows:
Three weeks ago PatroIman Welsh of the
Mercer-st station, who is attached TO the Dis
trict Attorneys office, and County Detective
Maher, went to No. p Stuyvesant-st. in the
! afternoon. They told me that 1 was under ar
rest on the charge of keeping a disorderly
| house, and they showed me the warrant. dated
June y, 1901. Detective Maher told me to come
out with them. We walked over through Ninth
st. until were between Third and Fourth
aves. We stopped midway in the block in front
or saloon Detective Maher said to me: nave
you any money? How about bondsman? Are
you going to get bail?' L replied: No, my
money has all given out"
Then Detective Maher took hold of a diamond
locket which was hanging from my neck. There
were nine diamonds in it. 1t was very costly
ornament This is very pretty locket," he
SAID. 1T must have cost good bit of money
You let me have it and you can go to Jersey"
Salu 10 MIN: what do YOU meanI' ana at the
same time started toward the side door of the
saloon. We went inside the saloon and sat
down Maher then sent Patrolman Welsh away
and told him to come back in fifteen minutes.
Inside the saloon Maher repeated his con-
Nersatlon in regard to my giving him the locket
ana he permitting me to go to Jersey. Then
he said: Take it off and let me see it," Then
he gave it back to me- I said: If l give it to
you the big fellow (neaning Welsh will make
trouble" oh no. he won't" replied Maher.
Il can satisfy him, all right. He'll do anything
I say" With that I took the locket and heavy
gold chain and slipped it into Mahers vest
pocket.
We sat in the saloon few minutes longer,
and then Welsh came back. At Meher's sug
geston we three went back to the house at No.
29 Stuyvesant-st-, where smoked cigarettes
told me to go
I went to hotel at Tenth-st and Fourth-ave
After left the Stuyvesant-st. house I told
that District Attorney Jerome himself. accom-
panied by two other men, called at my house
about midnight. Welsh and Maher knew per-
feCtly well that I in Jersey, but that
was in the hotel al Tenth-st. and Fourth-ave.,
so could not be a fugitive from justice
Justice Mexican was so impressed by the
statement that he sent for Acting District At
torney Rand.
1t is said that the story Of the visit Of the
two policemen to the house is Corroborated by
a DR.. Lieber, of No. 81 Stuyvesant-st. The case
will be heard in the Court of Special Sessions
Monday Assistant District Attorney Miner
is investigating ii.
The Kurtz woman and Andrew De Witt were
indicted a few days ago for conspiracy, charged
with getting several witnesses in the case of
Captain Herlihy out of the city.