New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-22
POWELL on THE STAND.
"HONET NOT FOR HIN. "
Says al Inquiry He Simply Wanted
to DO Good .fcf.

gate the charges made against George p Powell
sergeant at arms of the House of Assembly met
in Chancery Chambers at Newark yesterday.
The investigation was made at the request Of
Mr.. Powell in letter the Speaker of the
House AS has been repeatedly told in The Trib-
une. Mr.. Powell called upon the Rev. c. c. Ed
munds. the rector Of Grace Episcopal Church, at
Newark. and offered information which would
bring about the return of vestments which had
been stolen from the church. and would lead to
The apprehension of the thief The consdera-
sion for this information was $3.50.
The committee, composed of Assemblymen
Avis of Cumberland County (chairman): Elvins.
Of Atlantic; Hillery, OF Morris; Colby. OF Essex.
and Schunlann, OF hudson. met at 10:4o g. m
The chairman announced that James I. Weart
had been selected for clerk and George T. Lutz
for sergeant at arms Of the committee
one Of the earliest arrivals Mr.. Edmunds
He was followed by William Gaines. the
rolored man who was closely connected with the
case. Cortiandt Parker dropped In for a few
minutes but left before the investigation began.
Sergeant-at-Arns Powell HAD brief converse
ton with Mr.. Edmunds, in which he said he
was sorry if he had made any trouble for the
rector. He had never, he said, made any de-
rnand for a personal reward Prosecutor Riker
came in and sat for a time near Chief OF Police
Hopper Mr.. Powell sat by his counsel. x
Judge Wilbur A Mott, throughout the session.
The number Of spectators was only sufficient to
fiji completely the small room in which the in
veetigation was held.
The committee began the proceedings by the
chairman requesting the clerk to read news
paper article in relation to the case To this
Judge Mott excepted, but after explanation
by the chair that the newspaper article would
not he received evidence the exception
withdrawn.
CoSGRovE TEsTIFIEs.
The first witness called was John Cosgrove,
captain Of detectives Of the Newark police
force. After saying that he had detailed De-
tectives lutte and virgins on the case. his
testimony got into the marrow of the matter.
which that William Gaines, who keeps a
saloon in Academy-st. Newark, which has the
notoriety Of being resort for dissolute persons,
end which raided few weeks ago, after
which Gaines paid fine in the police court. had
called at his Office and said that although he
knew nothing Of the case then, he could by the
next night. tell the captain of detectives all
sbout If. Gaines refused to give the name
II the man men whom he suspected OF
being the thief or thieves. At 6 o'clock
on Wednesday evening, the witness said,
Detective Glori called upon him to ask him
n suspected house was under surveillance.
learning that it was not, G!ori said: We'll, me
and Lewis have line the case, and are
going TO make the arrest" DR.. Clark, the police
surgeon. informed Captain Cosgrove over the
telephone that George Powell had told Mr.. Ed
munds that he could give information which
would lead TO the recovery OF the goods and to
the arrest Of the thief and that Powell had
wanted 10 know if a reward would be offered
Cossrove told the doctor to ask Mr. Edmunds
20 request Powell to call at 3 D. m. on Wednes-
day. Cosgrove opposed the offering of a re-
ward
The next witness was Frank Tuite detective
sergeant who said that from clue they had
received they suspected that Percy Wagner, the
assistant janitor Of Grace Church. was the thief.
Gaines had told Cosgrove that his men
on The right track lutte said. but the arrest
nf Wagner was delayed until Wednesday night
because the officers wanted to find the vest
1nents Cosgrove Tuite declared, had told him
that their plans were being interfered with;
that George Powell or some other man had
called upon the rector and offered to give in
formation which would lead TO the arrest OF
the thief. provided reward Of $3.50 would be
paid for the information.
GLORTS LONG STORY.
Detective Glori vas the next witness, who
replied 20 a question by the chairman, that he
was going to tell the true facts and must
have his way about it Glori's true
facts were long story, in which he said that
snd that he had offered to give information for
3 reward Of $3.50 Glorf told Powell that he had
MADE q serious blunder and that he would be
indicted for his act. Powell, GIori said, replied:
X hat for? For being a Good Samaritan? Any
one vino would rob church ought to be hung"
Glori and Lewis another detective. with whom
GIor1 MAS working, went with Powell TO the
Erotor. Powell, on the wa, told GloTi and
lewis what Gaines had said and urged them TO
SEE Gaines and to demand the facts. Gaines had
tod Powell that church property worth about
5000 had been stolen, and that il ought to be
worth 500 $500 reward to get the goods
back. Cilori testified that of his principal
objects in going TO see the rector to defend
Powell as an honest man. and 10 get him ito
wipe out any suspicious he might have had Of
Powell when he proposed that a reward he paid.
Glori succeeded in getting interview with
Gaines. When they met Gaines asked:
Whats the news. GIori?"
You've got the latest thing out" Gcri re-
Piled.
y don't k,iow about that" Gaines said
WciE ] do" tiIori said land we want the
thief and tire goods
Gaines then said according Gloris testi-
inony. that he working with Captain Cos
grove but later he gave information which
led 10 the arrest of Percy Wagner 10y Glori
and Lewis alta. he had come out Of a house
with the witnesses and entered d cab, Glori
closely questioned by the committee He
sid fhat tie arrest az Wagner made pos
sibe ly tho Information which had been given
by Powell who had told him that Gaines
could point out The thief GIorl said that Mr.
l-dnunds seemed TO think. when they called
upon him that Lewis and himself had come
flo f7aTae of SIN he ard