The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-28
GUILTY, GRAFT TRIAL VERDICT
,,,, SAWS STONECUTTERS'
rpriSl RER DID STEAL $4,000.
,ou Prosecution for ENiortion Threatens
the Men who Got the Money FROM
employers for Murphy I" steal Ills
wItc re,tiiics. 80 Does Col. 4. ID. Baird.


Employers TOR Murphy Ia steal Ills
wIfc Testincs 80 Does Col. \. ID. Baird.
rho .cnsa ionGl trial Of Lawrence Murphy,
,.,n,orlv treasurer OF the Journeym"n
e,nrocutters' Union, for cmbezzlemert
,o IN nm end Yesterday with u verdict
n, suilty Of grand larceny in the first de-
,.,oc 4 uumler of indictments for OK
,or,ion. will probably grow out OF the revela-
,,,,. Of corruption among leading members
- ,b, union that caused his prosecution
g.. .,eqljng $1,000 from the union. John
+ ucIntyrc made the plea to the jury in
vnrpbys behalf yesterday, urging that
he he not made scapegoat for lot OF
underwriting "grafters." This brought frcm
,.,i.t1nt District Attorney Mott the as-
s,,rancc that both District Attorney jerome
and District Attorney Clarke of Brooklyn
were aking cocnizince OF the evidence
of dishonesty brought out on the trial.
and that no guilty member OF the union
,,oud i've allowed TO escape simply because
bo had assisted 10 convict Murphy.
Sorarasthc SIC. 900 obtained from Andrew
u Baird and his associates among the
Brooklvn bosses is concerned if that money
r,as obtained hy extortion, the crime does
M, come within the jurisdiction of Mr..
Jerome. but il in the jurisdiction Of District
Attorney Clarke OF Kings. Mr.. Clarke
In. had an assistant In court who has taken
notos Of the testimony. II was said yes
,ercav that Nj. Clarke has only been wait
ing for the jury to dispose Of the Murphy
case before beginning crusade against
the -crafters" among the Manhattan stone
cutters who have found Brooklyn profit
able territory in which to collect fines
imposed on employers of stonecutters,
Meanwhile District Attorney Jerome
ia collecting evidence against the mem
bers of Murphy's union who, according to
witnesses at Murphy's trial, extorted large
SUMS of money from Manhattan employers
on threats Of stopping work on important
contracts if they did not pay. Altogether
there is every indication Of lively sum
rner for the labor "grafters, and especially
for those who. it appears, got most OF the
money which Murphy was convicted yester-
day OF embezzling
Murphy trial was shortened on the
rulings Of Judge Newburger that no matter
where the money came from, or from whom
or how it was obtained If Murphy took it as
treasurer Of the union and failed to account
for it when called upon, he was guilty OF
grand larceny in the first degree, This
entirely shattered the defencs OF Mr..
Mcintyre that stolen money must bemoney
taken from true owner and that the Stone
cutters Union was never the true owner
of this money.
II was bad day for Murphy Yesterday
winding up, as it did, with conviction on
which he may be sentenced to Sing Sing
for ten years. but it was also mighty
bad day for the other -grafters," number
Of whom sat In tho courtroom and did con-
siderable squirming
John B. Smithson, one OF the ring which
voted money to its members "for services
TO BIO performed" called for the prosecution,
testified that there were two executive
committees in the union, one to take charge
Of funds and the other to attend "to the
good and welfare OF the union This
latter he admitted was what some folks
who didn't know anything about the
business of the union called the secret
committee"
Edward Rowan a former member of
tie union, was the last of the prosecutions
Witnesses. Rowan was by far the most
voiunle of all the witnesses produced
against Murphy. 1t turned out that he
was formerly friend of Murphy, that
when he was out Of work Murphy and his
brother got him job, and that when he
saw Murphy in the Tombs he advised
Murphy to give out list OF the men to
whom he gave the money he was accused
Of stealing. Murphy didn't agree to do
this and Rowan, as he admitted. started
could TO bring Murphy to trial. 1t de-
reoped that at no time did Rowan ever
get any of the graft that seemed to he
flying around.
@ When Jack Black got 81. 900 and sailed
awgy, YOU went to see him oil, didn't your
Q Now. what did You go for? A. Well.
hn was An old friend OF mine.
Q DiI you know he had IS, 600 OF t his money
q the time? A. did not, | wish | had
e You saw Mrs. Murphy about this time.
didn't rou% A. Yes.
O. AMI didn't she tcllyou that every dollar
Of The money had gone to men in the union
from Ter husband? 4. Well. she did say
that the money had gone to over sixty OF
Y. So, as matter Of fact, while this money
vas divided M among sixty members o.
ne union, only one man II mere on trla''
\ Yes
For the defence Mr., Mcintyre called Col:
Andrew p. Baird to the stand to tell Of
tAe $4,000 check transaction which has
been made the principal feature of Muir
phys trial. Col. Baird said that he had
been resident of Brooklyn for fifty years,
md for fortv-nine years of that time had
been in the stone business there.
% How many men do you employ? A.
Oh, about l25
q Are yon member of the EMPLOYERS
tsSoolaton' Yes. | have been presl-
dert q it for twenty two years
Ma. Wat h,agpp1ncsd in your u, business on
Y Was a strike ordered? A, Yes.
q How MANY men went out? A About
thEty ston"cutters, and they stayed out
lust one dHv
g, When did You see Donald Can the pres-
cent and walking delegate Of the stonccut-
tiers; ON March 10, the same day that the
men went on
. Was Murphy with him ut the time'
No, but there were several other com
mlltennen from tho union
L.. a. ID..WI ID