The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29
"f'm Not in This Business for 3Iy
HEALTH" He Remarked, "and
You're Getting on Easy"
xoNE OF 1T WAS FOR THE LABOR
UNION, HE DECLARED.
Organized Workingmen Denounced rs
Ingrates-AIieGed Conspiracy OF
Employer and EmpIoye.

NEW YORK, Oct. 2S-The first witness
called in the present trial of Samuel Parks
on the charge Of extortion was Benjamin
Thackara, who took the stand when court
opened to-day. Thackara is the man who, il
Is alleged. was sent by the Tiffany corpora
ton 10 see Parks TO ascertain why the men
employed by IL stopped working in some
buildings in this city last December. He told
OF his meeting with Parks and OF having
asked him why the men had stopped work.
Parks said. according to the witness.
Tiffany is fined 500, and if you're not pre-
pared to settle, sepd Tiffany to see me-"
Thackara said that he asked Parks to go
and sec Tiffany, but that the accused re-
piled: You go back and tell Tiffany to go
10 -, and Jerome and the whole crew."
David Frazee, general superintendent. en-
pioyed by the Tiffany studios, told of an in
serview with Parks in a saloon Jan. l5 in
which Parks again said Tiffany was fined
500. Later in the same day Frazee, accom-
panied by Lewis Schmidt, treasurer OF the
Tiffany corporation, visited Parks In his
own home. Schmidt asked Parks, the wit
ness said, why the fine" OF $500 was i'm
posed. and Parks replied Now, you're
fined 500 and you getting off light. 1t
ought to be $1,000. am not in this business
for my health. and you're getting of easy.
Other foremen have done business with me,
and If you don't wish TO pay. you can fight
It like some other firms, who changed their
minds pretty quick
Schmidt. according TO the witness, then
said: I'VE have to pay this money in order
% do business
That's about it," said Parks. ''but 1t is
for initiation That sounds better"
Does this money go to the labor union?''
asked Schmidt.
'1t goes to Sam Parks" was the reply
made by the accused, according to the wit
ness Il have lost my health working for
lot OF ungrateful -, who would throw me
down in a minute IL everything did not go
right. am going away soon for my health
Of Sam Parks in labor troubles. I've got
enough to keep me comfortable during the
rest OF my life"
ness quoted Parks as saying he did not take
checks and that he did not generally talk
OF those matters when there were two per-
Schmidt and the witness then left Parks.
saying they would have. TO consult with
other members Of the corporation about the
them later.
On cross-examinaticn Frazee admitted
that HE side had sought Parks "'cause
Witness stated that Parks said he could
throw some work in their way and said thew
they saw fit.
The court overruled a dozen questions
which Mr. Osborne asked in regard TO the
Increase or wages OF the housesmiths and
b. gemen. and other benefits brought about
che union.
srazee said ne was mistaken when ne
sore the defendant said: THE money goes
- sam Parks. The words were. ''The mon
ey goes to Sam Parks and a few others
fne witness was excused and court took
recess.
AS soon as court reconvened Justice I,or-
rimfr, secretary OF local No. Q or the
Housesmiths' and Bridgemen's Union. OF
which the defendant. Parks, is the business
agent, was called and gave the names of
the union men who were working for the
tiffany studios on Dec. 50. and quit work
Louis Schmitt. treasurer of the TIFFANY
studios was the next witness and his story
of the interview with Parks Nov. ) was
I'm the main coTroboration of Frazier's tes-
timony earlier in the day. Parks told them
that the fine should be paid and until il
was not a bit OF work would be done on
the Tiffany jobs. The witness said that
Parks's reply 20 the question as TO whom
the money would go, was lit goes to Sam
Parks and you can go to any of the firms
that have done business with me and find
sut that Sam Parkss word goes"
Schmfft testified that Parks refused TO
method OF paying the fine" saving: You
don't think ! was born yesterday. / want
bills and you can get them marked by Tif-
A stir went around the courtroom when
witness told OF Parks saying that he could
employ no union men.
why. the union men will kick. I said
to him." the witness declared. never mind, -
Parks replied. i've got these-muz-
zled and II any one of them objects will
fine. him s5o: and he can't get another job
IN the city"
Schmitt then testified that he had gone
alone TO Parks's residence on Jan. Z, two
days later and handed Parks an envelope
containing the 500 In bills and gold Both
men had verified the amount. Parks then
said that the men would resume work the
following morning. which they did
During the crosS-examination Schmitt
said that Parks told him that the Tiffany
studios were TO employ non-union or union
labor as they saw TT. Parks had told the
witness that the Hecla ircn works had
paid him 5000. but not that he had dis
frfbufed this among the members OF his
organization He knew that Parks was
committing a crime in accepting the 500
and Parl<s's intimation that he might re-
port IL 10 the district attorney III he liked
had quite taken his breath away
A. the conclusion OF Schmitt's testimony
court adjourned for the day.