The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-29
PARKS WOULD'T
 TAKE A CHECK Fined Tiffany Just $500 to
 Gall Off Strike HAD ABUNDANCE OF NERVE Told Representative of the Company That He Could Use Union Labor or
 Non-Union Labor, Just E as He Chose.
HAD ABUNDANCE OF NERVE

1 New York. October 2S-The first witness called in the present trial of Samuel
 Parks on the change of extortion was Benjamin ThaelSara who took the stand
 when court was opened today. Thaekara
 is the man who, 1t is alleged, was sent
 by the Tiffany corporatios to see Parks
 to ascertain why the men employed by 1t
 had stopped working on some buildings
 in this city last December. He told of his meeting with Parks and of having l asked him why the men had stopped l work. Parks said. according to the wit ness; Tiffany is fined $500 and if you're not prepared to settle send Tiffany to 1 me-"
 Thackara said that he asked Parks to go and see Tiffany but that the accused replied You go back and tell Tiffany ! to go to - and Jerome and the whole crowd.
 David Frazee, general superintendent employed by the Tiffany studio, told of his interview with Parks in a saloon January 15 when Parks again said Tiffany was fined $500. Later in the same day ] Frazee accompanied by Louis Schmidt treasurer of the Tiffany corporation. wis., . tied Parks in his own home.
 Was Getting Off Light. I Schmidt asked Parks, the witness said,
 why the fine" of $500 was imposed and
 Parks replied: Now, your fined $500 and
 you are getting off light. IL ought to be l $1O00. I am not in this business for my | health and your getting off easy Other l firms have done business with me and if you don't want to pay you can fight it l like some other firms, who changed their 1 minds quick"
 SchmiGts according to the witness then said: five have to pay tss ftaey in order to do business. 1 That's about it." said Parks. '-but it 4 is for Initiation that sounds better
 Does this money go to the labor un- l ion?' asked Schmidt. Tt goes to Sam ] Parks" was the reply made by the ae- cused, according to the witness T have lost my health working for a | lot of ungratefuls who would throw me down in a minute if everything did not go right. l am going away soon for my health and after few months you will not hear of Samuel Parks in labor trou- l bles I've got enough to keep me com fortable during the rest of my lfe." Discussing the method of payment. wit ness quoted Parks as saying he did not take checks. and that he did not generally  1 two parties present Had to Seek Parks. 1 On crosse examination Frazee admitted l that his side had sought Parks "cause 1 they had to-"
 The witness stated that Parks said he could throw some work in their way and
 that they could employ union labor or
 non-union labor if they saw fit and paid
 the fine. The court ruled out over q 1 which Mr Osborne ask ed in regard to the increased wages of
 the housesmlths and bridge men and oth- | CT benefits brought about by the union. l Frazee said he was mistaken when he
 swore the defendant said: The money
 goes to Sam Parks the words were, l "the money goes to Sam Parks and d | few others"
 1 As soon as court reconvened Jesse LOT 1 Timer. secretary of Local No. ? of the 1 Housesmths and Bridgemen's unon of
 which the defendant Parks Is the business | agent, was called and gave the names of | the union men who were working for the l Tiffany studios on December 30 and quit work on December 31.
 Schmidt Testifies. Louis Schmidt. treasurer of Tiffany was the next witness. and his story of the interview with Parks on November was in the main corroborative of F'razier's tes- timony, given earlier in the day. Parks told them that the fine should be paid and until it was paid not a bit of work would be done on the Tiffany jobs The witness said that Parks reply to this question as to whom the money would go was, fit goes to Sam Parks, and you can go to any of the firms that have done bus mess with me, and find out that Sam Parks word goes"
 Schmidt testified that Parks refused to accept a check when he suggested the fnaf hnd nf axftnD th1 You don't think that was born yester- day. want bills and you can get them marked by Tiffany or Jerome. or any one you like"
 stir went through the court room when witness told of Parks saying that he could employ non-union men.
 Why, the union men will kick" said to him.
 Never mind.'' said Parks, "Ive got these muzzled. and If any of them ob- ject, will fine him $50. and he can't get another job in the city"
 Carried Money to Parks.
 Schmidt then testified that he had gone alone to Parks residence on January '. two days later. and handed Parks an envelope containing the $5O0 in bills and gold. Both men had verified the amount Parks then said that the men would re- sume work the following morning. which they did
 During the cross-examnation Schmidt said that Parks told him that the Tiff fany studios could employ non-union or union labor as they deemed ht Parks had told the witness that the Heckla iron works had paid him 5000 but that he had not distributed this among the members of his organization. He knew that Parks was committing a crime in accepting the $500. and Parks intimation that he might refer 1t to the district att torney, if he liked had taken his breath away.
 At the conclusion of Schmidt's testt- mony court adjourned for the day