The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-31
Jury Was Out but Twelve Minutes
and Took Only Two Ballots to
Reach n Verdict.
MUST RETURN TO SING SING
WHERE HE WILL SPEND NOT LESS
THAN TWO AND HALF YEARS.
Defendant as Defiant ms Ever, and
Glared mt the Jury When Its
Finding Was Read.

NEW YORK. Oct. 30-For the second time
within two months Samuel j. Parks, walk
ing delegate of the Housesmiths and
Bridgemens Union, Local No. 2, was con-
victed of the crime of extortion in the Court
of General Sessions this afternoon 1t took
the jury just twelve minutes, during which
time they took two ballots. to agree on the
guilt of Parks in extorting 500 from the
Tiffany Studios, firm of contractors, under
threat of keeping them from continuing
work on buildings last January.
1t was shown at the trial that Parks had
obtained $500 from the Tiffany firm as an
initiation fee last January when the
housesmiths and bridgemen were on strike
on three of the Tiffany contracts in this
city. Parks claimed that this money was
a fine levied by his labor union. Later the
feet developed that Parks had been disloyal
to his union inasmuch as he permitted the
Tiffany firm TO employ nonunion men on GER
tain jobs after having received the $500. This
accusation was not denied by the defendant
or his counsel during the trial. but the lat
ter contended that Parks had given the
money 10 the treasurer of his organization
and that the entire transaction was busi-
ness deal which, instead of being a crime,
afforded considerable business advantages to
the firm which paid the money. Counsel for
Parks endeavored to introduce certificates
as to the prisoners delicate state of health.
but Judge Newburger before whom the case
was tried, refused to admit them
In his charge Judge Newberger said that
ii made no difference what disposition
Parks made of the money after he had OBJ
tanned IL from the representatives OF the
Tiffany firm, if in the belief of the jury
men ne had obtained 1t under a threat di-
rect or implied, as that fact would consti-
tute extortion, the crime charged against
the prisoner.
GLARED AT THE JURY.
When the jury was polled and the YER
dict rendered Parks glared at the jurymen
with the same look of defiance which he
maintained during this. well as his
previous, trial to term of not less than
two and half more than three and
q half years in Sing Sing prison. The
charge on which his former conviction was
secured also was extortion.
Parks entered the courtroom this morn
ing looking fresher than on any day since
the trial began last Monday. He showed
none of the nervousness and uneasiness
which he exhibited yesterday in a marked
degree. Immediately upon the resumption
of the trial Mr.. Osborne occasioned good
deal of surprise by announcing that the
defense rested.
Parks was again called TO the stand by
Assistant District Attorney Rand who
asked the accused IL on yesterday he had
said: Il refused to take check from
Schmitt because our treasurer had some
difficulty In cashing the Hecla check. .
meaning another transaction which occur
red some time previous to the Tiffany in
ident Parks, after N few seconds re-
fiection. said: mo. I did not say that.
said we had some trouble in getting cash
for the Hecla check.
After Parks had declared that he had
not taken a cent of money for himself and
had not demanded IL for his own benefit
he was excused as witness, and David
Frazee. factory superintendent of the Tif.
fapy studios. was recalled. He ayerred
that all through the conversations held be-
tween Parks and himself and between
Parks and Schmitt when the witness was
nrssant- Parks used the pronoun 'I'' and