The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-19
CASE AGAINST CROSS BEGINS.
FIRST PROSECUTION WITNESS
HAS A POOR MEMORY.

Miller. an Fast Side Character, Can't
Tel within Three Year, when He Was
in the stanton street House-Ciar'
endon Hall Po0lr0om I'm the case
The taking OF testimony in the trial OF
Inspector Adam A. Cross began at Police
Headquarters yesterday. In order 10
shorten the trial, Abram l. Elkus. counsel
for Cross. and Deputy Assistant District
Attorney Morgan spent about two hours In
making mutual concessions as to Inspector
Cross's record and as to certain police
records on which the charges against him
are based.
The first witness was Fred Miller OF 600
East Fourteenth street. who described him.
self as a barber. The prosecution rather
relied on Miller as an important witness.
He was a well-known character on the East
Side several years ago. but became unpopu-
lar when, in backing prizefghte against
Tommy West, who was backed by the Sui-
livans, he had his man smear his gloves
with oil OF mustard. which 30 disconnected
West that the Sullivans lost their money.
Miller was set upon and beaten and his
skull was cracked: He now wears silver
plato In his head.
He went to South Africa as soon as he
was out of the hospital. and came back about
six years ago and embarked in several en-
terprises on the East Side and uptown.
Just before he was called as witness NIL
Ter was observed In close conversation with
Jake Wolf, whose name has been connected
with many Of the scandals In the police
administration Of the red-nght district.
Miller, who has made a book on the
\ L.
for the last year, greeted Deputy Assist
ant District Attorney Lord very cheertuiiy
outside the trial room, offering to shave
him free and INDUCING in many other
pleasantries. Once In the witness chair.
however, there was a remarkable change
in the demeanor OF the witness.
He could not remember whether he mad
been at the Stanton street house named
in the Cross charges in 1897, 1898 or lSss'
1t was in one Of those years, but he was not
certain. Pressed, he volunteered the state
ment that he had been three months In an
insane asylum In 1899 and couldn't remem-
Der anything very well.
Mr. Ekus objected voluminously to the
sharp way in which Mr.. Lord asked his
questions. saying that intimidation was
going on
gan to squirm In his chair.
-Sit up there and answer these questions,
snapped Mr.. Lord.
Mr. Elkus bounded from his chair and
made the room ring with indignant pro-
tests. Never should court room be dis
graced by such practices 40 long as he was
present to prevent such outragee Miller
looked the picture OF injured innocence and
sullily hunched his shoulder at Mr.. Lord
when the Deputy Assistant District At
torney said mildly:
I'm not soaring you much. am now,
Miller?"
Mr. Lord gave up his attempt TO persuade
the witness to repeat the story he had told
in the District Attorneys office privately,
and went on another tack.
miller, said he. did you run disorderly
house In Stanton streetY
you ought not to ask me such question
when my wife Is present here In the ROOM
| said Miller. Il refuse TO answer
Mrs Miller was discovered and escorted
| from the room. Then the question was
This time Miller said that he refused to
answer on the ground that he might In
| criminate himself. He was excused after
Mr.. Elkus brought out the fact that Miller
was under bonds In the Herlihy case as
| a witness.
John r. Wood, who visited poolrooms
for the Committee Of Fifteen and other VICE
| investigating bodies, told Of a visit TO a
poolroom In active operation at Clarendon
| Hall In East Thirteenth street.
| Every time Clarendon Hall liz mentioned
In the trial Inspector Cross becomes very
much interested 1t is understood that
when Wardman Bssert. who Ia TO testify
against Capt. Cross, Ia called. he win have
some things to say about Clarendon Hall
and Inspector Cross,. Bissert, with his Law
yer. Emanuel Friend. hung about the halls
yesterday waiting to he called.
| The case went over until this morning.