Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-29
Charged With Extortion from
81 a New York Firm.
Witnesses Swear That He Demanded
Money in Several Instances
To Bring About Settlement Of Strikes
Ordered by Him.


sprightly than at any time during the
: week. when he entered court, today.
AS soon as Judge Newburger arrived
in court, Assistant District Attorney
Rand called Benz. Thackara to the
stand. Thackara testified that he was
outside superintendent for the Tiffany
stores and that on Dec. 81. he was sent
to Parks to find out why several house
smiths Of Parks union who had been
working on buildings for the Tiffany
company had gone on strike. Parks
said according to Thackara:
Tiffany is fined $500 and if you're not
.ssprepared to settle, send Tiffany to see
:, me-"
Thackara said that he asked Parks to
ego and see Tiffany. but that the accus-
ed replied: You go back and tell
brittany to go to q and Jerome and
the whole crew."
Thackara went to Parks residence.
that same evening. and again asked
Parks why the fine" of $500 was i'm
posed. Parks again replied: why are
YOU here If you are not prepared to set
tie? There is no use in me talking to
you; go and get some one who can"
David FraZee, general superintendent
employed by the Tiffany studios. testi-
fed that he accompanied Louis Schmtt,
treasurer of the Tiffany corporation. on
a visit to Parks in his own home.
Schmitt asked Parks. the witness said.
why the "fne' of $500 was imposed and
Parks replied:
Now you're fined $500 and you are
getting off light: it ought to be $1,000. I
am not in this business for my health
and you're getting off easy. Other firms
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"
Schmitt. according to the witness
then said: 1--WE have to pay this mon
ey in order to do business?"
THAT'S about it," said Parks, "but it
is for initiation'-that sounds better"
Does this money go to the labor
union?" asked Schmitt.
ut goes to Sam Parks was the re-
ply made by the accused, according to
the witness. II have lost my health
working for lot of ungrateful- who
would throw me down in minute il
everything didn't go right. l am going
away soon for my health and after a
few months you will not hear of Sam
Parks in labor troubles I've go
O. enough to keep me comfortable during
the rest of my life"
Schmitt asked Parks if he would take
q check for the amount and Parks said
do you take me for a fool.
don't take checks and I don't generally
talk on these matters when there are
two persons present"
s@ Frazee said Parks said we could
get Tiffany to mark the bills and Je-
off hnv
Tiffany nor Jerome marked any bills"
The witness then stated that Parks
said he could throw some work in their
way and that they could employ non
Il" Union or union laborers as they saw fxt
IF they paid the fine.
r. The witness said he was mistaken
= when he swore that the defendant said:
THE money goes to Sam Parks" The
~ words were "the money goes to Sam
Parks and few Others"
=. Louis Schmitt, treasurer of Tiffany
Studios testified that Parks told him
~, that until the fine" was paid not a bit
va Of work would be done on the Tiffany
jobs. Parks reply to his question as tC
-. whom the money would go, was lit goes
to Sam Parks, and you can go to any
of the firms who have done business
~ with me and find out that Sam Park.
word goes"
A stir went around the court room
when this witness told of Parks saying
:. that he could employ non-union men.
why. the Union men will kick
said to him, the witness declared.
Never mind Parks replied. 1--WE got
those muZZled and if any one
of them objects I'll fine him $50 and he
cant get another job in the city,
Schmitt then testified that he had
gone alone to Parks residence. Jan.
two days later. and handed Parks ar
envelope containing the $500 in bills anc
gold Parks then said that the mer
. 4 would resume work on the following
morning. which they did
( r During the cross-examination of the
witness by Mr.. Osborne, Schmitt sale
that Parks told him that the Hecla Iror
= Works had paid him $4,000. but not thai
lie had distributed it among the mem
bc~s OF his organization. At the conclu
sion of Schmitt's testimony court ad.
journed for the day.