The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-09
DELEGATE Sam PARKS IN JAIL.
JOHN DOE INQUIRY BY JEROME
INTO BUILDING STRIKES.
He Hears That You Can Buy . Strike n You
Want One as Well as Immunity From
Strikes-Parks Accused OF EXtOrtinS
81 900 From the Hecia Iron Works.

Samuel j. Parks, walking delegate Of the
Bridgemen, Housesmiths and Structural
Ironworkers' Union, and one OF the best
known labor agitators in this country, was
arrested late yesterday afternoon, on a
charge of ex,orlion preferred against him
by Niels Poulson. president of the Hecla
Iron Company Of Brooklyn. Parks was
arrested on warrant issued by Special
Sessions Justice Mayer, before whom Dis
trict Attorney jerome laid Poulson's case.
He was arraigned within half hour after
his arrest and held in S 900 bail for sxamina-
ton this afternoon. His friends offered
three bondsmen. who were not acceptable
to the prosecutor. and Parks was taken to
the Tombs and locked up for the night.
JOHN DOE BUILDING TRADE INQUIRY.
The arrest was the elimination OF long
series of complaints against Parks which
had been lodged with the District Attorney
in the past few months. All OF the charges
are in effect the same-that Parks demanded
and received money for declaring off strikes
which he had previously ordered. In tho
case Of the Hecla Iron Company he is ac-
cused by Mr.. Poulson of first having threat
ened strike unless $1,000 was given to
him, Of having ordered 1t when the money
was refused and Of calling ii Oft later upon
receipt Of a check for 5000.
As result Of the arrest and Of the COM
plants against this man. against other
walking delegates and against certain
construction concerns which are alleged
to have used the power of the walking
delegates to iniure their rivals in the build
ing trades. District Attorney Jerome an
nounced late yesterday afternoon that he
would at once institute John Doe pro-
ceedings in the Court of Special Sessions
with view to finding out whether or not
tho law is being violated by employers as
well as employees. The investigation will
he absolutely impartial. he said, and en-
ployers "a well as representative laboring
men will be summoned to testify
N1EIs PoUIsoN's AFFIDAVIT.
Mr. Jerome did not feel that he had a
case warranting the arrest Of Parks until
he listened to the story Of Mr. Poulson
yesterday morning. AS soon as he heard
this story he asked Justice Mayer for a
warrant.
In a short affidavit which was filed with
the District Attorney Yesterday Mr.. Poulson
says that he knew Parks in April 1902.
while strike was in progress at the Htcla
Iron Works. After the strike had been
ordered, he says. he met Parks in New York
him a certain sum Of money the iron work.
ers would not be allowed to resume work
II he got the sum he demanded he said, he
would order the mon back to work,
great deal OF money because Of the strike,
Mr.. Poulson says, he authorized William
II. McCord OF the American Bridge Com
psny to pay Parks the sum demanded,
payable to his son. +. A. McCord. who in
dorsed it and gave it to Parks. The fol-
lowing day, May l, 1902, hA men resumed
work. Later Mr.. Poulson paid Mr. McCord
back his $1,000.
5000 CHECK PRESERVED.
This affidavit is supplemented by one by
R. A. McCord Of 1901 Madison avenue,
this city, an estimator for the Hecla Iron
he personally delivered to Parks the check
for s., 900 Just prior to the delivery of the
check he had talk with Parks and one
Joshua Hatfield, These men stated to
him that the amount necessary to settle the
Hecla strike had been fixed at 5000.
McCord asked Parks how he wanted the
money and Parks said he must have cash
McCord said he would have to give him
check, and says that Parks told him to be
sure TO not make il to his order He then
went 70 MS IatneT ana nau MS Iather draw
the check to the sons order, and It was
afterward given to Parks. Parks asked
where he could get the check casked and
McCord said to go to the Office OF the Fuller
Construction Company.
Mr.. Poulson brought the check to the
held as evidence against Parks. X. A.
McCord Endorsed the check. APay to the
order of Samuel Parks and Parks's in
dorsement and the Endorsement of an
officer Of the Fuller Construction Com
pany appear below.
PARKS EXPECTED ARREST.
Parks was arrested as he was coming
out of Connelly's saloon at Ffty-fourth
street and Third avenue, opposite Bre-
WORT Hall. where the Board Of Building
Trades held a meeting yesterday after
noon, which Parks expected TO attend. He
knew that the detectives were waiting for
him and practically gave himself up. DE-
tectivee Sergeant Flay turned him over to
tives, who took him downtown.
Parks on the way down said he would
get square with those who had made charges
against him. He accused number of
prominent men Of being in conspiracy to
Nicoll had threatened to ruin him If it cost
10000 Mr.. Nicoll is not connected with
the present proceeding against Parks.
q, 900 BAIL DEMANDED FOR "MAN OF MEANS"
When Parks was arraigned he was repre-
scented by former Magistrate Brann, who
agreed to postpone the examination until
to-day. When the question of bail came
up Mr. jerome said
Tho amount involved IN the particular
transaction is but 1900 This. however.
is but one OF a number of similar transactions
PENDANT has been involved 81, One involves
city 1.-THE Union Club, in which $500 was
paid to have strikes called on, $500 OF which,
it is charged this defendant received, An
other concerns u strike on the subway, in
which IT. is alleged 5000 was paid He Is
reputed to be a man Of considerable means,
although ostensibly just a laboring man.
We understand that he has considerable
nancy OH deposit. or did have, In the Gar
fold National Bank, and to insure the pres
ence OF this defendant ask that bail be fixed
at 81, 900.
Mr. Brann suggested 81 900, but Justice
MAYER made it 5000. The Justice waited
for two hours for bondsnlen to appear.
Three presented themselves. They were
BE- rnet Freedman of II Elizabeth street.
Joseph levy Of 80 Orchard street and
Barney Lynch Of Fifty-ninth street ard
Third avenue. All were rejected, and at
e:l5 clock PARKS was taken 10 the Tombs.
= wAITING-TIME MONEY is PARKs's
VERSION.
Parks's arre 81 created a sensation in
labor circles, for he is by far the best
known of the walking delegates. Parks