The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-11
HIS MEMORY
 VERY POOR Platt's Testimony AcQuitS
 Elias Woman. GAVE HER MUCH MONEY Ext0rti0n, However, Not Em-
 pl0yed to Obtain It. Blackmailing Suit Against New York Negress Collnpses owing to the Treacherous Recoilections of
 Prosecuting Witness.
 
GAVE HER MUCH MONEY

New York, June 10.--Mrs Hannah Elias, a negress, was discharged late this afternoon on motion of Assistant District Attorney Rand. acting for Dis trict Attorney Jerome, at the conciu- sion of the testimony of John R. Platt the aged millionaire who caused her arrest for extortion.
 Mir. Platt proved a disappointing witness. To questions bearing direct ly on the charges on which the woman.s arrest was made. he answered repeated ly T don't know"
 His helplessness and his apparently unreliable memory surprised those who attended his examination. He did not remember whether he had given Mrs. Elias large sums of money during the past ten years. as charged, and did not remember signing papers in connection with his charges against her.
 The ordeal was trying one for the aged man. and his replies became scarcely audible toward the last. As soon as he had left the witness chair Assistant Attorney Rand said:
 Rand's Caustic Comment.
 Your honor I think the parties to this miserable scandal ought to be allowed to stew in their own grease. There is no evidence before you that will possibly serve to hold this woman on the charge of extortion. recom- mend that she be discharged"
 The magistrate thereupon discharg- ed the woman.
 Immediately afterwards, the Elias woman was re-arrested on writ in the civil suit originally brought against her by MT. Platt to recover S6s5.000. She was released a few minutes later on S20. 900 bail and was escorted by detec- tives through the crowded corridors of the criminal court building to the street where her carriage was waiting, Several thousand persons, among them hundreds of negroes. attracted by the case. thronged the building and stood in the streets outside.
 When MT P1att, feeble and trembling and apparently dazed was helped out Of the building. the crowd hooted and missed.
 PIatt on the stand.
 Mir Platt who was the first witness, said he was s3 years of age and had resided in this city since 1865. He first met Hannah Tlias at the time the volunteer. firemen came from San Fran cisco about fifteen years ago. Some time later, he again met the woman at a Third Avenue massage establishment, through an advertisement. and had kept up the acquaintance since. His rela- tions with her had been of a tender character and he had bought for her a house and given her large sums of money
 She was your mistress?' asked As sistant District Attorney Rand.
 She was not my mistress replied Mir. Platt.
 The aged witness then appeared to become very much confused. and to several subsequent questions he replied that he could not remember and refer red the questioner to his attorney.
 Asked If he had not signed a paper several days ago in which he stated that Mrs. Elias had extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. he replied that he could not remember He had signed a certain paper several nights ago. but did not remember sign ing a longer paper which MT. Warren gave him.
 The Payment of s8OO,00O.
 Mir. Piatt would not give an answer to a question as to whether he had paid the woman more than $500, 900 since January, 1896. but did remember that he gave her $7,500. This payment was made, he said, because Mrs. Elias told him she was being sued and would have to go to court and expose him unless the money was paid. He could not recall that two men. whom the As sistant District Attorney named. were about to bring suit against her. She told him that if she was taken to court she would be obliged to testify as to her relations with the witness.
 What were those relations7" asked MT Rand.
 Business
 Did you not pay her because of her relations of more tender character than doctor and patient?"
 'T had relations with her and paid her sums of money replied Mir. Platt. 'I gave her the money because she said she would be put out.
 Said It Was "AlI Right"
 At the request of MT. Rand the wit ness read the first paragraph of the complaint in the suit which he had brought against Mrs Elias. and said it was "all right"
 Then you were afraid of her."
 'I gave her the money to keep things quiet"
 Did you give her the money will ingly?
 Yes"
 MT. Osborne, attorney for Mrs Elias. admitted that Mrs, Elias had received the $7.50O mentioned fin her complaint but said it was not given her by req son of any threats.
 Again Mir. Osborne moved for the discharge of Mrs Elias, and Assistant District Attorney Rand said that he would. not oppose the motion.
 The only thing for me to do, l sup pose" said Magistrate Ommen, "is to the prisoner. She Is dis