The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-19
CASE AGAINST YOUNG Van COLT
LEVY, EX-WATCHMAN, TESTIFIES
TO DEALS IN FLOATERS.

Swears That Van Colt Asked Him II "the
Boys" He Lodged In the Sth District
Would go the Way You Say"-Yellow
slips as COrrObOratiye Testimony.
1t was Benjamin Levy of III East Seventy
fourth street a former employee OF the
Post Office, who furnished the information
upon which Richard Van Colt, son Of the
Postmaster and Bankson McAvoy, cashier
of the Post Office were arrested last Satur-
day, charged with attempting to coloniae
voters in the Fifth Assembly district. Levy's
testimony taken before Justice Wyatt at
the secret hearing last Saturday is now
on file in the court records, with the testi-
mony of several Of the other witnesses.
Questioned by Deputy Attorney-General
Collins, Levy said he had applied to Van
Colt for place in the Post ONCE last jan
uary and was employed as a Waterman
till March. Then he got job as elevator
man until September. He asked for per-
manent place and Richard Van Colt said
he would try and arrange it with Dad
He was told 10 see McAvoy at his house
in Waverley place. Levy continued:
| went up there on oct. 8, and McAvoy
said Dick wants to know if you can get
about hundred boys together" | said.
sure" Then he said: Il tell you what you do.
Get fifty boys by tomorrow night and meet
me at the corner of Fourteenth street and
Ninth avenue.
Later Levy said, McAvoy asked him
to bring eight only. The next night they
met McAvoy who told him that he wanted
theeight put in rooms. They left the saloon
where they had met in a bunch and McAvoy
remarked This won't do 1t looks bad
for us all to be together" AS result, they
separated, Levy testified
McAvoy sent one man to % Greenwich
street He didn't like it, and came away. He
gave another $3.50 for q room az 1852 West
Eleventh street. We walked to sixth avenue.
Dongan 81 to pay for a room at 10 Christopher
street went to, 3 Milligan street with two
or three boys and paid 81 forsa room. The
money was given to me by McAvoy.
McAvoy, Levy said, promised TO give him
money for room rents every Friday night.
Five men had been placed On Oct he
went to the club with McAvoy and met
Van Cot who Who took him into ., back room ,,a
have hundred boys in the park. but l
didn't want them treated the way McAvoy
had treated them when he only placed
five. Dick said: ! will have fifteen rooms
sio to buy drinks for the boys"
sembled the men In Washington Square
Park and went over to the club. Van Colt
tOlO MN ne WOulu nave 10 Spn1 OUT ana ReC
a one hundred dollar bill changed.
"On your word as gentleman Levy
testified that Van Colt said to him, will
these boys go any, way you say? You know
the way | mean
Levy swore he replied: "Yes, straight
Republican" and then Van Colt asked
him: "Have you any idea that any one
would double cross you in any way?' He
told him no. Levy's testimony continues:
/ then left the room and Dick called in
park and came ba ok and told Dick there vi .
an awful mob there. Dick said he had scnt
out to get the chalse ard later he gave me
yellow slips bearing the addresses of the
places where the men were TO go, Jones
was told to go along with ne and pay what
ever expenses were incurred.
Levy said that when young Van Colt
gave him the yellow slips he remarked
"For Gods sake don't lose these They'll
come in good for next year and save ne
lots of trouble.
Some of the yellow slpe have been put
in evidence. Levy has given the addresses
of houses where the men went to room.
He swore that Jones told him that he was
acting under instru ctions from Van Colt,
Together they planted men through the
for room rent. He said he got the men at
the Mills Hotel.
what did you tell the men you wanted
them for?" was one Of the questions put by
Justice Wyatt
ITO colonize for registration" Levy
answered. 1T was understood that they
were to get a uple of dollars for registra-
ton and some money for voting doing
election work"
Among the other witnesses was Cornelius
Havern, who testified that he had gone 10
live at 10 Christopher street, and identified
Levy as the man who sent him there,
McAvoy, he said. was with Levy that night,
Jones, who is clerk in the office of the
superintendent Of mails. was also, ex-
ARMED He said that he had seen both
Levy ard Van Colt at the Lincoln Club on
Oct :, but not together, He admitted
having gone over to Washington Square
Park, but said it was at Levy's request,
As to payments he said Whatever Levy
asked for handed to him.
Another hearin will be held to-day. For
the Van Colts, Lawyer Terence McManus
made this statement yesterday:
Richard Van Colt absolutely denies that
he had any of the conversations with Levy
which the latter has described and that he
made any such bargains with him is abso-
iutely false. Furthermore. none Of the wit
nesses supposed to corroborate Levy was
able by testimony to connect Mr.. Van Colt
In any way with the part they figured in,
When the case goes on tomorrow we will
have line on MIR. Levy which will make
interesting reading.