The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-03-08
VILE EXPOSE cRooKE NEW
YORK Pill ne GIVES
HER PLEDGE 70 JERo me.

NEW YORK, March s One Of the
greatest upheayals IN the history Of
New York police de1ar tment mot ex
cepting that witch resulted from the
famous Lexow 4nvsstig ation, Is pre-
dicted as the result Of the trial q Ber-
tia Claiche, who has pleaded guilty
to manslaughter in the first degree
for the killing Of Enil Gerdron on the
night Of July sllast.
The girl, by virtue Of AN agreement
between the District Attorney and her
lawyers Is b testify and lay bare the
system Of graft practiced upon women
BY dishonest policemen attached 10
the tenderloin station and to the Vice
squad.
The district attorney will secure her
testimony in an Investigation Of the
grating in the police department
which, as indicated today, he is to
begin Immediately.
1t was in order to GLOW the girl to
testify and reveal what she knows Of
grating policemen AID their methods
that Justice Davis postponed her sen.
tence until March %. Between now
and then the investigation will start.
Robbed, Then Shot.
1t is understood from the lnforma-
ton in the possession Of the district
attorney that Gerdron was robbed Of
500 and a diamond pin Immediately
after he was shot In the back by Ber
the.
When the trial was resumed sever
al witnesses testified to threats made
by Gerdron against Berthe and also
to times when he struck and beat her
Immediately after the adjournment at
recess Abe Levy ard ex7Judge Rosai-
sky, counsel for berthe, had half
hours conference vita District Attor.
ney Jerome. When court convened
for the afternoon Berthe was brought
in to her usual seat at the defendants
table. Her counsel were then con.
ferring with Justice Vernon NJ. Davis
in his chambers. The court room was
packed in anticipation Of Berthe talk.
Ing the stand.
When the doors Of Justice Davis
chambers were opo.:ed the defend
ants counsel came out followed by
Justice Davis, who took his seat on the
bench and Mr.. Jerome sat within tho
rail. Counsel for tho girl then with.
drew with the defendant to the prig-
oner's council chamber. After a short
stay there, counsel and the defendant
returned to the court room and the
defendant with her face drawn and
lips compressed, walked straight up
to the bar without taking a seat.
Some one touched her and she sat
down. Mr.. Jerome then said in a quiet
tone to the court:
A Dramatic Scene.
Il understand from counsel that the
defendant is prepared to plead guilty
to manslaughter in the first degree
and I recommend that the pleabe ac-
cepted by the court"
Il also ask that she be remandeti
until matters in mitigation Of sen.
tence may be laid before the court
Berthe, as soon as Mr.. Jerome start
ed to talk, stood up. She beganto cry
softly, her face hid IN her hands,
DO you plead guilty to manslaugh.
ter in the first degree?' asked clesls
william Penny,
"Yes," shrieked the girl.
She threw up her hands and,toppled
over backward, Mr.. RosalaRy and
Mr.. Levy, who had been standing ut
either side Of her caught her as she
fell, She screamel and moaned
Mamma, mamma" several times.
Mother, my mcher, Oh, I'll never
see my mother again." she walled be-
tween sobs and shrieks
Some one got her a glass Of water.
but 1t had no effect, At her first out.
cry most Of the women in the court
room jumped up,
At the direction Of the court the
girl was carried out ofthe courtroom.
District Attorney Jerome tACn ad,
dressing the court, asked that SEN
tence be deferred and suggested that
the date Of sentence be fixed for
March 20. Justice Davis then think
ell and dismissed the Jury, saying
There are many FEATURES d the
case which induced the court 10 nc.
cent and the defendant TO Offer the