The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-03
MORTON STICKS TO HIS STORY
,oyG SESSION on THE STAND AT
THE CLAICHE TRIAL.
DeOIes Testimony That would Show q Plot
TO lure GerdrOn 10 HIS Death-The
Girls sister = witness Questions
About Vice Squad GRAFT Ruled Out.

Girls sister q witness questions
About Vice Squad Graft Ruled Out.
After an examination Of five hours and
half Policeman Harry Morton left the
.,and nj the trial Of Berthe Claiche yester-
dav, having told his story of the events
tbat led up to the killing Of Emil Gerdron
ly the Claiche girl on the night OF July s
last,
A few points of his testimony given on
his direct examination and at the inquest
before the Coroner on tho killing OF Gerdron
were contradicted, but in the main he held
tn his original story. He denied that he had
induced Gerdron to meet Berthe on the night
that Gerdron was killed but said that he had
suggested the meeting.
For a time Il looked as IL the members OF
the vice squad, including Morton, Marti-
ncau, Billafer and Brueck, all of whom have
testified. we're on trial. Morton denied that
he spoke to the prisoner about a letter i'm
mediately after the shooting, as one other
policeman has testified, or hat he spoke to
her about getting counsel for her or supply
ing witnesses for her. Practically all the
essential points of the testimony OF Mart1-
neau and Billaffer, which tended TO snow a
conspiracy between Morton and the woman
ia lure Gerdron to his death, were emphati-
caIly denied by Morton.
In various ways Abs Levy, counsel for
the defence. tried to get the witness to admit
that he had seen Berthe and other women
Of the Tenderloin pay money to some OF his
vice SQUAD associates, or to say that they
had gone to the houses of these women
to collect money.
All Of these questions were ruled out by
Justice Davis, who said that an attempt
might just as we'll be made to show hat the
entire force of the Tenderloin was engaged
In such practice.
.Berthe's sister Irma was a witness late
Yesterday afternoon. She is a thirteen
year-old French girl and has been in this
country a little over a year, and cannot
sneak English. In substance. her testi-
lnony was that on the morning Gerdron
was killed he told her to tell her sister that
If the latter did not meet him she would
got it ALL" pointing to a pistol which he
had in his pocket. One Of the points Of the
defence is that Berthe was in fear OF her life
when she shot Gerdron.
Every day the number of women at the
trial increases. SO great was the crowd
yesterday that the policemen in the furry
did not recognize Justice Vernon M. Davis
when he appeared at the door OF the SUI
preme Court Criminal Branch at the after
noon session. He was held up by a couple
OF cops, but soon rescued.
As soon as the morning session opened
Morton went on the stand He said he
went to see the woman on the Thursday
night before the shooting. Then he was
asked about meeting Martineau. Billafer
and Berthe at T~wenty-ffth street and
Seventh avenue fifteen minutes before
Gerdron was killed. He said that Berthe
pointed out Gerdron. who was on the south
west corner and said: There he is" speak
ing to Martineau. They started across
the street, Martineau in the lead, Berthe
second and Morton last. According to
Nartineau's testimony, Morton was in the
lead.
Before they got half way across the
avenue Morton said he passed Berthe.
Martineau grabbed Gerdron by the left arm.
Morton said that he grabbed Gerdron's
left arm and tried to put on a pair Of hand
cuffs. NIartineau said that he didn't see
any handouts. Gerdron, Morton said,
worked his right arm two or three times
toward his hip pocket and said:
IF you have me pinched I'll kill you
when l get out
Berthe was then standing behind Ger
dron. Mr.. Levy had two court attendants
and Morton show how Morton, Mar
tineau and Gerdron stood. Then he had
Morton work his right hand two or three
times to illustrate nov Gerdron moved
his right hand toward his hip pocket.
Merton and Martineau took Berthe to
n drug store on the corner. Morton denied
that he bathed her head or that he gave
her Il stimulant, as Martineau said he did.
Somebody gave her a drink Of water,
Morton said, but it was not a polioemap.
He denied that Berthe tried to kick Ger
dron's body.
Did you say in the drug store to Berthe,
Well he got the letter all right'?" asked
Mr.. Levy,
II did not, said Morton.
And did she say he did, or anything
Ike that"
'She did not, replied Morton,
WAS anything like that said?"
Nothing
In five minutes the patrol wagon came
and they started downtown. According
to Morton, the woman said nothing like
VII, IldlI pIi' "h"N r'i"h 4 "
,Neithe did he say he would get counsel
for her. In fact, there wasn't m con-
sversation, except that Berthe was crying
and Martineau said keep quiet Morton
didn't hear Martineau ask her why she
had shot Gerdron," This was all in con-
tradiction Of Martineau's story OF the
stand.
VI. Morton said that he visited Berthe at
her fat some thirty-fve times and called
on Lulu Becker, a friend Of Berthe's, about
as often.
"Did you, Martineau, Billafer or Brook
visit the defendant or other women for the
purpose Of collecting money from them?"
asked Mr.. Levy.
This was objected to by Mr.. Ely, and the
objection was sustained. 1t was then that
Mr.. Levy explained that he hoped to show
that Martineau, Billafer and other police
men in the case had a reason for testifying
against the defendant, Justice Davis refused
to let in anything of the trial of Detective
Sergeant Cody at Police Headquarters.
a.; Then Mr.. Ely began his cross-examina-
,tpn. Soon after it started Morton asked