New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-02
CALL PETERS PERJURER
ARRESTED WITH CRONIN.
Bribery Hearing ". o, l.. Mems
DoycnfH- Clifford Held,

Horny Clay Peters and John J. Cronin two ot
tho eleven Municipal Ownership aldermen. were
arrested yesterday afternoon on charges Of per
jury growing ont If their testimony in the case
of Alderman William $. Clifford, who Is alleged
n have accepted $4,000 to influence the votes Of
Municipal ownership aldermen for ex-Judge
Cowing for Recorder. The arrests were made
outside the small courtroom on the top floor Of
the Criminal Courts Building after Alderman
Clifford had been held for the action OF the
grand jury at the conclusion OF the examination
into his case. There rumor that of
the aldermen had made a confession.
There are two inrormations in the charge
sainst Peters. the first Of which is the allega-
ton that he committed perjury in his testimony
before the grand jury and the second that Ia
made false statements on the witness stand be-
fore Magistrate Whitman on Thursday. Peters
svore that ho did not Instruct his colleagues to
vote for ex-Judgo Cowing until after the voting
had begun and Clifford had broken away" from
ex Judge Pamari against the instructions OF
Peters Seven ~ the riDn aldermen examined
syyore they had been told To- vote for Cowlng be-
rore the voting started
Peters who evidently expected his arrest was
represented by counsel Thomas + Dineen. and
had a bondsmau ready i'm the person Of Joseph
Cordone who furnished the $500 bail on which
the alderman was released. He took it all cool
ly. Although tho arrest had been hanging over
him all morning he made an attempt TO go into
the Thaw trial while waiting for the afternoon
session Of the Clifford case. When held up he
presented his credentials as an alderman. but the
doorkcepers were so little impressed that they
refused 10 let him in
Alderman Cronn who is not I'm good health.
seemed much broken up over his plight He adj
mltted ar the hearing on Thursday that his tes-
timouy there contradicted that which he gave be-
fore the grand jury. He told that body he had no
knowledge that the Municipal Ownership alder
men were going TO vote for Cowing prior 70 the
voting ON Thursday he told Assistant District
Attorney Smyth on the stand that both Alder
men ONeu and Peters had informed him how
the vote was going to be cast.
Both Magistrate Whitman and Assistant: Dis
trict Attorney Smyth appeared TO be sorry for
Cron'n. who was not represented by counsel
Mr. Smyth asked that Cronin be released on
parole "Cronin is in such feeble health he
said. that 1 believe confinement in a cell would
seriously endanger his lifo Under the circum-
stances, and taking into consideration the feeble
condition of his mind. think that If he VIII
give the court his word he will not leave the
jurisdiction OF the court he might be released on
parole"
The request granted. The cases against
both Peters and Cronin were set down for ex-
animation on Friday at p. m.
At the opening of the afternoon session OF the
Clifford examination Assistant District Attor-
ney Smith got Aldermen Falk KuntZe, OMEN
and Noonan to sign typewriter copies or the
testimony they gave before Magistrate Whit
man on Thursday. II explained, after tho
arrest OF Peters and Cronln, that the signatures
had been obtained that the testimony might pe
used in possible further court actions, referrlns
ostenslbly to the perjury cases Alderman rank
made one or two minor changes In the Transcript
of his testimony before he attested It's authen-
tIcity with his signature. Alderman Noohah,
on advice of counsel at first refused TO sign, puI
his objections quickly overcome: Alder
man Torpey, who not present VIII be asked
to sign his testimony to-day.
Earl Harding, the newspaper man who worked
I'D the case against Alderman CIlnord, was
Clifford case was resumed In the morning. The
cross-eXamination conducted by Abraham
Levy counsel for Clifford He spoke OF the
work done by Harding "a trap, ana asked
him IL he did not know he was engaged In an
action Involving moral turpitude." Harding
said he believed he was engaged in r merltortoUs
service.
would 1t not have been your duty TO stop
the commission of a crime rather than to tempt
a man?' he asked.
Not if 1 thought crima was TO be COM
mitted" the reply.
When il was announced that the case OF the
people against Clifford was closed, Mr.. Levy
said he would not put in a defence, as he did
not want TO delay the taking Of the case to the
grand jury. He intimated the magistrate would
probably have TO hold his client for that body
Cliffords bail of $4,000. which had been fur
nished by j. J. White and Samuel Kahn, said
to be friends of the Sullivans was renewed.
Have you anything to say?" Alderman Peters
was asked last night at his home. No have
not" he snapped THE papers haven't treated
me right" and he banged the door.