New-York tribune., 1908-10-20
KINGS LICENSE PROBE
DENIAL By KINSELLA.
Sho,cmen Testify They Paid -Four
Times Legal Fee to Deputy Chief.

The investigation of the license bureau by John
purrov Mitchell Commissioner of Accounts. shifted
Yesterday to the Brooklyn branch, when two NOV
ing picture show managers testified tnat lney hdu
paid four times the legal fee for renewals OF OheH
licenses At the close Of the testimony Commits
sioner Mitchell adjourned the session suoJect to
his CALL and said that from all appearances there
would be no more public hearings He SAID ne
had not had time read the testimony, but woolo
submit whatever he thought advisable to the Mayor
and Assistant District Attorney Murphy VINO
was again present at yesterdays hearing
The testimony yesterday concerned Deputy Chlef
James J. Kinselia, head of the Brooklyn once lie
denied positively all the statements OF the SNOW
men who said they had been obliged to pay MIN
more than the legal charge. Following klnseLa s
testimony Gaetano D D'Amato, deputy cnler IN
charge Of the Manhattan and The Bronx once,
was called to the stand and asked whether ne had
paid any part Of the money received py MIN
to anybody else. D'Amato. who was due 10 ap-
pear in the Tombs Court later in the nearing Oh
a charge of extortion. by advice of his counsei re-
fused to answer and for the further reason that II
might tend TO incriminate degrade him.
Afterward D'Amato and Frank E. Brown, chlet
of the electrical bureau of the Department OF
Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. appeared before
Magistrate Droege in the Tombs court, on the
continued hearing of the charges of extortion made
by Michael de Cristoforo. of No. 5R East l4th
street. who charged that he had been forced TO
pay $50 for moving picture license Assistant
District Attorney krotel had some ulIHcultS III
getting De Cristoforo to give logical account OF
the several times he had said he shaken
down" After an hours labor with an interpreter
the case was adjourned until o'clock this after
Before the investigation was resumed yesterday
Commissioner Mitchell explained that Ponce IN
spector Sweeney was in no way involved IN the
investigation by the arrest for perjury OF Patrol-
Tillman of his staff and the suspension from
duty of Captain Tracy last week Tillman was
transferred yesterday to the personal stan OF Dep
uty Commissioner Hansen.
The first witness was William T Paal of No. 1851
Bath avenue, Brooklyn. who said he had moving
picture show at No 1889 Bath avenue managed by
a named Adams. Paal got license year
ago last July for s25 the legal fee When he asked
for q renewal last summer. he said, he was tolo
that it would him $50, instead of s12 90, the
legal renewal fee. Finally he got II, ne said by
paying So so to KinseIla-
Kinsea, called to the stand. said that man and
a had asked for the renewal Of the license
issued in PaaTs name, they were going TO buy
the show. II told them" said Kinsella, that the
holder of the license would have to get the re
newal Mr.. Paal came down twice, think Kin
sella was that the delay between PaaIs Vlslts
was due to the need OF having the show properly
inspected by the Fire Department. He repeated
his denial that he had received more than
the legal fee for the license. Paal. OF being re-
called repeated his charge
James w Chambers financial clerk Of the Brook
branch OF the bureau SAID tildL he ndd always
referred applicants for moving picture show IL
censes or renewals to the head OF the Brooklyn
bureau.
Daniel W Robertson. Of No. 376 Bainbridge
street Brooklyn testlned that he had paid the fee
OF $l2 50 for a renewal OF licenses for his shows
in Saratoga Park. Brooklyn. to Chambers, and that
Chambers had then referred him to Kinsella- The
latter. according to Robertson. said that the re-
ncwal would be worth something and finally
asked for $50 additional The witness said he gave
So in cash and went out and cashed a check MT
crfer in ne
book the Trust Company of America and read
from the first stub. Paid in cash May at 10
a m. to Mr Kinsela;' On the second stub was
transfer Of license to No. 1870 Broadway Mr..
Kinsella- recalled, denied Mr.. Robertsons story.