New-York tribune., 1908-03-05
NATHAN VIDAVER HELD
ACCUSED OF EXTORTION.
Says He Got $500 from ". r. Mont
gomery as Fee.

Nathan vidaver. until last Saturday special
Deputy Attorney General iE charge Of the m
vestigation of kissena Park scandal in
Queens. and at present specia! attorney for the
Attorney Generals office in the Metropoli-
tan Street Railway insolvency proceedings. was
arrested yesterday charged with attempted eX-
tortion from William R. Montgomery. now un-
der Indictment growing out of the troubles of the
Hamilton Bank of which he was president The
arrest was made the Hotel Astor by Lieu
tenant Fitzsinmons, Of District Attorney Je-
rome's staff. after Mr.. Montgomery had paid
Vidavor $500 in marked bills
When arraigned before Magistrate Herman
in the Tombs court, MI Nidaver, who was
Hearst candidate for the Supreme Court bench
in 1893 and the candidate last fall for the
General Sessions bench on the fusion ticket was
held in 5000 bail for examination this morn
ing. He made violent protests against his ar
rest. and said he had accepted the money from
Montgomery as a fee to assist him in opening
a new bank in Seventh avenue. He declared
he had been retained because he had influence
with the Attorney General.
Bail was obtained for Mr.. Vtdaver by Moses
H Cfrossman. of the law firm of House. Gross
man & Vorhaus. No 10 Broadway. ACCORD
ing to the District Attorney, Grossman repre-
sented MIR. Vidaver in his affairs with Nj.
Montgomery ana h20 q long cow NefSd ton Win
him Yesterday morning at which it
ranged that Vidaver should lunch with Mont
coInery at the Astor. This conversation was
overheard by two detectives from the District
Attorneys office and stenographer, who took
down all that was said. Ciossman was sub
popnaed to appear before the grand jury yester
day afternoon His partner. Louis J. FOrhaus
also asked to appear.
STATEMENT OK MR. VIDAVER.
Mr.. Vidaver gave out a long statement last
night regarding his relations with Mr.. Mont
gomery, in which he said
My arrest is without question one Of the most
W anu 59 d[Si.+,,e,t @3r r.
regular transactions as president Of the Hanll-
Bank, in his desire 10 escape punishment
has been made tool of by Jerome and Howard
Cans his attorney not for the purpose OF fasten-
discreditng Attorney General Jackson who sup
Trust.
1Iessrs. House Gross,nan & Vorhaus attor-
the HamtIton tom Bank first Vent into the hands Of
receivers: to do such legal work as might be re
asked how friendly with the Attorney
General I told him that friendship could not
move the Attorney General In any shape. manner
or form. and that If he did anything wrong ne
pay d fee of 800 which he failed to pay, and
AIessrs, House, Crossman q Norhaus gave me d
on TUESDAY I received q number of messages
from him On Wednesday morning repaired 10
MI GrossmanS Office and Nj S5T95sI1n was
tOn they had I do not know, but finally Mr
Mr. Montgomery desired to speak to me | ac-
cordngly did So and Mr. Montgomery asked me
to meet him for luncheon at some place CON
yenient to my office, finally choosing the Astor
We took luncheon together. and general sub
jects were discussed. and finally Mr. Montgomery
ment should he dismissed and that he intended to
open a new bank. and ne was fearful ot s adrerss
could I stop that adverse criticism
missed | could reason why the Attorney
General should be at all TndictiEe; that II vas
simply ridiculous to talk in that manner He then
asked me would be OF counsel Tor me new othh-
verse CrftiCiqn. | said 10 him that would d" glad
to act in conjunction with Mr.. Grossman, feeling.
who had really thrown the client my way. to leave
him out. ana thereupon. luncheon being CONCLUDED.
$500, saving: ''Fiere iz $500 Now. YOU be quite
sure that you will take care Of me" And | said
him: Everything that I can possibly do for
a client VIII be g'ad 70 DO, and, maSnuch as you
me that you'd better call at the office as quickly as
possible, 50 that We may perfect The plans There
The fifms.ness Of the charge against me is proof
aiscredlt n9t me- me- ~ am t n sl bos VIC
ties more than dispeasing 70 the District At
/ ask the public to watch the indictments against
Mr.. observation-disclosures Cans. the former AS
sistant District Attorney IS his LAWYER tthe plot
against me must nave been known TO Mr.. Jeromel
and let us whether not Mr.. Montgomery
should be quashed- That Will ne his price for
swearing to what may be essential IN order to
establish case
The arrangement for yesterdays meeting was
made in the morning 1T Mr.. Montsomery's
house by Grossman MI Montgomery was not
feeling we'll at the time. and was in bed. BY
prea rra ngement Lieutenant Beery. OF the Dis
trict Attorneys office. was in hiding behind
curtain. while Lieutenant Fitzsimmons and
stenographtr were concealed on top of a ward
robe The conversation was To have taken
place the night before. but the lawyer did not
appear then So the detectives had waited in
the house all night for him
At the Hotel Astor yesterday Mr.. Montgom-
cry and Vidaver Iunched together in a private
dining room. Part of Their conversation was
overheard by one Of Mr.. Jer1me's detectives
Later they walked into another room. where
$500 was paid 10 Vdaver in bills marked
". J. F." the initials OF Lieutenant Fitzsim-
continued second page.
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