Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-17
WILD ORGY AT
CHOWDER JIM'S
PROVES COSTLY
PATRON PUT ON TRIAL FOR
R0BB!NG COMPANION
PLAINTIFF ASSERTS He WAS
BEATEN INSENSIBLE
Wine, Women and Gun Play Salient
Features Involving Dunne's Res
taurant and Notorious Man.
haitian Hotel

Two notorious resorts, conducted by
one of Mayor Arthur c. Harper's fell
low stockholders in one or more of the
executives corporations" received ad-
ditional and most undesirable publicity
yesterday when Harry Caskey, who
says he was robbed of $40 in the Man
haitian hotel after partaking of much
liquor at "Chowder House Jim" Dunno .
place, told his story in police court.
Dunno, who can claim the honor of
having bought some of the now famous
corporation stock from Mayor Har-
perS associates, was not present.
Neither was Police Commissioner Lewis,
who has been acting as agent for the
Manhattan hotel.
Aside from some rath%r disgusting
testimony regarding th&Rsorgy (nOt an
official inspection) as the result Of
which Caskey lost his hard earned
money, the evidence seemed to show
that a stranger, or any other man who
displays money in quantity, has little
chance to escape if he treads the prim-
rose path that leads via "ChoWder
House Jim's'' to the Manhattan hotel.
The principals in this orgy were IN
Police Justice Roses court yesterday
morning at the preliminary examination
of J. C. Trahant charged with beating
Caskey, who is a blacksmith living at
S13 East Fifty-second street, into "a
state of insensibility and robbing him.
When the testimony of the witnesses
had been heard Trahant was held to
answer to the superior court in bonds
of $4,000. Later in the afternoon he was
taken before Judge Willis and pleaded
guilty He admitted he was a, former
convict. Sentence will be pronounced
this morning at o'clock.
Women Tell Their Story
In the police court two young women,
their faces marked with lines of dissi-
patton, told their story of the debauch.
When asked their occupation their re-
ply, made in coquettish manner, was
mot working just now"
Caskey was the first witness. He tes-
titled that he passed the early part Of
the evening at a theater on Broadway.
after leaving the show ] went to
saloon on South Main street near
Fourth where met Trahant. We had
a few drinks and reached Jim's chow
der house about midnight. There we
had some more drinks and Trahant
asked for some girls. The man TO
whom he spoke replied that he had a
friend who would go out and get them.
We entered a box and shortly after
ward the girls Joined US.
after having supper and wine we
went to the Manhattan and took
rooms. We remained in the rooms
quite a while, and I went out into the
hall. I was very drunk and can't re-
member that part distinctly. Some
one struck me from behind and
knocked me out When I came to [ was
sitting on a bed and Trahant was
pointing a revolver at me. We were
the only persons in the room.
Menaced with Revolver
while menacing me with the
weapon he told me if 1 did not give
him some of the money which he knew
I had he would kill me. He then be-
gan to swear at me, and said: That
was my wife you were with, and if you
don't give me your money I will kill
you. [ pulled out all my money and
gave it to him; it was more than $100.
HE still threatened me with the
gun, and said: If you leave this room
in nine minutes 1 will kill you AS
soon as he left [ rushed out on the fire
escape and yelled 'Police!' Some one
tried to open the door and get to me-
but I held the knob so he could not
get in"
Frank w. Pilsbury of SIC East
Fourth street, employed as night man
ager at Jim's chowder house testified
that Trahant and Caskey came into
the restaurant about 1890 O'Clock.
Witness said he was acquainted with
the latter and had seen, Trahant once
or twice before.
Caskey came over to me and said
Hello, Frank, let's have a drink, said
Pilsbury. L told him 1 was not drink
ing anything, but would take a cigar.
We had several rounds, and then Cas-
key said he was hungry and asked me
II there were any vacant seats in the
booths. They obtained seats and lat
er We're Joined by two girls. During
the meal three bottles of wine We're
opened. When they finished supper
nd iTIc he l.
and left
Was there anything said about a
reVolver?" asked Deputy District At
torney Donnell.
Stuff Would Not Fizz
''Yes. When one of the bottles of
wine was opened Caskey drew a gun
and said, That G. d stuff does not
smoke enough, but 1 will make it
smoke. He was flourishing the weapon,
and asked him to leave it with me
and he could get it next day. He gave
me the gun and 1 put it away"
Witness said he had not seen anv
weapon in the possession of Trahant
Barton E. Brooke, night clerk at the
Manhattan hotel, said Caskey, Ira
hant and the two women came to the
hotel at 2 o'clock. They were assigned
TO rooms 9S and SO. Shortly after they
went upstairs the elevator boy came
down and said the men were in the
hall on one of the upper floors quar-
Tellng. Witness went to investigate
and found that Caskey was arguing
about what had become of his gun.
I told him he would find his re
Volver, and he should go back to his
room and get some sleep, and he would
find everything all right in the morn
ing" said Brooke. '"The men went
back into their rooms, and went back
to the office
"The next I saw of the men was
about O'Clock, when Trahant came to
the office and asked to be shown the
IaVatory: He left, and 1 did not see
him again.
YeIIs for Police
Later I heard footsteps in the hall.
went out and met Caskey He passed
me and went down the hall, and I told