The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-21
CONSPIRACY CASE
 MOVES RAPIDLY
Cost of Two Strikes Vary Great
 Iy in Respective Price
TRADE MADE IN SALOON
Strike Is Called on Building and Own CT Pays Price Demanded, After Which Strike Is Promptly
 Called of.

Chicago May 20-States Attorney Way man today finished the presentation of direct testimony against Skinny" Mad den, ct al, charged with conspiracy to extort money in the settlement of strikes. Witnesses told of a strike which was set tied for S150o and of another which cost 800
 The latter strike was called, it is al legged. on a building being erected by Samuel Grossman.
 Solomon l.. Lowenthal, Grossman's at torney, was placed on the witness stand. Following a demand for s20o to settle the strike he and hls client. he said, called on F. A. Pouchot, who. with M. J. Boyle, is a co-defendant in the case.
 I've found him In a little room in saloon" said the witness and inquired why he had asked for money from MT. Grossman He looked hard at us for moment and then said he was not fSol enough to talk to both of us. Then he walked away
 "The next day I went to gee Madden. He took me to a small room under the stairs of the saloon and I handed him s20O He slapped me on the shoulder and said that work would be resumed on the building the next day9
 MT Grossman followed Mir. Lowenthal and eorroborated the testimony of the latter.
 The introduction of various agreements and other documents, together with their identification by witnesses completed the states case.
 NKfd..,.N 1atftt,da +1,a sntro1urtior ,f evidence was given the prosecution by Judge McSorley today
 Judge Mcsorley's s ruling followed several hours of argument and allows the state to introduce witnesses not directly con- cerned with the Klicka case. but who it is said. will give the testimony tend ing to show that the alleged extortion in the case a bar merely an incident of the general policy pursued by the de- fendauts
 The first witness called by States Att torney Wayman, under this ruling, was Jacob Scharmer, a building contractor, who told of strike called last Septem- Der on the plant of the Jewel Tea com pany.
 "I asked Pouchet why the strike had been called, and he said that certain sheet metal sleeves for the coffee roast ing plant had been placed in the plant by non-union labor. l told him that if that was his only kick. I would have the sleeves torn out and new ones put in by union men.
 a' Oh. don't bother about that; leave them where they are Pouchet said. He told me to see Madden and make him a cash offer to settle the strike"
 Witness proceeded to relate a later in terview with Madden, in which he alleged Madden demanded S275O as his price for calling off the strike. This the witness said he reduced 10 S2700
 You'll have to get of your high horse." l told him. Then I went to see Fred " SlIeff, president of the te& company. We talked It over and then l returned to Madden
 "'You've got to use some common sense, I told him. We've got to agree on a decent price or fight 1t out on other lines Then he came down to $500
 ''I asked him how Skef was to pay the money. and he said Skeff should bring along a confidential man to meet similar agent who would be with Madden. These two agents were to be left alone in private room. where the money was to change hands"
 brought the money all in $100 bills to Madden, and that the latter told him to put them in an envelope. This he did and left the sum on the desk in the office used by Madden.