The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-01-28
YOUNG MATTE
TRIED BRIBERY,
REARD0N SAYS
Offered Him Money to Drop
Attempted Robbery Charge,
He Swears.
FRIENDS ALL. IN COURT
Thirty Pennsylvanians Ready
to Establish Good Character
of Accused Man.
FRIENDS ALL IN COURT

The taking OF testimony In the trial
Of Thomas McAtee. the young Pennsyl-
vanian charged with attempted bur-
glary by Eddie" Reardon. Jerome's
former sleuth. was begun to-day before
Judge Rosalsky In Part H. OF the Court
Of General Sessions.
Father Hogan. the Catholic priest OF
Mahanoy Plain, Pa, In whose parish
the accused was born and raised. sat at
the defendants side.
Thirty citizens OF Mahanoy Plains,
including the postmaster. sheriff. con-
stable and coroner, arrived In court
early, all ready to testify to McAtee's
good character, With them was Miss
Katherine Mclaughlin. McAtee's fan
Gee. Miss McLaughlins faith In McAtee
Is unbounded. and she says that mo
evidence In the world could convince
her that her sweetheart is a thief
Bingham May Testify,
Police Commissioner Bingham Is to he
witness for the defense, according to
McAtee's counsel, Congressman NJ F.
Conroy, for the purpose OF discredlting
Reardon. In that event District .Attor-
ney Jerome, will. II Is asserted, 60 on
the witness stand IN behalf Of his former
sleuth.
Reardon was the nrst witness. He said
that before going to his home on the
night ne arrested McAtee, ne had been
In a cafe with several friends for nearly
three hours
II met the defendant in the hallway"
Reardon testified, and asked him what
ne was doing there. He replied that he
had made a mistake. and walked down
stairs I followed him and at the street
door I grabbed him. A second man.
concealed In the hallway. struck me
blow. held on to the defendant and
dragged him TO the street, where I
called for assistance.
"A friend OF mine named Brazier
came UP and held the defendant while
| picked up my hat. McAtee broke
away from Brazier and we pursued him
to sixth avenue, where We overlook
him.
Offered Money. He Said.
On the way to the Mercer Street Sta
ton. Reardon testified. McAtee became
so abusive that he took him direct to
the Night Court.
Il asked him who his pal was"
Reardon said. and he refused to say.
lie told me he had only arrived In the
city few nours before from South
Lakewood, n. j."
Reardon said McAtes sent for him the
next morning after his arraignment IN
the police court and asked him II the
matter couldn't be fixed up, Reardon
said that a friend OF his, William ].
Koch, OF Long Branch. was with him
a, the time and heard McAtee offer him
money to withdraw the charge.
Il refused to have anything TO do
with him Reardon said, and he was
held to await the action OF the Grand
Jury"
Reardon said that he afterward saw
an effort had been made to jimmy
the door leading to his apartment, He
Identified "a photograph OF the door
showing four marks The witness said
he had found bunch OF skeleton keys
and a Jimmy on the floor OF the hallway
where he had had the tussle with the
defendant.
Couldn't Break His Story.
! Congressman Conry cross.eXamined
/ Reardon at considerable length. but was
unable to make any serious breach In
his story.
Ibid you Are any pistol on that occa.
slon7" he asked
NO." replied Reardon.
You are a man who drinks" said
Conry.
How did It happen that you had a
friend so handy"
We had been discussing the Long.
boat. porando race and took my friend
to my house to obtain certain informa.
ton over the telephone. He was to re-
turn with the news to the saloon"
/ There was telephone in the saloon,
why didn't you use that one?'
"oh, I could get better service at my
home"
/ Recess was taken with Reardon on
! the stand.
Rules Out Police Record.
| Reardon was asked whether ne ever
/ had talked with Central Office detect.
i've named Van Tyisten. Reardon said
that Van Twlsten came to him. as he
suspected, from Commissioner Bingham
He refused to answer Van Twstens
questions on the ground that the de-
;ective had no right to ask them. He
DID make some voluntary remarks to
Van Twtsten about the case. Lawyer
Sonry produced typewriter statement
made by Van Twisten as a report Ia
Commissioner Bingham. Reardon dc
MED everything In this report. Mr..
Conry endeayored to rake over Rear
don record as a special policeman and
bis deprivation OF his special officers
badae by Mr.. Bngham. Judge Rosalsky
ruled al such tions out
Reardon said that he had arrested
Tony Baano a criminal known to the
police as Slick Tony" on the guaplcior
hat he had been AoAtee's acconplicc
hut was unable TO Identify him.
Thomas J. Brssier, ot No. Barrow
street, who was With Reardon when Nc
Atee was arrested corroborated al o
Reardon's testimony.
William ]. Koch. . private detective
who said that he was employed by
concern OF which Resrdon Was vice
president. said that he WAS with Rear
don when McAtee WAS arraiyned. II,
heard hcA,es say:
what are you 80 anxious to pusf
...n 10 tnanGy WIN r.,