New-York tribune., 1909-10-30
REPRESENTED |. B. S.
1T STATE INQUIRY.
4ssemblyman SpieIberg Knesc
Of No "HVhite SlaUes.".

SeIllaLNe OF the New York Independent
Benevolent Society at the inquiry conduct
% hy the State immigration Commission
between August. 19Os. and April, 1909. ac-
cording 10 the minutes of that commission
The 10th Assembly District Tammany
Club is under the leadership of Coroner
Julius Harburger. and is a part OF the 18th
senate District, OF which the elected Rep
resentative at Albany is Senator Timothy
D. sullivan.
The New York Independent Benevolent
Society. together with the o. S. Club and
the French Association, has been smen-
toned IN various reports. federal, state
snd charitable, rs an organization promot-
tnE as q business the importation and dis
ribution throughout the United States OF
white slaves" OF this society the Inmi-
grafton Commission. IN Its report to the
Governor, says:
The attention Of the commission has
been called to one organization incorpo-
rated under the laws of New York State
legged purpose: ITO promote the senti-
11ert Of regard and friendship among the
~ % 70 ss TSeoeT assistance &c IN ca e
an association Of gamblers. procurers and
KEEPERS OF cisorderly houses. organized for
the purpose OF mutual protection in their
business
SIT was. when this society was sum-
UoreG before the State Imm gra1ion Com
mission that Assemblyman Spielberg who
has law Office at No, ca eth street. Man
haitian, noted his appearance as counsel TO
represent the society before the commits
sion During the inquiry the members of
ne commission called Spie' berg as a wit
neSs. ana he being first duly sworn. testi-
fed IS follows 10 the questioning of Mar
Gus u. Marks, member of the commits
sion:
Q.-You made a statement that you are
pendent Benevolent Association but are
eclhg, tso-c2y IN those proceedings as
Q--4ou said you have not had any pre-
VlcuS transactions with the association
thai yQn 2s-,F3 have not known about it until to-
Gay. NlI you. please explain how you
came 10 know the names of the members?
Al never knew OF tha existence of this
aSsoclatlon unul 5 o'cleek this morning.
When I was called UP by Levinstein, VINO
asked me II ] would appear; I saw him at
o'clock and he handed me a subpoena
ard asked me 70 appear I said Fl was no
court proceeding, but I would 90 up and
see aoout II l nodded. my head in ac-
know-ecgrnent of knowing these names.
because / have been practising criminal
law IN The city of New York.
Q.-Aou practise criminal law? A--Yes.
Q.-Have the members OF this associa-
the practice of law? A-Some of them
have been. '---
o-Would you mention the names Of
have 70 mention the names again I don't
think | have appeared for them. but 1 have
het mem In my practice.
C--Ihat was not the question. You said
you hsJd appeared as representing them?
A. nay have appeared for several of
.Q----Wil you give US a list? Al. siegei
n. % second avenue-in civil transaction
IN This particular instance I think I an
peered for Klausen-I cannot remen1her.
the Foxes, know.
Q-Did you appear for them? Al did
Q.-The question is. Who did you appear
Iorz A;-If you mean defending them when
charged with criminal cases. | cannot re-
member, hut have met them.
Q--Socially? An business
ness on the East Side
Q-At their Offices? A--At nv Office.
,Q-They came there to consult you? A
Glow many Of the members of this
SsSSoc-ston Sc4 nave. consulted you regarding
Q-You represented him? Al don't
think he was ever charged with anything.
Mr. Marks then asked spielberg if he
knew the nature Of the business conducted
by the members OF the New York Indepen-
dent Benevolent Society. and spielberg
replied that he did to a large extent.
What is their business?'' asked Mr.
Marks. then.
Some Of them are professional bonds
men" answered SpieIberg. Some Of them
are interested in gambling houses-sam
Paul, I know him very we'll"
Are some Of them interested in other
enterprises, such as houses of i'll fame?"
pursued Mr. Marks.
None Of those have mentioned.'' re-
Piled Spelberg
The questions by Mr.. Marks, with Spiel
herg's answers. continued as follows:
Q.-None Of those whose names We have
called. ever? A--Not 10 my knowiedse:
an sure none of them have -besn arrested
|ithln the last three years charged with
any such crime
Q.-You say some OF them are interested
n gambling houses? A-Yes sir
Q.-And have been arrested for that? A
] couldn't say that any Of the people in
tbs.resLed n gambling houses in New York
Q.-Are they protected? Al don't
Q.-Do you know If the members of this
association are protected in this way? A.
cannot answer this question categori-
do you know Big Morris?' was the
next question put to Spielberg
I think I do" he replied.
You don't know whether ne has been
arrested-would you be willing to say that
be had not been arrested within the last
three years. he was asked.
II could not tell you about him unless I
saw him" replied spielberg. 'T am not
sure about him
You are lot sure about the others any
more than you are about this man?" ne
was asked then. and replied: Not to my
knowledge"
Questions by Afr. Marks and by Miss
Frances a. Kellor, secretary Of the COM
mission, and spielberg's answers ended as
follows:
BY Mr. Marks:
Q.-Hss fl been by accident these peopIe
came 10 consult you, or is IT because you
are counsel for the association2 Al have
never heard Of the association before bIyt
have been connected with the criminal
courts, and this brought me into this
By Mss Keller:
Q.-What particular court? A-Magfs-
trates courts-that was prior TO three
years ago.
Q.-Not ncw2 A.-No.
BY Mr. Marks:
Q--You have no knowledge whether these
PEE pie whose names have been mentioned
as nenncers Of the asso -iation are connected
n any way with houses OF III fame? A
now lhey are not; I know every dis
"'6SFly oDsekeeper on the East Side
=, q hiss 6ellor- These men are not IN
uhe East s,ae; these are TenderIoin men.
Q--Are the people on the East Side IN
any sfsoc'aticnf A.-No sir "
,2-Ihere Is no associat!on2 A-No S,r
z Does that apply TO the Tenger,oir
also A-Esch one runs his own busj
Q-Aou say you are not familiar -d,b
fnls assoclalon-not before to-dav9 -
dc hot know IL Al