The evening world., 1911-01-25
Former Prosecutor Exposes
Seaman and Three Pals
byAid of Rogues' Gallery.
HAD NEARLY WON SUIT.
Dramatic Denouement Turns
Jury From Verdict for
"Belt Line" Railroad.

How the dramatic recognition o, a
witness as an old-tlme crook turned
the tide in n suit for damages against
the Central Park. North and East Riv-
or Railroad Company in favor of a
fourteen-year-old boy and closed n
cour scene as sensational as any por-
trayed on the stage was told to-day in
Justice Giegerich's part OF the suprcne
Court.
Louis Frltsch. a schoolboy. brought
suit against the company known as
the "Belt Line to recover $40. Nv, for in
1uries received In 1905. lie claimed his
back and legs were permanentlv in
tured because "A bale OF hay fell from
a truck owned By the COMPANY. knock
Ing him to the street.
The railroad lawyer concluded his do
Tense by placing on the stand four wit
nesscs young men. who said they were
members OF the Amazon club" an
Eleventh avenue social group. Each
witness swore he saw the Fritsch boy
dangling from a rope on the rear OF the
truck and then watched the heavy bum
die OF hay fall IN top of the lad. This.
the lawyer contended, indicated the
boys negligence.
Prosecutor Recognized Witness.
A witness who said he was James
Seamon was on the stand when former
Assistant District-Attorney Thomas II.
Rice. who has brought suit for 500, 900
damages against the Union Pacific Rail-
road for Injuries received in Denver in
1908, walked into the courtroom to walt
for his case to be called next on the
calender.
Rice studied the face Of the witness.
The more he scrutinized him the more
certain he became he knew him. Step
ping over TO Ralph Gillette. attorney
for the boy. who was cross-examining
IN an effort to break down the solid
testimony OF the witness and the three
companions who had preceded HIM.
Rice asked:
will you tell me who the witness
CERTAINTY. he's Mr.. James Seamon."
said NJ. Gillette.
BrienS. at Rice's request. Gillette out
lined the case. The lawyers whispered
a few seconds. when Gillette turned on
the man on the stand.
1Ou nave sworn 10 lie dltcr lue Zero,
have you not?'
lette. but squirmed uneas1ly in his seat
1Ie kept up a bold front and stoutly
denied that he had perjured himself.
Didn't Remember" Prison Terms.
'you know this gentleman. do you
not?"
o "Ncver saw him before; no. sir"
-. L. -.
TO Elmira Reformatory and later &c
, Sing Sing prison. do you?"
"Seamon" wrigGled almost out OF his
seat. HIS face was livid with rage. The
Jurors leaned forward in their eats
''Seamon" was led through a rigorous
questioning. He was taken back ovel
his direct testimony and in reply he con
ficted his previous statements. He final
~ became so confused that his replies
were deliberately c~ontradicted. but he
maintained that he had seen younC
Tritsch playing with the rope. Then Mr.
,Cpllette called to his assistant in a lout
voice:
run I'm to Police Headquarters wit,
these subpoenas and bring me tn
Rogues' Gallery photographs Of thi
witness and his three companions.'
"Seamon' grinned s~avagely at GIL
lette and Rice. He looked toward tn
suec,ators' chairs and found hi
pals had slipped from the court
room when Rice entered the scene.
Justice Giegerich charged the jury I'm
partially. Before the law clerk returne'
with a seven-page typewriter record o
the four witnesses and copies OF thei
photos the jury had returned with
verdict In favor OF the hoy.
Lawyer Gillette has placed before tn
Dls,rict-Attorney the minutes OF tn
trial.