New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-28
HELD FOR SIZE GRAFT
Took Money Out of Kindness,
Small Politician Says.
CASE IN CURRAN DISTRICT
Neither Alderman Nor Captain
Involved, Except by Bluff,
Investigator Believes.

As a result Of testimony taken yester-
day before H. VI. Rice. acting Commits
sioner of Accounts. In the hearing regard
ing alleged fruit stand graft, Abraham
Wirtenberg. Of No 1873 Fourth avenue,
was arrested and arraigned in JEFFERSON
Market court on charge OF eXtortlon'
This was the first arrest In the inquiry
80 far Wirtenberg was arraigned before
Magistrate Appleton and held in 2yI
bail for hearing next Thursday.
The warrant for Wirtenberg's arrest was
issued on an affidavit sworn 10 by sam
uel Gordon. Of No go Monroe street.
The alleged extortion money is said to
have been paid to Wirtenberg, who Is d
cigar dealer at Fourth avenue and l'th
street, with pretensions TO political inru-
ence,. for help in obtaining license for
a fruit stand, which Gordon wanted TO
open at No. "A West oath street. Before
Mr. Rice yesterday Wirtenberg admitted
that he received Sl25 from Gordon, but
denied that Il was for any improper
purpose
Gordon came TO my house" said Writ
enbcrg with hard luck story, OF how
he had q wife and child and they Were
starving He cried and cried and cried
until almost cried myself"
I'm telling this part Of the story, Writ
enberg was overcome anew by his SYM
pathetic emotions and almost started to
cry all over again. Gordon. the man for
whom his tears were Ioosed, is a healthy
looking specimen Of citizenship weighing
In thc noighborhood of two hundred
pounds.
After the license was issued" said
Wirtenberg IN his testimony before Mr..
Rice. che came TO me and forced me to
take the s125 He said I had been good
friend TO him, and took It out of kind
ness. just 10 please Gordon"
1t was the story told before this by
Abraham Weiner, and his partner, Sam
uel Gordon. who wanted 10 open a stand
at No. II West 22d street, that led 30
WirtenberR's arrest In his testimony
Gordon said that he was DESTROYS OF
opening up new stand. and went 10 the
Madison Square Republican Club. at No.
2i0 West 18th street to get license II ON
the alderman of the district, Fl. II. Cur
ran. He was told there, he said. that he
could not have the license, since it hal
already been promised TO a man by :he
name OF Moskowitz. MosKowitz. he said.
agreed to rclinquish his claim on the
license for 500.
HE said he could surely get the license"
said .Weirer Gordon's partner. in cor
roborating the latters testimony. 80
Gordon put up the 500. Then we went
TO Wrtenberg. and with him went to Al
derman. Curran at the clubhouse. Mr..
Alperni, the district captain, was there.
After the application was signed Written
berg put IL in his pocket and went out.
Then he demanded 5000. and when said
that 500 was the price agreed upon he
replied that was his business He had
The signed application IN his pocket ana
$500 was the price The next day Gordon
vent TO Wirtenberg End induced him TO
take $le5 for the application"
The partners found they could not make
a living for two AT this stand and wanted
20 open another at No "a West cath
street. so they went 10 their friends again.
This time Moskowitz wanted SECS TO FIX
II up. and Wlrtenberg also wanted $50,
said Weiner. Weiner further testified that
WirtenberG said he wanted the money TO
pay 10 the alderman of the district and
the district captain