New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-11
HORSE KILLING TRACED
TO BIG ICE CREAM MEN
Convicts Under Long Sentences
at Auburn Accuse Dealers
Board of Trade.
GOT $3.50 FOR Staying NINE
Witness Also Tells of Burning
Wagon and Destroying Ma
chimes of Independent Man
ufacturer with Wrench.


Samuel Friedman. known as Niger.
md Thomas O'Brien. who arc serving
terms Of thlriy-Oue years i'm Auburn prls-
on for robbery. were grand jury witnesses
Yesterday in the investigation into horse
poisoning conducted by Royal H. Wellsr
b Assistant District Attorney Although
10th men have been beyond the reach Of
detailed Information concerning the III
cuirv. their testimony corroborated III
every essential point that already given
10 the grand jury and fatty accused the
New York and Brooklyn Ice Cream Man
ufacturers' Board Of Trade OF horse pot
souinE.
! They told OF attending a meeting Of the
board of trade where the nat was passed
among the members to make up $50 which
/ Niger" Friedman and his pal do
maudod for "droppiuc" the horses OF an
independent. ice cream dealer. Mr.. Weller
i believes the two men have knowledge OF
other deals. and that although no prom
: lecs have been made to them they VIII
tell al they know
I Tho evidence which they have already
given duplicates only David kalholter.
/ former president of the New YORK ana
| Rr,okl,n Ice Cream Manufacturers
/ Board Of Trade and of tho Horse owners
| Protective Association. and Max S"IrS-
/ lyov. p former officer or the board OF
trade. one indictment has already been
/ found against Kalholfer and two against
/ Swirskcy.
/ Tho matter OF fact way in which they
/ saw Swirskcv .broach,d the subject ~
= poisonine tho horses OF Henry J. kolchin'
an independent ice cream manufacturer
. IS taken bv Mr. Weller as evidence thHl
/ il was not the first time such proposal
/ had been made to Friedman and q Bri"h.
/ According To their story. S"lrskey met
/ them IN cannon street and casually suS-
! cestcd the poisoning OF kolchin's horses.
/ kolcbin was proprietor OF the Royal lc"
| cre,r, COMPANY. ~ 40 50 Butler street
| Rrookl,n. He had refused 70 join the
/ board Of trade
! Friedman says Swirskey told chem thI-
and added that the Royal Il" cream
/ rotnranv was beginning 10 cncroach Oh
! tine Manhattan market and that they
must bo put out OF business. Friedman
and O'Rrien agreed 90 poison kolchin
lorses-thcy understood there were eight
| for 500. Swirskey warned them, they
say. that there was an electric hsht IN
| from, Of the stable and they would have
TO De careful
O.Erl.n went 10 the stable in the sulse OF
a stable boz looking for work in order 70
"a,t tn. Law OF the land " The men made
three unsuccessful attempts to get IN after
tbr preliminary visit. one nlght there
was a wake near by and no one seemed 70
be slcering. Another night negro was
! stot near the stable and the consequent
crowd drove them away. The thlrd hSh'
WAS rainy and policeman was sheltei'hs
/ himself in the doorway. The fourth at
tempt was successful FlaNsc'd piI7
containing a spoonful Of arsenic each were
| fed 20 each horse. The horses died the
4 next DAY.
Then. Friedman says. they approached
swirskey FOR their pay. They deinaIH'a
$40 instead OF 500. because there were
nine horses Instead OF eight and because
; they had TO make several trips oth'r
/ witnesses have testified before the grand
itry that the 500 was raised by an assess
mcnt upon the members Of the board oi
trade. each being assessed according 10
/ the amount OF his business. Swirskey told
/ him ami - Brlcn. Friedman says. that u
they would attend meeting Of the board
of trade in clinton Hal! three nights later
! tfev would gct their money.
/ Friedman and O'Brlcn attended the
meeting They say Swirskcy paid them
, the 500 and then passed the hat among
| the other members OF the board OF trade
. TO make up the extra -.
Mr.. Kolchin eventually Joined the board
Of trade. lie told the grand jury he hest
! tated for some time even after his horses
died lie told Swirskcy he said. that he
was going to buy automobiles and didn't
I know II 1t were worth his while 10 join.
| Swirsley told him. he declares. that while
! automobiles could not be- poisoned they
could be blown ap. Then kolchin joined.
Friedman also told Nh. Weller that at
! Swirskcy's bchcst he had destroyed the
machinery Of Morris Weiss. another indc-
pendcnt ice cream manufacturer S"ir-
+ sliey showed him with a wrench, he as
/ serted how To disable the machines.
! Friedman says lac was paid 500 Tor that
| Even after his machines were destroyed
Weiss continued In business. Then,
| Friedman says, Swirskey gave him can
! Of gasolenc. which Friedman poured on
one of Wcisss wagons and touched "A
match 10 IT, After that Weiss gave up
| the ice cream business.