Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-18
ADMITS REQUEST
UPON POLICEMAN
FOR PARTY FUND
Nicholas Ward Identified IN
Alleged Officers Shake
Down"
NOW FEARS TROUBLE

At least one Of the 1entacles of IN. n
publican Organization octopus. vhirh ~
tend into every division OF each ~ -
iorty-eight wards in Philadelphia. now en-.
gagged In shaking down" n StO0 ooe -.'as "
untary' contribution fund from pollc.r,s,
hremen, ofliceholders. and even cltv l.n~.f
err. has been identified.
This tentacle. which has envelopea A..
forty-fourth division OF the Fifteenth wars
is Nicholas Ward, a machinlst. resd,rv :.
SCI North Ringgold street. lie was ldsn,,,
fed by minute descriptions given by ,vlrs.
of city iobholders who had been askea -.
voluntary" contributions. lie admits N.
is hcnchman OF Magistrate John colnn'.
y leader in the Fifteenth Ward a., a..
Ward denied having visited any homs.
with the object OF getting funds, volun,a,v
or otherwise.
VOLUNTARY GIFTS
Later. however. he said he had asked fo-
voluntary" contribution and showed n ~.
porter his list with mysterious marklr..
lie emphatically denied that he was The
official "satchel man" in the division for M.
organization. number OF housewives
however. gave a description OF him wh,~n
left no doubt as 10 his identity.
lie upholds the legal right TO ask "a,
voluntary" contributions. Nevertheles.
he fears he may get into a lot OF trouh,s
on account OF this" and announced toda,
that he was going down town TO see about
IT,"
Following is Wards Interview. in mar,
as given TO an EVENING LEDGER reporter
Q. Are you the committeeman in ,hs
division Mr.. ward7
a. I am.
Q. DO you represent Mr.. Collins? Ora.
publican ward leader)
A. Yes.
Q. Have you been soliciting political
assessments from the police and other Of.
| ficeholders?
A. No, not me.
.. Then you deny that you are the mar
that tried TO get contributions from Patroi-
man Auble. $50 North Twcnty-fifth street
and other office-holders in the same blockY
DIDN'T SOLICIT
A. I work nt night and sleep in the
daytime j haven't time to go around
and get contributions. ~
Q. How is II that number OF persons
I'm that block described you so accurately
that / knew Immediately that II was youf
A. | didn't solicit anybody.
Q. How did all this trouble arise? Can
| you explain it?
A. Wen, l will tell you. Policeman
Auble Is a hot-headed man. l went around
there with book and asked him for =
voluntary contribution
@. Then you did see Policeman Auble?
A. Yes. but / did not compel him to pay
anything, nor did I threaten 10 take the
matter any farther T'
.. Then II was not "shake-down"p &
A. Certainly not. / went to his honis
and asked for $40 for the city COMMITTEES
and s. for the ward committee
O. Isn't it illegal to collect from police
men?
A. / don't think So I can't make him
| pay II he doesn't want to. ] went 20 see
Mr.. Auble like a gentleman and he treated
me otherwise
@ Are you sure that you didn't 80 to
any other policemen's or firemen's homes
| in the nelghborhood?
A. No; that was the one place How
| did you find out about this?
y. 1t is comparatively easy TO find the
| collector when he lives In the same division
Isn't that true. Mr.. Ward?
A. oh, yes OF course.
O. Then you merely went around with
your little book and asked for voluntary
| contributions?
A. Yes; now will show you my list
MYSTERIOUS MARKINGS
Beside the names of the various victims
| Of the system were mysterious little marks
| First there were RS" which might mean
retain" or retire" or right or Re.
publican" as the key to the situation would
| likely disclose 10 the uninitiated.
Then a few of the names were marked
N. p. which might of course mean, 'Nd
| paid" or mot in Politics." or mo Priv-
/
| like, for Mr.. Ward did not give the key 70
| the notes
Question by reporter-Then you are not
the regular collector for this division M
Ward?
| A. No. I will have to go down town and
see about this AFFAIR.
@. Who are you going to see?
| A. Silence.
| O. / thought you were going to press this
matter farther. Are you going TO take any
action against Auble?
A. No. M
voluntary contributions. is IT, Mr.. Ward!
| A. No. Policeman Auble will be sorfy
that he started this.
q Then you are going downtown TO -
about having Policeman Auble called 70
account for his attitude?
FEARS TROUBLE
A. No But l may get into lot Of
| trouble on account OF this affair. Are they
| going 10 use my name In the paperf
hope they will keep me out OF this
Reporter gave no answer
| Mr.. ward-why did you pick on this
particular dvisionp Isn't this same thins
going on all over the city in the same man-
ner? Are you going 10 see other peops'
too?
Reporter-we came to this division be-
/ cause we knew about the conditions heis
on account Of the story OF Policeman Aup's'
/ Are you sure now that you did nor 81
around 10 any other homes, Mr. WardY y
| Is possible that the ghost OF this questi0n
| may arise at any time,
Mr.. Ward--Oh. l have nothing TO les.
| from the rest OF the people living in tnn'
block. There are two policemen who Nv
In my row / have never asked them i''
| a solitary cent. Co ask them.
SEVEN GERMANTOWN BODIES