New-York tribune., 1918-05-25
Witness in Motors Co. Trial
Repeats Conversation
in Boston
Fear of Inquiry
Allayed by Matches
Prosecutor Tries to Show
Money Was Used to Pre-
vent Prosecution

AS the fourteen men and four cor
participation in the vast stock selling
schemes Of the Emerson Motors Com
pany. Inc, came up yesterday for the
second day OF their trial before Judge
Martin 7. Manton. in the United States
District Court here, the prosecution
proceeded promptly to offer, testimony
10 substantiate its charges of the pre-
vious day that EmersoB money was
used for the purpose Of preventing
prosecution by the District Attorney
at Boston, Mass.
As the first witness in this effort to
establish the existence of bribery
operated through Emerson Motors
agents, j. j. Mahoney, formerly sales
manager for Robert P. Matches g. Co..
selling agents for the Emerson stock
in Boston. was called to the stand
In reply to the queries of Assistant
United States Attorney James w. Os-
borne ID who is prosecuting for the
government Mahoney told how the
proposition, which was heralded as the
rival of the Ford among cheap auto
mobiles. had first been brought to his
attention through correspondence with
the firm of c. r. Berry & Co., of this
city: how he had then been referred
10 Mr.. Matches in Boston, had gone
to work for Mr. Matches and subse-
quently became his sales manager. and
how gradually his suspicious had been
aroused as to the soundness of the
stock he was handling.
Tells of Inspectors Visit
The trail which Mahoney declared led
into the office of Joseph c. Pelletler,
Boston's District Attorney, began, so
lar as he was concerned, he said, with
visit to the Emerson show rooms on
Boylston Street by Police Inspector
Farrell, of Boston.
This occurred. the witness testified,
on September %, 1916. At the time
the newspapers were filled with appeals
TO the public to buy-buy-buy Emer-
son Motors stock. The mails were
laden with circular letters. many of
which Mr.. Osborne marked for exhibit
Yesterday, all emphasizing the: fact
that it was the time to get aboard the
unparalleled Emersonian band-wagon.
Apparently the public was eager to
avail itself of this opportunity. APP
parently Robert P. Matches & Co: were
doing land office business. And then
came Farrell to the show rooms with
the information. so the witness stated
that the plethora of stock and paucity
OF automobiles had combined to excite
the curiosity Of certain Boston officials
with the result that n grand jury in
vestigation into the affairs of the con-
Germ impended.
Mahoney determined to come to New
York and investigate for himself. On
his return. Matches, who at first, ac-
cording to his former sales manager,
had been Inclined to pooh-pooh the
whole notion of grand jury proceed
iirs. informed him that such an in
vestigation was in fact under way.
Repeats Talk With Matches
"The following day." said Mahoncy,
"tbat is to say, October a, 1916. Matches
told me that he had been to Pelletier's
office that is, the Office of the Dis
trct Attorney in Boston-and had Of
fered to show him all TIE books and
records and balance sheets of the COM
pany. He also offered, he said, to de-
fray the expenses of any delegate Pei
letter cared to select to come to New
York and investigate the entire propo-
Sition at headquarters for himself.
But Pelletier, so Matches said
treated him very roughly, replied that
there was nothing doing and thai
selling schemes anyway
"And did YOU" asked Mr. Osborne
as the witness came to pause, "havt